Experience The Difference In Ulaanbaatar Challenger Says Gatlin

Geelong Supercats star Demarcus Gatlin believes experience was the difference in their two losses at the FIBA 3×3 Ulaanbaatar Challenger this weekend.

The Supercats team of Gatlin, Lewis Thomas, Liam McInerney and Darcy Harding impressed in the tournament but failed to notch a victory, getting bounced in the pool stages after losing to Ljubljana (21-17) and Utsunomiya (21-20 in overtime).

Gatlin says the team was coming in expecting a positive result, which made the two narrow defeats a letdown.

“We took a strong team in. We are all a little disappointed that we lost,” Gatlin said, via the Geelong Advertiser.

“We expected to do well, came in with the mindset of ‘let’s win’. Those teams we played were more experienced than us and that’s really what made the difference.”

Geelong secured its place in the Ulaanbaatar Challenger thanks to their strong performances in the 3×3 Hustle Pro Tour in April.

Geelong will travel to Yi Chang, China, on July 13 and 14 to compete in the Yichang Challenger, with a spot in the Los Angeles Masters up for grabs. Challenger events serve as play-in tournaments for World Tour Master events.

3×3 basketball will make its Olympic debut in 2020 and Commonwealth Games debut in 2022.