3x3 Team Vienna eliminated in Vienna quarterfinals by Amsterdam once again

Reactions after the game

In the game itself, the team from Vienna fell behind early and was only able to disrupt the opponent's rhythm in phases. Amsterdam took consistent advantage of the Viennese mistakes and ultimately prevailed deservedly. The final score of 14:18 reflects the assessment that Stefan Stojacic drew after the game: "Sie haben unsere Fehler ausgenutzt und waren das bessere Team."

Stojacic, one of the most experienced players in the squad, also framed the defeat as a warning. "Wir haben das Potenzial, aber das war heute nicht gut genug," he said. Looking ahead to the tasks to come, the veteran added: "Wir müssen einfach hart weiterarbeiten." In doing so, he pointed to the path the team has taken without playing down the setback.

Steven Kaltenbrunner, whose words encapsulated the team's disappointment, also struck a nuanced tone. "Es hat über Strecken gut funktioniert, aber das gewisse Etwas hat noch gefehlt. Wir sind ganz klar enttäuscht, dass wir daheim vor dem Wiener Publikum im Viertelfinale im zweiten Jahr in Folge wieder gegen Amsterdam ausgeschieden sind, aber wir können auch viel Positives mitnehmen," he said after Sunday's game.

Outlook on upcoming tournaments

The tournament's overall balance is therefore a mixed one. On one hand, Team Vienna once again reached the quarterfinals of a World Tour home event; on the other, the hoped-for next step toward the semifinals remained out of reach. Kaltenbrunner pointed out that the team had functioned well over long stretches and that it had been the small details that prevented them from bringing Amsterdam to its knees this time.

With Toni Blazan, Quincy Diggs, Stefan Stojacic and Steven Kaltenbrunner, the Viennese team relied on a mix of experience and athleticism. The fact that it was precisely Stojacic and Kaltenbrunner who delivered the key comments after the game underscores the role that the team attributes to its lack of consistency and the small dose of luck missing in the decisive moment.

Attention now turns to the upcoming stops on the 3x3 World Tour. Stojacic stated the objective clearly: "Wir müssen einfach hart weiterarbeiten." For Team Vienna, the task is to take the positive approaches from Vienna and turn them into concrete results at the next tournaments.

The situation for the coming season is thus clearly defined: The home tournament at Heumarkt remains an important benchmark against which the team's development must be measured. The players know that more can be expected of them in front of their home crowd – and they also know that Amsterdam remains a high hurdle this season.