The square in front of the Lviv National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre has today been transformed into an open-air basketball court: the National Final of the 3×3 basketball tournament Red Bull Half Court is underway in the heart of the city. It is here that the teams are being decided which will represent Ukraine at the World Final in Manila.
According to the head of the Sports Office of Lviv City Council, Anton Nikulin, the strongest Ukrainian 3×3 basketball teams have gathered in Lviv, and the location by the opera house was chosen to combine sporting emotions with the atmosphere of the city’s historic centre.
«The best basketball teams in Ukraine are competing in Lviv today. The winner will represent our country in international 3×3 competitions. We are very pleased that the final is taking place here in Lviv. For this we chose the best location — by the opera house. This way, participants and fans will not only get an energy boost from the sport, but also enjoy the aesthetic pleasure of Lviv’s architecture», said Anton Nikulin
The decisive stage of the tournament features 24 men’s and 9 women’s teams that have come through qualifying to earn the right to play in the final. Over the course of the day in Lviv, champions will be crowned in two categories, and this winter they will go on to represent Ukraine on the world stage.
This year, the Red Bull Half Court World Final will for the first time be hosted by Manila (Philippines) — a city where basketball is an important part of urban culture and everyday life.
The Ukrainian qualifying process consisted of stages in Odesa, Lviv and Kyiv. The final stage is the national final in Lviv, which runs throughout the day until the winners among the men’s and women’s teams are announced.
The event is organised with the support of Lviv City Council and the Sports Office of Lviv City Council.
Background. In 2026, the Red Bull Half Court tournament is being held in 13 countries across four continents. The winners of the national finals will meet in December in Manila, where the world’s best men’s and women’s streetball teams will be decided. Since 2021, the tournament finals have already been hosted by Rome, Cairo, Belgrade, New York and Dubai, and this year Manila joins them.