FIBA 3×3 has published the national rankings at the start of 2026, for both men’s and women’s competitions. In Romania, the top spot on the men’s side is held by Iannis Alexandru Păduraru, while Alina Podar leads the women’s standings.
Păduraru, 22, represented Romania last season in the Youth Nations League circuit. In addition, he won the third stop of the national BCR Sport Arena Streetball circuit in the U21 category.
Alina Podar competed last season in the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series with CS Rapid, a team that made its debut on the international women’s circuit in 2025. Rapid, coached by Seda Erdogan, qualified for the Women’s Series Final in Shanghai, where they finished in seventh place. Over the six tournaments played en route to the final, the Bucharest-based team reached the semifinals on four occasions.
The team’s strong performances were fully reflected in the individual rankings, with Rapid boasting a true “ace quartet” — four players holding the top position in their respective national standings.
Alongside Alina Podar are Hortense Limouzin, Martyna Petrenaitė, and Natalie Kucowski. The three foreign players also occupy first place in the national rankings of the countries they represent: Limouzin in France, Petrenaitė in Lithuania, and Kucowski in the United States.
Rapid’s fifth player, Alexandra Bobar, sits second in the Romanian women’s national rankings.
In the individual FIBA 3×3 world rankings, Limouzin is fifth, Petrenaitė 16th, Podar 23rd, and Kucowski 27th. Their strong results from last season in the FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series have placed the four Rapid players inside the world top 30.
