MACAU - After a memorable debut last year, the World Tour returns to glitzy Macau on October 19-20. 

Here is all the important information for the 11th WT event of the season.

Where can I watch the Macau World Tour?

The action runs from October 19-20 and you can follow it live on the FIBA 3x3 YouTube page.

Who is competing in Macau?

Eight of the top 14 teams in the rankings and a total of 16 squads: Ub Huishan NE, Riffa, Paris, Partizan Meta Force, Liman, Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy,  Princeton, San Juan Church's, Kandava Turiba,  St Pauli, Wuxi WenLv, Saitama ALPHAS EXE, Xi'an, Hamilton, Brisbane CLB EXE, Guangzhou

What are the pools?

Pool A: Ub Huishan NE, San Juan Church's, Kandava Turiba
Pool B: Riffa, Princeton, Wuxi WenLv
Pool C: Paris, Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy, QD
Pool D: Partizan Meta Force, Liman, QD

Who are the favorites? 

We just have to start with the latest World Tour champs Ub Huishan NE (SRB), who are out to defend their crown in Macau. 

The Serbs once again have top billing and are back to their brilliant best after a shaky start to the season. Ub have their A-team and we can't wait to see all-round star Marko Brankovic, who has a love affair with Macau having picked up MVP there last year. 

But there are plenty of other contenders, including the team that Ub edged in a classic final in Amsterdam and also in last season's Macau decider. We're talking about Liman (SRB), who are inching closer to their first dub in 2024 and will need sniper Stefan Kojic to continue whipping up tasty dishes as the team's head chef. 

Riffa (BRN) and Paris (FRA) are other champs on this season's World Tour, who aren't merely satisfied with one dub. They want another as we hit the final countdown of 2024. 

We also have to include Partizan Meta Force (SRB), who like countrymen Liman have been unable to go all the way this season. But superstar Stefan Milivojevic can get them going through his inside-outside game consisting of sheer brute force in the paint and clutch buckets from deep. 

Who are the players to watch? 

This is a murderer's row that is obligated to start with No.1 Strahinja Stojacic, who has gone up a level ever since the bitter disappointment of the Paris Olympics. 

Stojacic holds the crown safely for now, but Dennis Donkor has arguably had the best 2024 of them all. He's near the top of all the major stat categories and that's also while playing lockdown D. 

Speaking of heroes so far in 2024 and we just have to mention Franck Seguela, who has shown incredible powers of durability and consistency since dominating the Paris Olympics. 

His Olympic success has only made him hungrier and you just know he wants to be the best player in the business. 

There are sharpshooters who are going to be all cash near the world famous Wynn Palace. We're firmly looking at sniper Antonio Ralat, who can make Macau ice cold when the game is on the line. 

The New Gen is well represented with  dynamic Francis Lacis living up to the hype as the next Latvian superstar, while young German gun Fabian Giessmann is coming off an MVP on the pro circuit and his confidence will be through the roof. 

And you really thought we would forget about the man in the middle? DeMarcus Cousins was out of this world in his debut in Wuxi and he was just getting started. 

The former NBA All-Star beloved worldwide as 'Boogie' has fallen in love with 3x3 and he wants all the smoke in Macau, where he will be the main attraction in this tourist magnet at the weekend. 

FIBA