HONG KONG - The FIBA 3x3 World Tour 2025 resumed in thrilling style in fan favorite Hong Kong, where the second-half of the season launched in style. Let's look back at the seventh stop played on July 19-20.
Ub continue where they left off before the break
It feels like a long time ago when No.1 Ub (SRB) had question marks over them like Serbia's favorite son Novak Djokovic. They've never been better with Ub completing their hat-trick of titles in Hong Kong, where they did not skip a beat without superstar Strahinja Stojacic.
The Serbs are amid a heater and they turned up the temperature in Hong Kong during an unbeaten campaign, where they were barely challenged.
Young guns Kandava Turiba (LAT) provided the sternest test on Day One before Ub put the foot down with an impressive knockout phase, accounting for Ulaanbaatar MMC Energy (MGL), Chongming (CHN) and Hangzhou (CHN) with relative ease.
But the scorelines did not reflect the fight Ub had to muster after legendary Dejan Majstorovic was injured against Ulaanbaatar in the quarters. Ub were not worried because Marko Brankovic stepped up big time with 19 points in the final two games.
There might have been a typhoon causing havoc around Hong Kong, but on the half-court it was Brankovic who was whipping up a storm with an MVP performance to remind everyone that he is one of the best all-round players in the game.
Gritty Hangzhou aren't far away
Hangzhou (CHN) might have fallen short of a first WT season title, but they aren't far away from the very best. They had to do it the long way after getting through the QD before splitting their games in a tough Pool D featuring Miami (USA) and Chongming (CHN).
The Chinese team showed plenty of fight to get past dangerous Skliners (GER) in a tense quarter-final before getting past talented Kandava Turiba in the semis, where excitement machine Aleksandar Lazic was electric.
They couldn't get past the experience and guile of a three-man Ub, but Hangzhou are cementing themselves as one of the very best teams having now made the semis in three of five WT stops.
No one is stronger than Forte
Like Hangzhou, Chongming made the final four for the third time this season and - while they have yet to go further - there is clearly a lot to like for a team powered by the brute strength of Cameron Forte.
There is no one stronger than this Incredible Hulk, who muscles past smaller defenders as he scores at will in the paint. Forte averaged 8.5 ppg per game and finished No.1 in rebounds - expect anything else? - and No.3 in player-value.
It feels just a matter of time before Forte is lifting the MVP after leading Chongming to a drought-breaking title.
Upsets galore
A number of high-profile teams were knocked out early in what might foreshadow an unpredictable second-half of the season. No.2 seed Toulouse (FRA) bowed out in the quarters, while powers Miami (USA) and Amsterdam RABOBANK (NED) went home winless.
There were superstars missing with Toulouse without Franck Seguela, while the Dutch Masters did not have Worthy de Jong. Still the trio of top teams would have been disappointed that their renowned depth of talent was not able to paper the cracks like Ub did without Stojacic.
The Dutchmen are probably most frustrated having yet to win a WT this season and they had a lacklustre effort in Hong Kong, a happy hunting ground where they won last year's World Tour Final.
They will need to regroup quickly as the season enters the business end.
Hong Kong is an iconic 3x3 destination
Hong Kong has become an iconic 3x3 destination and its latest hosting duties were once again lit despite the bad weather forcing the event indoors. The world famous locale has hosted major 3x3 events in the past and they added another one to its impressive collection. FIBA