HANCHUAN (China) – Lausanne (SUI) produced a sensational Sunday performance to capture the inaugural FIBA 3x3 Hanchuan Challenger 2026, defeating Skyliners (GER) 22-14 in the Final at the picturesque Tianyu Lake Scenic Area.
After emerging from Pool A despite an opening-day loss to Lausanne, Skyliners looked poised for revenge in the Final. Instead, the Swiss side delivered another clinical display behind MVP Natan Jurkovitz and Jonathan Kazadi to finish an unforgettable weekend in style.
The Winner
Lausanne enjoyed an opening victory over Princeton to tip off the tournament's most impressive run. After upsetting fourth-ranked Skyliners in pool play, the Swiss side carried that momentum into the Final.
Kazadi starred in a convincing 21-14 Quarter-Final victory over Valencia Basket (ESP) before Lausanne produced one of the performances of the tournament in the Semi-Finals. Kazadi poured in 10 points as Lausanne buried seven two-pointers to overwhelm home favorites Shanghai (CHN) 22-10, ending the contest with more than four minutes remaining.
The Final followed a similar script. Lausanne stormed to a quick start before extending the margin to 17-9 midway through the contest through crisp ball movement and efficient shooting. Skyliners never found an answer as Lausanne sealed their first Challenger stop win of the 2026 season.
Jurkovitz was deservedly named tournament MVP after stuffing the stat sheet throughout the weekend. He finished first in rebounds (30), offensive rebounds (16), dunks (6) and double-fives (2), while ranking among the tournament leaders in player value (42.2) and one-point field goals made.
The Runner-up
Skyliners once again demonstrated why they have been among the Pro Circuit's most consistent teams this season.
Stefan Kojic made an immediate impact in his return from several weeks of rest, helping the German side defeat Princeton before finishing as the tournament's leading scorer with 36 points. After falling to Lausanne in pool play, Skyliners bounced back by eliminating Raudondvaris Hoptrans (LTU) in the Quarter-Finals before Kojic erupted for 14 points to inspire a comeback victory over Taipei WanBao (TPE) in the Semi-Finals.
Although they were unable to avenge their earlier defeat against Lausanne, Skyliners left Hanchuan with another podium finish and a well-earned FIBA 3x3 World Tour qualification.
The Final
The title game quickly turned into a showcase for Lausanne's relentless pace and execution.
The Swiss side raced to an early 9-3 lead and never allowed Skyliners to establish any rhythm offensively. Every German rally was answered by timely baskets as Lausanne consistently found quality looks inside and beyond the arc.
Thomas Jurkovitz contributed seven points in the Final, while Kazadi and the rest of the Swiss attack maintained constant pressure. Titouan Vannay fittingly delivered the Final blow with the decisive two-pointer as Lausanne wrapped up a commanding 22-14 victory.
The Reward
Lausanne, Skyliners and Taipei WanBao were rewarded for their impressive performances in Hanchuan by securing qualification to the FIBA 3x3 World Tour TBC 2026 stop, keeping their Pro Circuit momentum alive heading into the latter stages of the season.
Final Standings:
1. Lausanne (SUI) - qualified to WT TBC 2. Skyliners (GER) - qualified to WT TBC 3. Taipei WanBao (TPE) - qualified to WT TBC 4. Shanghai (CHN) 5. RaudondvarisHoptrans (LTU)
Top Scorers:
1. Stefan Kojic (Skyliners) - 36 pts 2. Cameron Forte (Shanghai) - 31 pts 3. Jonathan Kazadi (Lausanne) - 28 pts 4. Aurelijus Pukelis (Raudondvaris Hoptrans) - 27 pts 5. Petar Ivanovic (Taipei WanBao) - 27 pts
What's Next
The inaugural FIBA 3x3 Hanchuan Challenger delivered another memorable chapter in the 2026 Pro Circuit. Lausanne claimed their first Challenger title of the year through a dominant Championship Sunday performance. Meanwhile, Skyliners continued their excellent campaign with another podium finish, and Taipei WanBao impressed with a breakthrough run to the Semi-Finals after upsetting Antwerp in pool play. The Challenger circuit now moves to Uenohara (Japan) and FISE Birmingham (USA) on August 8-9, where more World Tour tickets will be up for grabs.
Stay Connected
Follow all the latest action from the FIBA 3x3 World Tour throughout the 2026 season by visiting the official World Tour website, where you can find the latest news, team standings, player statistics and everything you need to follow the Race to the Final. Fans can also keep track of the Event Calendar and the latest FIBA 3x3 Individual and Federation Rankings as teams and players continue their push toward the season finale.
Want to learn more about 3x3 basketball? Explore the official FIBA 3x3 Rules to understand the unique fast-paced format of the game, or discover the FIBA 3x3 Competition Structure to see how the discipline’s global pathway connects grassroots events, professional tours and world-class international competitions.
FIBA