HONGCHEON (Korea) - After their stirring triumph at the Chengdu Masters, red-hot Raudondvaris Hoptrans (LTU) will take strong form into the FIBA 3x3 Hongcheon Challenger 2025 on May 9-10.
Let's preview the third Challenger of the season. The Favorites
Top seed Raudondvaris Hoptrans are fresh off a mighty dub in Chengdu, where they showcased beautiful chemistry in an unbeaten campaign. They will be without superstar Aurelijus Pukelis, but still have a formidable line-up led by Chengdu MVP Evaldas Dziaugys, who underlined why he is 'Evil Knievel' by being a daredevil on the half-court.
The Lithuanians will need to be lethal in this tough field and they might be on a collision course with No.2 Riffa (BRN) led by two-way force Dennis Donkor.
Third seed Liman (SRB) have started the season strongly but are without a dub having been runner-up at the opening two Challengers. Their hopes of going one step further might just rest on Marko Stevanovic with the big fella determined to make the paint his personal playground. Hangzhou (CHN) were one of the very best teams in Chengdu, where they stormed to the semis on the back of three impressive wins including a beat down of No.1 seed Ub (SRB). This Chinese team means business as excitement machine Aleksandar Lazic starts moulding into a superstar right before our very eyes.
The Field
They have every reason to be mad at us putting them here, but there was only room for four favorites. But highly popular Lausanne (SUI) can absolutely be legit contenders and they boast dudes capable of turning games in a second. Gilles Martin can do the trippiest things on the half-court, while Polish legend Przemyslaw Zamojski has gone on legendary heaters in the past.
There is another Dutch team that is more than dangerous and their name is Utrecht (NED), who want to start getting to the same level of their compatriots Amsterdam RABOBANK (NED). High-flyer Nesta Agasi provides the spark, while Paris Olympic gold medalist Dimeo van der Horst is the safety blanket for a team on the rise.
There are a couple of German teams capable of going on giant-killing runs. Skyliners (GER) boast considerable firepower with Leon Fertig able to match buckets with anyone, while Niklas Kropp has skills someone his size just shouldn't have. Baskets Bonn Telekom (GER) may have been winless in Chengdu, but the new kids on the block left an impression because they have the hottest prospect on the pro circuit. Athletic freak Fabian Giessmann completely took over in Chengdu, including overpowering top seed Ub in arguably the most impressive performance we've ever seen from a 19-year-old.
Pools Pool A: Raudondvaris Hoptrans (LTU), Skyliners (GER), Sagamihara HIU EXE (JPN) Pool B: Riffa (BRN), Baskets Bonn Telekom (GER), Cheverny (FRA) Pool C: Liman (SRB), Hangzhou (CHN), QD Pool D: Lausanne (SUI), Utrecht (NED), QD What's at stake The top 3 teams in Hongcheon will qualify for the Vienna Masters on June 13-15 as part of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour 2025. How to watch The two-day extravaganza is on May 9-10 and you can follow it live on the FIBA 3x3 YouTube pages.
FIBA