ORLEANS (France) - After an epic World Cup, the pro circuit resumes at the FIBA 3x3 Orleans Challenger on July 11-12 as the second-half of an engrossing season begins.
Let's preview the seventh Challenger of the season.
The Favorites
You just know top seed Ub (SRB) will enter fired-up after their four Serb stars had to settle for bronze at the World Cup. While another triumph went beckoning, they can regroup and focus their attention on the pro circuit having ended the first-half of the season in red-hot form.
After a slow start to 2025, Ub won three straight events including the WT Marseille and WT Vienna to prove they still remain the standard.
Four in a row won't be easy in a loaded field that includes No.2 seed Toulouse (FRA), who have gone off the boil after a spectacular start to the season. Three of their four players were part of France's World Cup disappointment and they will be extra motivated in front of the French fans in Orleans.
No.3 seed Vienna (AUT) have yet to reach the heights we're used to having only made it past the quarters once from four events so far. Three players in their squad were part of Austria's unsuccessful run at the World Cup and they will have a chip on their shoulder.
While some teams want to shrug off the World Cup pain, Carolina (PUR) should have a swagger after three of their players were part of Puerto Rico's eye-catching run to the quarters where they almost knocked off six-time champs Serbia.
Superstar Antonio Ralat was a gunslinger and he'll take his red-hot shooting to Orleans.
The Field
There are plenty of other highly-fancied teams who could have been mentioned above. No.4 seed Riffa (BRN) have the pedigree as we've seen them go all the way on the World Tour before. But inconsistencies have been a problem with Riffa having only made it beyond the quarters once from five events.
Riffa will get an early litmus test in Pool D against dangerous Hangzhou (CHN), who will be aiming to rediscover their early season form. After taking out the Hongcheon Challenger, Hangzhou have gone off the boil but if excitement machine Aleksandar Lazic puts on a show then look out!
Marijampole MANTINGA (LTU) and Bordeaux (FRA) could also go on giant-killing runs. Pools Pool A: Ub (SRB), Bordeaux (FRA), Podebrady (CZE) Pool B: Toulouse (FRA), Marijampole MANTINGA (LTU), Seef (BRN) Pool C: Vienna (AUT), Hangzhou (CHN), QD Pool D: Riffa (BRN), Carolina (PUR), QD What's at stake The top 3 teams in Orleans will qualify for the WT Shenzhen on October 4-5 as part of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour 2025. How to watch The two-day extravaganza is on July 11-12 and you can follow it live on the FIBA 3x3 YouTube pages.
FIBA