Mataró and Deqing hosted two events over the weekend with different roles within the International Basketball Federation’s – FIBA – professional circuit. While the Spanish city offered three places at the World Tour event in Zaisan, the Chinese host staged a stop on that top-tier circuit. At the Port of Mataró, Liman claimed their third Challenger title of the season by defeating Uzice Zlatiborac 21–13. Mihailo Vasic, who scored 11 points in the final, was named tournament MVP. With Liman already qualified for Zaisan, the places went to Uzice, Princeton and Cibona Ph.Classic.
The second edition in Mataró was jointly organised by Unió Esportiva Mataró -UEM- and Mataró City Council, with support from the port and under the FIBA umbrella. Mayor David Bote linked the tournament to the city’s basketball tradition and international profile. “The Challenger showcases our city to the world,” he told ‘tvmataró’ ahead of the competition. Returning as a host allows the local sports club to help organise an international event while also entering teams in the competition.
A pathway to the World Tour
Challengers offer qualification places for specific stops on the World Tour, the leading men’s professional 3×3 circuit. Mataró was the 25th Challenger of 2026 and brought together 16 teams. Uzice’s run illustrated how that pathway works: they started in the qualifying draw, reached the final and secured a place in Zaisan. Liman, meanwhile, added the title to their victories in Darkhan and Uenohara, with Andreja Milutinovic finishing as the weekend’s leading scorer on 31 points.
The link with other competitions had begun weeks earlier at Extreme Barcelona. Its 3×3 Plaza Lite Quest tournament, scheduled for 5–6 September at Parc del Fòrum, offered the winners a place in Mataró. An event within an urban sports festival was therefore connected to the professional circuit through a qualification berth. Local representation at the Challenger also came through UEM, which entered the Mataró and Barcelona teams, both in the main draw.
More room for spectators at the port
For this edition, organisers announced a 600-seat stand, double the capacity of 2025, an additional court for side activities and more space for fans and commercial stalls. According to the city council, the inaugural edition attracted more than 12,000 spectators. Organisers had set a target of 15,000 for 2026, although that pre-tournament projection should be distinguished from the final attendance figures.
The partnership with Aigües de Mataró provided drinking fountains and reusable bottles for players. The municipal programme also scheduled the official ceremony for the Tarragona 2026 Special Olympics Games torch relay at the port, coinciding with the Challenger. The event supported the city’s delegation of nearly 100 athletes, who will compete at those Games from 9 to 12 October. The venue thus brought professional competition together with other local sporting initiatives.
Deqing returns as a host for the elite
In China, Deqing welcomed the World Tour for a second consecutive year at the 3×3 basketball stadium on Chengshan Road. The event brought together 14 teams and coincided with the Mid-Autumn Festival, one of the country’s traditional celebrations. According to FIBA, its continued role as a host is supported by dedicated facilities and a local basketball community. The programme also featured shooting and dunk contests: Vienna’s Toni Blazan won the former, while Ye Jianlin claimed the latter.
Antwerp secured their first World Tour stop victory of the season in Deqing, beating Ub 21–17 after eliminating Miami and Vienna. Dennis Donkor was named MVP and finished as the tournament’s leading scorer, with 42 points and 16 two-pointers. Spanish team Fuengirola placed seventh. The calendar continues with the Madrid Challenger on 3–4 October, followed by the World Tour stop in Bucharest and the Aichi Challenger, both scheduled for 10–11 October.
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