"Sonno Jeongsungjo" competes against world-class athletes in the 3x3 basketball mecca of Hongcheon.
The "NH Nonghyup Bank FIBA 3x3 Hongcheon Challenger 2025" kicked off on the 9th at Hongcheon Gymnasium. Organized by the Korea 3x3 Basketball Federation (KXO), Hongcheon County, and the Hongcheon County Council, this tournament is the first in the country to be held for three consecutive years.
The only FIBA 3x3 professional circuit tournament in the country will be held in Hongcheon on the 9th and 10th. Following this, the NH Nonghyup Bank 2025 KXO 3x3 Hongcheon Light Quest, which holds a FIBA 3x3 Challenger entry ticket, will continue on the 11th. Hongcheon will become a festival venue for 3x3 basketball throughout the three days.
Since 2023, Hongcheon has consistently hosted the 3x3 Challenger tournament and has held the FIBA 3x3 tournament for three consecutive years. This year, it is the only FIBA 3x3 professional circuit tournament held in the country. A total of 16 teams of the highest level in history participated, including teams from Lithuania, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Serbia, France, the Czech Republic, and Australia.
A strong contender for the championship is Lithuania's Raudonvalis, who claimed the Challenger championship trophy in Hongcheon two years ago. This team, made up of Lithuania's 3x3 national players, recently won at the FIBA 3x3 Chengdu World Tour 2025 held in Chengdu, China.
There are also many strong teams. Lifa (Bahrain), who won at the Shanghai World Tour and the Pristina Challenger last year, along with strong European teams such as Lyman (Serbia) and Lausanne (Switzerland) are also visiting Hongcheon. The winner of last year's Hongcheon Mugunghwa Challenger, the Basketts Bon (then known as St. Pauli), is aiming to win in Hongcheon for the second consecutive year with the addition of 220cm tall big man Rotimi Sophia Ogunna.
Hongcheon, the 'representative city of Korea 3x3,' has cultivated its international sensibility by hosting the Challenger tournament for three consecutive years. This year, a welcome ceremony and dinner were also held for foreign athletes. Notably, the teams from the Czech Republic and Germany expressed their delight with the taste of Hongcheon's five renowned beef brands, Neulpureum Hanwoo.
Jeongsungjo, who has made headlines by joining KBL Sonno as the top player in domestic 3x3 basketball, participates in the tournament as a member of Seoul Cosmo. Jeongsungjo formed a team with national representatives including Lee Dong-yun and Kang Byeong-jin, who competed at the 3x3 Asia Cup 2025 held last March. As the only Korean team, they are expected to receive much support.
There are also rich events. Singer Kim Kwang-jin, widely known for "The Castle of Magic," will hold a celebratory concert at the Hongcheon Challenger for the second consecutive year. Celebratory performances will also be held featuring popular social media dance YouTuber "Brick Grandpa" and the basketball idol W-Girls.
All matches in the tournament can be watched live through FIBA 3x3's official YouTube channel. Major matches will be broadcast on television through KBS N Sports.
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