The 'monster center' Nikola Jokic has emerged in 3x3 basketball.

The NH Nonghyup Bank 2025 KXO 3x3 Seoul Sinchon Light Quest was held on the 21st at a special court in front of Hyundai Department Store in Sinchon, Seoul. A total of nine teams were divided into two groups, competing in qualifiers on the 21st and determining the champion through a semifinal tournament on the 22nd.

The winning team will receive a spot in the FIBA 3x3 Beijing Tongzhou Challenger 2025, to be held in China this October.

Japan's Sagamihara was defeated 18-21 in a close match against Kunming (China) in the first game of Group B. Sagamihara confirmed its exit from the qualifiers with a loss of 14-18 to Singapore in the second match.

There was a standout player from Sagamihara. Euro’s Kanic, a big man from Serbia, stood over 2 meters tall with a solid build like a log and a closely cropped haircut that resembled Jokic.

Their playing styles were even similar. Although his athleticism was lacking, he had a high basketball IQ. He resembled Jokic in that he went outside to shoot two-pointers and delivered cut-in passes. Although Kanic held down the paint, Sagamihara unfortunately faced an early exit with two losses.

Kanic said, "We lost to the Singapore team. We prepared well, but we made a foolish foul at the end and lost. We need to develop our basketball further. We received nine fouls, while the opponent had only three. I asked the referee why no fouls were called, but he didn’t listen," expressing his disappointment.

In response to compliments about his outside shooting, Kanic stated, "I practice every day. I currently live in Japan and play for a Japanese team. I strive to improve my skills every day. I must practice more."

I was curious about why Kanic, originally from Serbia, was active in Japan. He explained, "A Serbian friend who plays in Japan recommended it. The prize money and treatment in Asia are better than in Serbia in every aspect. Serbia has good skills, but the prize money is low."

What could be the reason why a good player like Jokic continues to emerge from Serbia, a country with a population of 6.68 million? Kanic smiled and said, "Serbia is a basketball country. I believe we are the strongest in 5-on-5. We live for and die for basketball. Why we have such good physiques, ask my parents. I will strive to become the Jokic of 3x3."

The tournament, held in the heart of Seoul, left a deep impression on foreign athletes. Kanic noted, "I've come to Korea more than 20 times. This is my second time in Seoul, but my first time playing here. Many people watched and cheered for me, but I lost both matches. Now I'll go home and prepare for next week's tournament in Japan," expressing his disappointment.

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