3X3 Pro League: Great start in Vlissingen and Hilversum
The 3X3 Pro League is off to a great start! In both Vlissingen and Hilversum, our events attracted full stands and enthusiastic participants. These two successful tournaments perfectly demonstrate how 3x3 basketball brings cities and communities together.
Vlissingen: The Lasloods becomes basketball arena
In Vlissingen, the Lasloods was transformed into a epic 3x3 basketball arena for the first tournament of the Pro League. This special event had an extra meaning for 3X3 Unites co-founder Jesper Jobse, who grew up in Vlissingen. The idea for this tournament came about two years ago during a dinner at the Lasloods, when Jobse struck up a conversation with owner Louk Peperkamp.
In the men's event, the win went to the talents of TeamNL U21, who defeated Team Caribe in an exciting final. Among the women, Team Amsterdam was the strongest. The tournament marks the beginning of a five-stops competition, with the overall winner qualifying for a major international tournament.
Hilversum: Market Square buzzing with energy
The third edition of the 3X3 Pro League in Hilversum was again a great success. The Marktplein turned into a high-energy basketball hub with full stands and a great atmosphere. Besides the main matches, there were several side events for children, who had a great time.
Team Amsterdam showed their class by winning the women's tournament, while for the men Team Bemmel went home with the victory. The event shows how 3x3 basketball fits perfectly at in city hot spots, where many people are introduced to this dynamic sport at the same time.
To finals
The 3X3 Pro League continues with tournaments in other cities such as Amsterdam and Haarlem. All winners of the preliminary rounds qualify for the grand final on July 27 in Amsterdam. But as Jesper Jobse emphasizes, "The impact left behind is at least as important. We are building sustainable programs here in every city."
Local leaders make a difference
An important part of its success is the 3X3 Leaders program in which leaders are trained to organize 3x3 basketball activities locally. These local ambassadors are crucial for the development of 3x3 basketball in their city.
In Hilversum, 17-year-old Olivier Hofman plays an important role as coordinator for all activities throughout the year, including the side events of the Pro League. He is a perfect example of how young talents can develop within the 3X3 Unites network.