Hungary’s youth men’s national team won a silver medal, while the senior team made an impressive run to the quarter-finals at the Debrecen 3×3 basketball tournament series, which concluded on Sunday at the arena set up in front of the Great Reformed Church.
The event opened with the U21 Nations League, which replaced the age-group World and European Championships last year. The women’s national team, coached by Andrea Károlyi, beat Ireland 17-12 in its opening game, but then suffered a 21-8 defeat to eventual champions the Netherlands and failed to advance from the group stage.
In the men’s competition, József Lekli’s team started against Austria and won a closely fought game 21-20. They then also faced the Netherlands, who proved too strong and won 22-12. In the final against Poland, which drew a full house at the 1,000-capacity temporary arena on Kossuth Square, Hungary lost 21-11 to finish with a silver medal.
Another Nations League round was held on Thursday, but both Hungarian teams were eliminated after suffering two defeats each. Poland celebrated again in the men’s competition that evening, while the Netherlands also successfully defended their title in the women’s event. Friday brought little success for the Hungarian U21 teams either: the women lost to both Austria and Poland, while the men defeated Ireland 21-15 before losing 21-11 to Poland and failing to progress. This time, the Netherlands won gold in both competitions.
The women took to the court first in the Women’s Series and World Tour Masters competitions, which have been a familiar part of the Debrecen 3×3 scene over the past 12 years and feature prize money. Alongside the Hungarian national team, a Debrecen team also competed. The local side faced the team representing Beijing in its opening game and lost 21-12. After subsequently suffering a 21-8 defeat to Spain, their tournament came to an end.
Hungary’s women first faced the Netherlands, winners of the previous five Women’s Series events, and despite an outstanding performance from Dia Papp, they lost 21-15. They then suffered a 20-16 defeat to the Czech Republic, bringing the tournament to an end for Máté Jakab’s side. The Netherlands celebrated once again after the final.
With the Nations League and Women’s Series both concluding on Friday, the weekend was devoted entirely to the World Tour Masters. Hungary was also represented in the men’s prize-money competition, with the national team competing under the name Debrecen. The squad featured Balázs Kelemen, Dániel Komma and Mátyás Molnár, as well as Tamás Ivosev, a legend of the discipline who previously also played for DEAC. Eight of the world’s top 10 teams competed at the Debrecen Masters, with a host of Olympic, world and European champions taking to the court in front of the Great Reformed Church.
The home favourites, coached by Ferenc Csirke, gave an excellent account of themselves despite being drawn in a group with Miami and Toulouse, featuring the United States and French national teams, respectively. They first lost 22-13 to the American side, but then, in a must-win game, produced an impressive 21-13 victory over the French team, led by Kelemen. The result secured their place in Sunday’s knockout stage.
In the quarter-final, which attracted huge interest and even drew a large crowd in front of the giant screen next to the arena, their opponents were Amsterdam, featuring three Olympic champions. The Dutch side made a strong start, taking an 8-2 lead, but the Hungarians fought hard throughout. Amsterdam eventually prevailed 20-17 to advance to the semi-finals.
Amsterdam went on to finish with a silver medal, losing 21-17 to German side Baskets Bonn, who had entered the competition through the qualifiers, in the final.
