Road to Debrecen

London aim to turn positives in Bordeaux to victories in Debrecen and join elite company of previous winners.

London head to Hungary this weekend for their fourth World Tour appearance, aiming to improve upon previous best finish of fifth place at Chengdu earlier in the year. London roll into week two of back-to back action with one key change to the lineup from Bordeaux. Justin Pierce joins the squad in place of Ryan Langborg, bringing additional athleticism to the side. Evan Walshe, fresh off a promising 7-point tour debut, looks to build momentum, while established internationals - Great Britain’s Ashley Hamilton and Canada’s Jerome Desrosiers - complete the lineup.

London showed a clear improvement in their second game in Bordeaux last week despite narrowly missing out on a chance to earn tour points. They will aim to repeat the superior ball movement and impressive interior shooting on display in their previous outing against Valencia and generate increased production from 2-point range.

London open their campaign in Debrecen against closely ranked Vienna. Like London, the Austrians arrive after two narrow defeats at their most recent Challenger, making for a fiercely contested matchup. Keen to return to form, London will need to find answers for Vienna’s dynamic duo of Diggs and Kaltenbrunner, whilst also accounting for Söhnel and Murati, who add further scoring threats to a side known for its strong team performances. Following this highly anticipated duel, London will face the winner of Qualification Group B to determine progression into Saturday’s quarterfinals.

Elsewhere in the draw, world number one Ub are absent after a dominant run of five straight World Tour victories. That leaves Amsterdam, ranked second in the world and recent winners of the Taipei Challenger as the top seeded side in Debrecen.

London booked their place in Debrecen by securing victory at the Shoreditch Summer Slam, underlining their position as the UK’s leading 3x3 side. Their success comes against the backdrop of a thriving domestic scene, highlighted by the recent Ball Out series which continues to showcase the sport’s growth across the country. Now, London strive to translate home court dominance onto the global stage, with eyes set on making their mark in Hungary.