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Stefan Kojic, World Tour’s champion

The previous eleven editions of the World Tour provided us with a lot of excitement, joy, and sadness. Spectators could experience a range of emotions throughout those games and that’s the reason why this competition is so popular all around the world. Passionate fans could see unforgettable buzzer beaters, crucial assists, players fighting on the court, great crossovers, etc.

One of the players that will be remembered in the heads of true lovers of this game is Stefan Kojic. Liman’s player accomplished his goal of winning the World Tour and he did with a specific style. Let’s remind ourselves what his career looks like.

What was a first experience for Stefan in World Tour?

City Lausanne was the first station in Stefan’s road through this glamorous 3×3 competition. Kojic played alongside Aleksandar RatkovStefan Stojacic, and Marko Brankovic for Serbian team Liman in Switzerland in 2016 hoping they could make noticeable result. The guys competed together with Polish roster Gdansk and Turkish Manisa for a place in the quarterfinal.

Two convincing victories took Stefan Kojic and his teammates to the elimination stage where Italian team Pavia was waiting. Liman pulled out a 21-9 over Italians, but lost to Paris in the semis with 21-11. However, Kojic could be proud of their achievement in his debut performance on Masters.

How successful was Kojic in his second campaign in this prestigious competition?

The tournament in Lausanne brought valuable experience to Kojic which was used in his second season in Liman. Good bond and chemistry were developed inside the roster and that also created a good atmosphere in the Serbian team. The arrival of Mihailo Vasic was ice on the cake for Novi Sad’s squad before the start of the campaign.

Consequentially, the first Masters was won in Debrecen. Liman beat Ljubljana in the fixture for first place in Hungary with 21-14. Good performances continued so Novi Sad’s roster beat compatriots Zemun in the final game in Mexico Masters with 21-15. It was confirmation of the good state of mind ahead of the beginning of Final Masters in Chinese Beijing.

However, Dusan Bulut was superior at that time as his Novi Sad defeated Liman in the quarterfinal with 21-14.

What happened to Stefan Kojic in his third season in Liman’s jersey?

Before the start of the 2018 season, Maksim Kovacevic became a member of Liman’s squad hoping he could strengthen the already strong group of players. Stefan and his colleagues recognize how big potential they have in the previous campaign, so they had high aspirations regarding new challenges.

Liman clinched trophies in UtsunomiyaChengdu, and Penang Masters which gave hope to their fans about them going all the way in the seventh edition of the most popular club international contest.

Unfortunately, Novi Sad’s squad lost to Latvian Riga in the Top 8 phase in Final Masters in Beijing. Devastated players needed to reconcile with the fact that they are not the best team on the planet at that moment.

What occurred with Liman in the 2019 season?

Chinese player Pen Jang joined the squad and Liman got extra quality with him. A new tactic and strategy on the court could be used with him on the roster, so Novi Sad’s team supporters were happy with his arrival.

Despite that fact, Stefan Kojic and his colleagues won only Debrecen Masters that season. Winning against Latvian Riga in the final of a tournament in Hungary with 21-19 enabled guys from Novi Sad to clinch another trophy. 

The departure of Stefan Stojacic also affected the performances of this team, so Liman took bad 7th place at Final Masters in Japanese Utsunomiya.

Quartet Mihailo VasicStefan KojicMaksim Kovacevic, and Aleksandar Ratkov was defeated once again by Riga with 19-14 in the Final 8 phase.

How far did the hero of our story go with Liman in the next campaign?

Prior to the 2020 World Tour, player Milan Kovacevic was brought to the Liman’s roster as new reinforcement. Novi Sad’s squad fans had high expectations from players again and waited with impatience kick-off of a new season.

Stefan Kojic and his teammates started the competition well as they clinched the trophy at the first Masters of the campaign – Debrecen. Our hero’s team repeated that success in Europa Masters where Lithuanian Sakiai was beaten in deciding game with 21-15. Also, Stefan ended the tournament as the top scorer with 32 scored points.

Subsequently, Liman took part in Final Masters in Jeddah. Kojic’s team was defeated by their old rival Riga in a super-exciting final with 21-20. It was tough for their supporters to accept another heartbreaking experience in the Saudi Arabian city for the Serbian team.

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What trophies did Kojic win in 2021?

Following the 2020 campaign, the guys from Liman y set a goal to win the trophy. Nebojsa Kilijan, the good long-range shooter, came to the squad and the new season could begin.

Falling short to win any major trophy during the regular part of the season didn’t shake too much Liman’s players. Stefan and his colleagues on the court prepared well for the Masters Final held in Jeddah. Afterwards, they recorded all five wins in the tournament and grab a long-awaited trophy which is given to the best team on the planet.

Liman pulled out a convincing victory over Gagarin in the fixture for first place with 21-14 for a first title in team’s history. Kojic ended the tournament as the third-placed scorer with 30 points behind Mihailo Vasic and Nick Celis who had 31 and 32 points on their account, respectively.

How did Stefan react to victory in the 2021 World Tour?

Players and spectators believed that success from 2021 is possible to be repeated in the next campaign. Big euphoria around the squad was followed by the arrival of Miroslav Pasajlic to the roster.

Subsequently, Novi Sad’s team won the Utrecht Masters because they were stronger than Paris in the final game. The final result was 21-15 in favor of the Serbian guys, so all the fans believed it was a massive boost to a hero of today’s story and his teammates. Additionally, Stefan Kojic was named MVP of that tournament.

However, claiming a trophy in the Netherlands was only a good thing worth mentioning related to Kojic’s squad in 2022.

Final Masters in Abu Dhabi is something all people related to Liman wanted to forget quickly as they ended in last 12th place with two defeats in the group stage.

How was Liman’s result in Challengers in 2022?

Challengers are tournaments level below Masters tournaments and they are qualification competitions for Masters.

Liman won Novi SadHamburg, Lipik, Energy Sukhbaatar and Penang Challengers in 2022. They looked strong and unbeatable with five titles and breathtaking 25-0 victories in a row. Latvian Riga stopped an amazing road beating the Serbian team in the semifinal of the Sacheon Challenger with 21-20. Losing in the semis in this competition ended that winning streak.

Eventually, the challenger held in South Korea was the last participation of Novi Sad’s team in those tournaments in the 2022 campaign.

Stefan Kojic, World Tour’s winner, represented Liman successfully over the past couple of years. He wears proudly Novi Sad’s team shirt and constantly improves himself as a person and player. We can conclude that his team spirit and adjusting to his teammate’s style of play are something that keeps Liman on top.

Is he going to win another World Tour or maybe playing abroad is in his plans? It’s challenging to answer that question, but one thing is certain. Couples of years on the court are in front of this amazing 3×3 star.

About the author

Marjan Nikolic

Passionate sports guy, coming from the eastern Europe where best basketball is played (yeah, I know you will not agree!). Dynamic 3x3 basket has special place in my heart.

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