Tribunj Basketball Festival Produces Gnjidić and Tišma
The three-day free 3BF festival kicks off Wednesday at the Rupa court, featuring exhibition games, a 3x3 tournament, Boris Gnjidić's pub quiz, and a reunion of KK Gajeta legends.
The three-day free 3BF festival kicks off Wednesday at the Rupa court, featuring exhibition games, a 3x3 tournament, Boris Gnjidić's pub quiz, and a reunion of KK Gajeta legends.
In Tribunj this August, summer is measured not just by the sun, but by the number of baskets scored. During the "Lito od košarke" (Summer of Basketball) and "3KA, Tribunj Summer Basketball Academy" programs, a hundred children aged 6 to 16 took part at the court next to the elementary school at Rupa. Now, they face the three-day culmination of the season-a festival that bridges generations and brings the entire local community together.
The initiator of the 3KA program is Šime Kumanović, who also runs the Zagreb-based club Vučići. Since its inception in 1996, the academy has seen over a thousand participants pass through its ranks, with some rising to become professional players, including Lovre Gnjidić and Boris Tišma-a clear testament to the project's impact.
The organizers have decided to turn the academy's final week into something special. Starting Wednesday, August 12, regular training sessions will be replaced by the "3BF, Tribunj Basketball Festival," with free entry for all visitors.
The first day features exhibition matches and basketball challenges tailored to all age groups, from Supermini Stars to Elite Stars. A special guest, Tonči Mašina, will lead the training session. The afternoon slot brings the most anticipated showdown, "Kids vs. Parents," giving moms and dads a chance to prove they still remember where the hoop is. The evening concludes with the "All Star Tribunj Night," where the academy's top participants compete in a three-team format leading to a grand final.
The following day, Thursday, August 13, the focus shifts to history. The program, titled "Retro Tribunj Basketball," features a discussion with former players of KK Gajeta, the club's first golden generation from the 1980s. Younger visitors will hear stories from the era when basketball in Tribunj was just taking shape, while older attendees will reminisce about the days when this very court began writing its sporting story.
The festival wraps up in style on Friday, August 14, with the program running until 10 PM. Visitors can look forward to the "Škver 3x3" tournament-a 3-on-3 competition for all academy participants-followed by the "Mini Slam Dunk" contest and "Basket 3bunj IQ," a knowledge quiz designed for children.
The final touch to the entire "Lito od košarke" and the festival itself is a pub quiz hosted by Boris Gnjidić, a former Croatian national team player. Gnjidić spends his summer days in nearby Srima, and since his daughter is a 3KA participant this summer, he decided to enrich the Tribunj basketball celebration in his own way-not on the court, but with questions, laughter, and a relaxed atmosphere.
What began as a summer school for local children now attracts families from across Croatia. The festival is yet another confirmation that this is more than just a basketball camp-it's a gathering of a community that grows year after year, and after it all, the same phrase echoes: "I can't wait for next summer!"
