Mano a mano. From the opening possession to the last. A restless choreography. Distinct basketball languages, carried from every corner of Europe, or better yet, from the continent’s most celebrated cradles of the Game, are embodied by a new generation of players, while communities gather in the English capital to carry their own The Ones. To watch them prevail on everyone else. Even before the eyes of an NBA-bred The One like Jayson Tatum.

Just a few meters away, the Thames keeps flowing. Its current becomes a metaphor for the flow every player must first find, then learn to ride, in order to make it to the very end. A technical flow. An emotional one. Mental and physical. The feeling only basketball can offer, especially in its most primal setting: the one-on-one. Losing yourself inside your own decisions, trusting you’ll always find yourself again, in the end, at the bottom of the net. For some, that’s what it means to enter the zone. For others, it’s embracing the instinctive irrationality born from days, weeks, months and years of rational work. Of deliberate construction.

From Spain, Aina Hinojosa. From Serbia, Milan Pejin. They are the ones who raise a belt that symbolizes everything: above all, the hardship of a climb with no ropes, all the way to the summit, all the way to becoming Europe’s The One. Behind them stand proud opponents, challenged inside a smoke-filled crimson ring, where the noble art of boxing, the aesthetic and narrative essence of lucha libre, and the symphony of perfectly held follow-throughs merged throughout an entire afternoon, elevating the one-on-one into a discipline of many forms: one that refuses to be contained, least of all within basketball alone. Ahead of them lies one final effort. One final opportunity to impose themselves on the global stage at the World Finals in Shanghai.

The voices of the two champions, alongside Riccardo Romani’s photographic gallery, allow us to relive this pinnacle of the contemporary Game, inspired by one of the Game’s eternal muses, and by the timeless design language of one-on-one itself: the Jumpman. This feature marks the final chapter of a special editorial series through which we’ve chronicled every European stop of The One: Madrid, Ljubljana, Belgrade, Paris, London, and finally, the European Finals, once again held in the English capital.

What emotions are running through you now that you’ve become Europe’s The Ones?

Aina Hinojosa: “Honestly, I’m feeling a thousand different emotions. I still can’t believe it: this feels like a dream. I never imagined something like this could happen. I’m just incredibly happy, excited, and overwhelmed in the best possible way.”

Milan Pejin: “I’m really happy, of course. I’m proud of myself for not letting the pressure get to me and for staying true to my game. That’s something I’m really proud of. I feel great.”

What was it like competing in a venue like this? What kind of energy and atmosphere did you feel out there?

Aina Hinojosa: “The energy was unbelievable. The crowd was constantly cheering, although of course there were people rooting against me too. But I had my family and my coaches here supporting me every step of the way, and that gave me so much confidence. The atmosphere was amazing: everyone was shouting, the crowd was fully into it.”

Milan Pejin: “It was great. I think it was even more electric than in Belgrade. It was an indoor venue packed with people from different countries, all cheering for their own players. The atmosphere was amazing. I’d never been part of an event like this before, so it was really special to experience it.”

How did you handle the pressure, and what mindset did you have to come out on top with people cheering both for and against you?

Aina Hinojosa: “I’m a very nervous person, but I’ve learned how to channel those nerves. There are nerves that hold you back, and nerves that push you forward… and mine definitely motivate me. I came into this tournament feeling excited and determined. I’ve also worked with a sports psychologist, who has helped me manage those emotions and use them to my advantage. I was definitely nervous at the beginning, but as the games went on, I settled in and felt more and more comfortable.”

Milan Pejin: “It was a bit more of an American style in terms of atmosphere. In Serbia we’re not really used to that, so it’s a different type of hype and a different kind of energy. But it was really interesting, and I enjoyed it. I just tried to block all of that out. I didn’t think about who was cheering for me or who was cheering against me. I stayed focused on what I was here to do, and that was putting the ball in the basket.”

What was the toughest moment of the tournament, and when did you feel completely in the zone?

Aina Hinojosa: “The toughest game for me was the semifinal. At the beginning, I couldn’t make a shot. I’m usually someone who shoots a lot of threes, but the defender was playing really tight, so I couldn’t get my shots off. Even when I created space, nothing was falling. That was probably the hardest moment because we stayed tied at 0-0 for quite a while. But once I got through that, especially in the final, I felt much freer. The crowd was behind me, I’d already won two games, and my three-pointers started going in. Everything just clicked.”

Milan Pejin: “For me, the toughest match was the first one because I wasn’t really warmed up yet. My opponent was very strong, and from the beginning we were playing really physically, pushing each other, fouling, battling for every possession. It took me a little while to get comfortable, but once I loosened up and found my rhythm, everything became much easier. After that, the rest of the games didn’t feel nearly as difficult.”

We saw a mix of trash talk and relentless intensity in the way you challenged your opponents. What does that side of the game mean to you?

Aina Hinojosa: “I think intensity and trash talk, when used the right way, can really work in your favor. I actually never used to trash talk. It was something I picked up after playing some one-on-one matches in Barcelona with my coaches. Since then I’ve started using it, and I actually love it. It can get into your opponent’s head while also giving you an extra boost of confidence. I know some people don’t like it, but personally I think it’s something that should be embraced more in one-on-one basketball.”

Milan Pejin: “Honestly, it just comes naturally in the moment. I don’t go into a game thinking about trash talking. When people are talking, when the game gets physical and players are pushing each other, sometimes it comes out, sometimes it doesn’t. But for me, the most important thing is always staying focused on basketball. The talking might happen, or it might not, but that’s never my main focus.”

After winning the national final in your home country, what did you focus on in training? And what was it like to see all that hard work pay off today?

Aina Hinojosa: “After winning in Madrid, my entire focus was on preparing for one-on-one basketball. I train at Timechamber Academy with the coaches who came here with me: they’re the ones who got me ready for this event. I also trained against professional players in Spain, like David Mejía. Obviously he beat me because he plays pro, but I learned so much… especially about the mental side of the game and how to approach one-on-one situations. I also spent a lot of time working on my shooting and my step-back. This title means a lot. I was injured for almost the entire season, so I’ve worked incredibly hard to get back to my best this summer. I’ve sacrificed so much… I barely had any time to see my friends because I was always training. Now I can finally see that all those sacrifices were worth it.”

Milan Pejin: “I trained pretty much the same way I always do. I always try to improve every aspect of my game. Of course, I was preparing both for the five-on-five season and for this one-on-one tournament. During the offseason I spend a lot of time training individually, and that’s the best time to work on your game. The best way to practice your moves is against another player, so I played a lot of one-on-one with friends and teammates. That’s something I really enjoy, and it’s also really good for my game because it helps me improve. It was nice to see that all of that work translated into today’s performance.”

What does it mean to you to have brought the title home for your country as well?

Aina Hinojosa: “I’m really proud to represent my country. Spain is currently competing at the U18 World Cup, and unfortunately I wasn’t selected for reasons beyond my control, so being able to represent my country in a different way means everything to me.”

Milan Pejin: “It feels great. I know my family and my friends are going to be really happy. For me, this has also been a great experience as a basketball player because it helps prepare me for the upcoming season. Even though it’s one-on-one instead of five-on-five, you’re still dealing with game situations, pressure and competition. Having this opportunity to play and showcase my one-on-one skills has meant a lot to me.”

You won in front of Jayson Tatum. What was going through your mind in that moment?

Aina Hinojosa: “Honestly, it felt unreal, just like with Luka in Madrid. I watch these guys on TV, I’ve gone to NBA games to see them play, and I never imagined that one day I’d be playing in front of Jayson Tatum, shaking Luka Dončić’s hand, or hearing them cheer me on. It honestly feels like I’m living a dream. I’m so grateful for everything that’s happening thanks to all the work I’ve put in.”

Milan Pejin: “It’s incredible. Last time we talked, I had Luka’s signature on my jersey, and now I have Jayson Tatum’s too. I never imagined I’d get the chance to play in front of players like them, or even talk to them. It’s a very surreal experience. I don’t even know what to say. We’ll see who’s waiting for us in Shanghai… maybe Michael Jordan. I hope so!”

What does this championship belt represent to you? What memories and emotions does it hold?

Aina Hinojosa: “The moment I saw the belt, I was speechless. First of all, it’s beautiful: it looks amazing, and it’s actually really heavy! But beyond that, it represents every sacrifice I’ve made over the years. Things haven’t always gone the way I wanted, but I’ve always responded by working even harder. For me, this belt symbolizes years of dedication, perseverance, and sacrifice, all the way from when I was a little kid dreaming about basketball.”

Milan Pejin: “First of all, it looks amazing. It’s a really cool concept. But when I look at it, it reminds me of playing one-on-one with my dad when I was a kid, and of playing one-on-one with my friends on playgrounds. It reminds me of all those days playing three-on-three, five-on-five, just spending hours on the court. That’s what comes to my mind. It’s a reminder of what basketball is really about. Nothing professional: just having fun, enjoying the game, and playing because you love it. That’s what it represents to me.”

Now it’s on to the World Final. What will it take to become ‘The One On Anyone’ on the world stage as well?

Aina Hinojosa: “I think the biggest thing I need is to get physically stronger. One-on-one basketball is very physical. Even though I handled it well today against players who were taller and stronger than me, I know that’s an area where I can improve. I rely a lot on my quickness and defense, and that helped me today, but I’d like to become stronger around the hoop… especially finishing through contact. I drew some fouls, but I didn’t always finish the plays. That’s probably the biggest area I want to improve before the World Final.”

Milan Pejin: “Right now I just want to keep improving my game. One-on-one basketball will definitely remain part of my training because it’s an important part of getting better. I don’t want to overthink the World Final. I’ll just go there, compete and have fun. It’s also a great opportunity to visit China. I’ve never been there before, so I’m looking forward to seeing the country, meeting new people… maybe other NBA stars or important people, who knows? We’ll see. I’m just really excited about the whole experience.”