On Tuesday, June 20, the draw for the FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2023 has concluded, unveiling the roadmap for the six participating clubs as they strive to claim the coveted trophy. The tournament is scheduled to take place in Singapore from September 21-24.
The six teams were drawn into two groups where they will face each other in round robin style over the first three days of the 33rd edition of the competition. Sesi Franca (BCLA Champion), Team Ignite (NBA G League) and Al Ahly (BAL Winner) will square off in Group A while Group B consists of Zhejiang Golden Bulls (CBA Representative), Al Manama (WASL Champion) and Telekom Baskets Bonn (BCL Winner).
International stars Vlade Divac of Serbia, Chinese great Yi Jianlian and Ian Mahinmi of France were in Singapore to promote the FIBA Intercontinental Cup. While in town, they conducted a clinic for ActiveSG Basketball Academy and spoke to the participants.
The three players also participated in the Draw ceremony. They joined Toh Boon Yi, Sport Singapore Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Yazed Osman, Group Head of Events & Placemaking at Singapore Sports Hub, and Patrick Comninos, Chief Executive Officer of the Basketball Champions League, on a panel discussion on the growth of basketball in Asia and the global cultural phenomenon it has become.
“This edition of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup marks a new era for this esteemed tournament that already has a long and rich history. With six clubs participating for the first time and a fresh format, we are pleased to host this edition in Singapore and look forward to expanding and including more clubs in future editions,” stated FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis.
“We are pleased to showcase once again Singapore’s ability to host top class sport events. Having the FIBA Intercontinental Cup on our shores is a testament to Singapore’s exceptional event-planning expertise, as well as the opportunity to showcase our city as a travel destination. The FIBA Intercontinental Cup will not only demonstrate our dedication in promoting the sport, but also strengthen Singapore’s position as a flourishing hub for hosting international sporting events”, said Toh Boon Yi, Deputy CEO Sport Singapore.
“The Singapore Sports Hub has staged many unforgettable events, and we are honoured to be the first-ever venue in Asia to host this distinctive competition for the next three years, from 2023 – 2025,” shared Yazed Osman, Group Head of Events & Placemaking at Singapore Sports Hub. “Basketball is an exciting sport that speaks to a wide audience and equally appealing is the iconic hoop culture. Basketball fans coming to Singapore can expect homages to all these and more.”
On Sunday, 24 September, all six teams will compete in the classification games, with the winners from each group facing off to determine the 2023 Intercontinental Cup champion. Additionally, the games for the third and fifth placings will also be held earlier on the same day. The Singapore Indoor Stadium at Singapore Sports Hub will serve as the venue for all nine games.
Starting from July 19, tickets for the FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2023 games will be available for purchase, with prices beginning at $10. As of June 20, fans can express their interest by registering on the Singapore Sports Hub website.
The Intercontinental Cup has included four teams in four of the last five years – only BCL champions San Pablo Burgos and BCLA winners Quimsa participated in 2021 – but the field has expanded to six teams for 2023, the most since eight clubs were in the field in 1987.
FIBA and Sport Singapore reached an agreement in March 2023 that the island nation will host the Intercontinental Cup for the next three years, expanding the competition to include Asian teams for the first time.
For further information about FIBA, please visit fiba.basketball or follow FIBA on facebook.com/fiba, twitter.com/fiba, instagram.com/fiba and youtube.com/fiba.
Featured image credit to Singapore Sports Hub
