Manama to play in FIBA Intercontinental Cup

TDT | Manama                                                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com     

Bahrain’s Manama Club, as the first-ever champions of the FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL), are set to compete in the 33rd FIBA Intercontinental Cup.

This was confirmed yesterday by global basketball’s governing body, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

This prestigious competition, which is also known as the FIBA Club World Cup, is endorsed by FIBA and the NBA.

This year’s event is scheduled to be held September 21–24 in Singapore, and a Bahraini team is set to take the hardwood in the competition for the first time.

Manama is one of six professional basketball clubs in the fray.

The others are Basketball Champions League winners Telekom Baskets Bonn from Germany, Basketball Champions League Americas winners Sesi Franca from Brazil, Basketball Africa League champions Al Ahly from Egypt, Chinese Basketball Association representatives Zhejiang Golden Bulls, and the NBA G League Ignite.

According to FIBA, Manama has received an invitation to complete the six-team line-up after winning the FIBA West Asia Super League.

The official draw for the tournament takes place today at the ArtScience Museum in Singapore.

International basketball stars Vlade Divac from Serbia, Yi Jianlian from China, and Ian Mahinmi from France will be present.

All three men have represented their countries at the FIBA Basketball World Cup over the years, with Divac winning the competition twice.

At the draw, teams will be divided into two groups for the FIBA Intercontinental Cup’s preliminary round.

Each team will have two games in this group stage, with those fixtures taking place between September 21 and 23.

At the end of this stage, a final day of competition will be held on September 24, with the top teams from their respective groups squaring off in the final.

There will also be a game for third place between the teams that were runners-up in the groups, while the teams that were ranked third will battle to determine fifth place on the event’s final ranking.

Manama captured the gold medals in the inaugural edition of the FIBA WASL after defeating Kuwait SC 67-59 in the final of the FIBA WASL Final Eight, which was held in Dubai.