By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
The competition will be played at Carioca 1 Arena, the iconic venue that hosted the Olympic Basketball Tournament during the Rio 2016 Games. It will be played in a Final Four format, with two Semi-Finals on Friday (February 15), followed by a 3rd-Place Game and Final on Sunday (February 17).
How to watch the action
The FIBA Intercontinental Cup will be live streamed through its Social Media channels (#IntercontinentalCup) and FIBA’s YouTube Channel.
The Trophy
The FIBA Intercontinental Cup trophy has a design which utilizes a contemporary mix of gold and silver. Its defining feature is a sweeping curved upright which rises to support a polished basketball. It was designed by TwelfthMan’s Michael Berthon and crafted by Bertoni.
The Teams
The Hosts – Flamengo
Flamengo has a long and storied history. The team has won a jaw-dropping 44 Rio de Janeiro State Championships, the first in 1933 and then 10 straight from 1951 to 1960. The club, whose winning tradition has earned it the nickname “Pride of the Nation”, claimed another 12 State Championships from 2005 to 2016. Click here to find out more.
The NBA G-League Champions – Austin Spurs
Last season was not the first taste of success for Austin. They were also G League champions in the 2011-12 campaign with a 33-17 regular season record and a 6-3 record in the Playoffs, where they beat the Los Angeles D-Fenders in the Finals. Austin have won 15 of their first 34 games this season, so a change of scenery may be just what the doctor ordered. Click here to find out more.
The Basketball Champions League champions – AEK
AEK are enjoying one of the finest spells in the club’s history. The outfit is almost a year removed from an 88-83 Greek Cup triumph over Olympiacos (AEK beat Panathinaikos, 73-69, in the Semi-Finals), while eight months ago the team hosted the Basketball Champions League Final Four in front of a roaring Athens crowd and beat UCAM Murcia, 77-75, in the Semi-Finals before knocking off AS Monaco Basket, 100-94, in the Final. That Basketball Champions League title defense is still on track, with AEK finishing the Regular Season with a 12-2 mark to top Group C. In Greece’s top flight, the team is flying high in fifth place with an 11-5 record.
The DIRECTV Liga de las Americas champions – San Lorenzo
San Lorenzo has probably garnered more attention in recent times than at any point in the club’s history. This comes as no surprise considering their run of three consecutive domestic titles, and their run to be crowned DIRECTV Liga de las Americas champions last year. So far this season, they have claimed victories in all 11 games and their defense of the Liga de las Americas crown also got off to a great start as they beat Mogi Das Cruzes (103-78), San Martin de Corrientes (71-59) and CD Las Animas (93-70) in early February to seal their place in the Semi-Finals.