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Dubai to host basketball tournament

Iraq, India national sides and 12 top clubs for week-long championships from August 20.

International basketball in its true flavour comes to Dubai as national and club outfits confirm participation. — Supplied photo

Quality cagers are due in Dubai when The International Basketball Tournament will take place at the 2,500 seat capacity Al Nasr Club indoor stadium in Karama, from August 20 to 27.

The championship is sanctioned by the Dubai Sports Council and the UAE Basketball Association, organisers B&B told Khaleej Times.

The lineup is pretty impressive especially when the giants of the club fraternity like Air 21 of the Philippines, Dongguan Leopards (China), Wollongong Hawks (Australia), Kelantan Warriors (Malaysia), Khon Kaen (Thailand), popular visitors here Al Hikma (Lebanon), The Basketball Academy (Serbia), Cheba Jets (Japan), and LG (South Korea), are due here for the eight-day extravaganza.

The two local sides in the fray will be Dubai’s Al Nasr and Al Wasl while the two national teams who have confirmed their participation are Iraq and India.

The clubs sides of international reputation have a minimum of two imports mostly when playing in their home grown leagues and this will see the highly skilled stars of at least US collegiate and national tier 2/3 quality taking part in the Dubai event. The US and Europe have a lot of such exports taking part in the leagues world over.

The expat following for the game especially among the die-hard Filipino fans here should see packed houses at the venue. “The entry fee for the event on all the days including the semis and the final is Dh20, which we think is affordable for most of the residents here. The central point of the Al Nasr Club facility in the middle of the city is a convenient angle for the spectators,” said Abdulla Murad of the organisers Blue and Black (B&B) Events and Marketing.

“The important and crucial factor in us getting encouraged to hold a big event like this is the quick response we received soon after sending out the invitation letters,” Murad added. Murad said: “The news of the two national sides coming here is by itself a testimony of us having the organisational skills and capacity for big time basketball, after having held and assisted with several local and part international championships in Dubai.”

In Asian reckoning, Iran are the top side followed by the Philippines, Chinese Taipeh, China, Japan, South Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Thailand, the UAE, Iraq and India.

Regarding the finer details of the event, Murad added: “The very philosophy of the tournament is to put emphasis on the developmental aspect. As starters, organising a clinic for the youngsters and coaches here during the event will be a priority.

“What we require is the backup from the major players in the business and industrial fields in the UAE. The title sponsor will be decided later on and for the time being the event will be known as The International Basketball Tournament, Dubai. We are blessed in principle by the Dubai Sports Council and the UAE Basketball Association.” The teams who will have leading business houses sponsoring them have a flexible cost sheet coined out for them.

“The entry fees put up by the sponsors will mainly go towards air fares, accommodation, surface transportation, food and other related costs,” Murad said.

“The quality of the teams is of top international standard and going by the reputation of the clubs and the two national sides, there should not be major hiccups in getting sponsors. I request the media and other support elements, the multi-national companies included, to back us to see the birth of a new top rate basketball championship in Dubai,” Murad said. “I also urge the various Filipino leagues, the IBSL (Indian Basketball Society League) and the other active basketball outfits in the UAE to come forward and support their favourite clubs and national sides during the tournament,” he added.

moni@khaleejtimes.com