2011 FIBA Asia Champions Cup
Encyclopedia
The FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2011 was the 22nd staging of the FIBA Asia Champions Cup
, the basketball club tournament of FIBA Asia
. The tournament was held in Pasig, Philippines
from May 28 to June 5, 2011. The event is co-organized by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and FIBA Asia
.
Al Riyadi
from Lebanon
, after going undefeated in the entire tournament, won its first ever Fiba Asia Champions Cup title after defeating Mahram Tehran from Iran
in the final game. It was the fourth time a club from Lebanon has won the championship.
Al-Rayyan from Qatar
, on the other hand, finished third in the tournament after defeating Smart Gilas
from the Philippines
in the third-place game.
of the 2012 Summer Olympics
, after reports circulated that FIBA
was planning to remove the hosting rights of the tournament from Beirut
, Lebanon
.
SBP, the national sport association for basketball in the Philippines, lost its bid to host the Asian Championships, and the hosting rights was awarded to Wuhan
, China. Nevertheless, FIBA Asia offered the FIBA Asia Champions Cup
, the Asian club championship, of the same year to the country. Newly appointed SBP executive director Sonny Barrios
, who replaced Noli Eala, said that he considers the hosting of the 22nd FIBA Asia Champions Cup as one of his priorities as SBP's top executive. Barrios, a former commissioner of the Philippine Basketball Association
, said that, “The name of the country is at stake here so we have to make sure that everything runs smoothly.”
It was the third time that the Philippines
hosted the event. The last FIBA Asia event that the country hosted was the 2005 FIBA Asia Champions Cup. In welcoming the country
as the host
of the tournament, FIBA Asia president Sheikh
Saud bin Ali Al-Thani of Qatar
said that, "The 2011 calendar could not have gotten to a better start than with an event in the Philippines, where basketball is almost a religion." The country last won the club championship in 1996 when Hapee Toothpaste defeated Japan
ese basketball club Isuzu Lynx.
announced that the venue for the FIBA Asia Champions Cup in 2011 would be the Philsports Arena
in Pasig, Manila
, Philippines
. The arena, which is located inside the PhilSports Complex
, is maintained by the Philippine Sports Commission
, a government-run organization aimed at developing sports in the country.
The arena enjoys a rich basketball tradition having been the venue of most of the games of the Philippine Basketball Association
, the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the oldest in the world outside the U.S., from 1985 to 1992 and from 1999 to 2002. Further, it also hosted the majority of the games in the elimination round of the basketball tournaments of the 2010–11 season
of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
In January 2011, FIBA Asia deputy secretary general Hagop Khajirian along with SBP president Manuel V. Pangilinan
inspected the venue.
, the country's Philippine national team, as part of the club's preparations for the FIBA Asia Championship
of the same year. Smart Gilas was joined by nine other teams from West Asia, Middle Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Gulf.
For the participating clubs teams from the Gulf
sub-zone, Al Shabab and Al-Rayyan were representing United Arab Emirates
and Qatar
, respectively. A club from the Middle Asia
sub-zone was also invited to participate in the tournament. But due to financial reasons, the invited teams from Kazakhstan
and Afghanistan
begged off from the tournament. FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2011 organizing committee chairman Aboy Castro said that a replacement club from India
, which is also bracketed under the Middle Asia sub-zone by FIBA Asia, has already been contacted. However, India withdrew from participating in the tournament.
Initially, the East Asia
sub-zone was supposed to be represented by a club from Japan
. FIBA Asia deputy secretary general Hagop Khajirian, at the tournament's group draw, reported that a top Japanese club from the BJ League
would participate in the Asia Champions Cup this year. Khajirian said that they were waiting for either the Ryukyu Golden Kings
or Rizing Fukuoka
to confirm their participation. However, the Japan Basketball Association
withdrew from the tournament, prompting the organizers to invite a replacement from the Korean Basketball League
. Afterwards, Korea
declined the invitation to participate in the event.
s were determined by FIBA Asia as Korea and India failed to confirm their participation in the tournament. The spots for the two countries were filled in by Duhok of Iraq
and Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia
. FIBA Asia secretary general Dato Yeoh Choo Hock, explaining the wild cards, said that, "Our aim is to have a fairly balanced and completely competitive event. In the past too, we have given similar wild cards keeping mind the need for a competitive event."
, which is the West Asian basketball club championship. Lebanese
basketball team Al-Riyadi
, who placed third in both 2008 and 2009 editions of the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, and Syria
n club Al Jalaa
have qualified by just entering the semifinals of the 2011 WABA Super League. Even though Al-Jalaa did not show up to play the fifth game of the WABA finals in 2011, the club was still allowed to participate in the year's Champions Cup. However, the team was penalized
with a two-year ban from playing in the WABA Champions Cup
and was also fined USD 30,000.
Two-time defending FIBA Asia Champions Cup winner Mahram Tehran defeated Zob Ahan in their battle for third place to qualify as the team from Iran
. ASU, on the other hand, beat Al Riyadi Aramex
in the qualifying game to identify the Jordan
ian representative to the tournament.
ASEAN Basketball League
champions, would represent the South East Asia sub-zone in the event. However, the Basketball Association of Thailand got suspended, prohibiting the team from participating in any FIBA-sanctioned event. This led ABL CEO Kuhan Foo and FIBA Asia to replace the Slammers with the Westports KL Dragons, ranked third in the ABL, for the year's Champions Cup.
To prepare for the tournament, the Malaysian players of the KL Dragons competed as a team in the 17th Father Martin Cup
, a pre-season collegiate
basketball tournament in the Philippines. KL Dragons assistant coach Ariel Vanguardia was also named head coach of the team for the Champions Cup as Goh Heng Chuat, who coaches the team in the ABL, is busy preparing the Malaysia national basketball team
for the 2011 Southeast Asia Basketball Association
tournament and the 2011 Southeast Asian Games
.
* Note: For the East Asia sub-zone, Japan withdrew from the event as they were still recovering from the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
. Korea also turned down the invitation to participate in the event. Japan's original slot was later awarded to Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia. For the middle asia sub-zone, its slot was awarded to Duhok of Iraq after Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, and India all begged off from the tournament.
, SBP executive director Sonny Barrios
, and former FIBA Asia secretary general Mauricio C. Martelino. The qualified basketball clubs were divided into two groups of five.
multi-purpose hall in Pasig City. The participating teams from West Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Gulf regions attended the welcome dinner where the Filipino culture dominated the theme of the ceremony. The guests were entertained by Filipino folk dances during the event, and were served Filipino dishes.
, 10 teams were drawn into two groups composing of five teams each. The clubs played against all the other teams in their respective groups. The top four teams from each group advanced to the knockout
stage. The two teams that finished last in their groups played against each other for the ninth place.
All times are local (UTC+08).
All times are local (UTC+08).
Points
Rebounds
Assists
Blocks
Steals
s and commissioners that will officiate the FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2011. Below are the technical officials
for the entire tournament:
via Sports5
. In April 2011, Sports5, the sports division of TV5
, signed a blocktime
agreement with IBC-13 to air live sports coverage via AKTV, a primetime block that airs local and international sports events.
announced that the official site of the tournament has gone live online. The website
has all the information about the event such as its overview, rosters, and system of competition. In addition, the website also features real-time updates as well as news, live game results, and interviews.
FIBA Asia Champions Cup
The FIBA Asia Champions Cup is the Asian club championship for basketball organized by FIBA Asia, and takes place every year.-Summary:- Titles by team :- Titles by country :-References:*...
, the basketball club tournament of FIBA Asia
FIBA Asia
FIBA Asia is a zone within the International Basketball Federation which contains all 44 Asian FIBA federations.-National teams:East AsiaGulfMiddle AsiaSoutheast AsiaWest Asia-Top ten FIBA Asia teams:...
. The tournament was held in Pasig, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
from May 28 to June 5, 2011. The event is co-organized by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and FIBA Asia
FIBA Asia
FIBA Asia is a zone within the International Basketball Federation which contains all 44 Asian FIBA federations.-National teams:East AsiaGulfMiddle AsiaSoutheast AsiaWest Asia-Top ten FIBA Asia teams:...
.
Al Riyadi
Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut
Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut, also known as Riyadi Club and Sporting Club is a Lebanese Basketball club based in Raouché, Beirut where both men's and women's tournaments are held every year....
from Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, after going undefeated in the entire tournament, won its first ever Fiba Asia Champions Cup title after defeating Mahram Tehran from Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
in the final game. It was the fourth time a club from Lebanon has won the championship.
Al-Rayyan from Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
, on the other hand, finished third in the tournament after defeating Smart Gilas
Smart Gilas
Smart Gilas Pilipinas is a developmental Philippine national basketball team sponsored by Smart Communications and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas...
from the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
in the third-place game.
Bid
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) originally wanted to host the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship, which was the qualifying tournament in Asia for the men's basketball eventBasketball at the Summer Olympics
Basketball has been a Summer Olympics sport for men consistently since 1936. Prior to its inclusion as a medal sport, it was held as demonstration event in 1904 and 1932, both in the United States. Women's basketball was played in the Olympics only since 1976....
of the 2012 Summer Olympics
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the "London 2012 Olympic Games", are scheduled to take place in London, England, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012...
, after reports circulated that FIBA
International Basketball Federation
The International Basketball Federation, more commonly known as FIBA , from its French name Fédération Internationale de Basketball, is an association of national organizations which governs international competition in basketball...
was planning to remove the hosting rights of the tournament from Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
.
SBP, the national sport association for basketball in the Philippines, lost its bid to host the Asian Championships, and the hosting rights was awarded to Wuhan
Wuhan
Wuhan is the capital of Hubei province, People's Republic of China, and is the most populous city in Central China. It lies at the east of the Jianghan Plain, and the intersection of the middle reaches of the Yangtze and Han rivers...
, China. Nevertheless, FIBA Asia offered the FIBA Asia Champions Cup
FIBA Asia Champions Cup
The FIBA Asia Champions Cup is the Asian club championship for basketball organized by FIBA Asia, and takes place every year.-Summary:- Titles by team :- Titles by country :-References:*...
, the Asian club championship, of the same year to the country. Newly appointed SBP executive director Sonny Barrios
Sonny Barrios
Renauld N. Barrios, better known as Sonny Barrios, is the seventh commissioner of the Philippine Basketball Association. Before serving as the commissioner, he became the officer in charge of the league on August 2007 when his predecessor Noli Eala resigned from his office after being disbarred by...
, who replaced Noli Eala, said that he considers the hosting of the 22nd FIBA Asia Champions Cup as one of his priorities as SBP's top executive. Barrios, a former commissioner of the Philippine Basketball Association
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
, said that, “The name of the country is at stake here so we have to make sure that everything runs smoothly.”
It was the third time that the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
hosted the event. The last FIBA Asia event that the country hosted was the 2005 FIBA Asia Champions Cup. In welcoming the country
Country
A country is a region legally identified as a distinct entity in political geography. A country may be an independent sovereign state or one that is occupied by another state, as a non-sovereign or formerly sovereign political division, or a geographic region associated with a previously...
as the host
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
of the tournament, FIBA Asia president Sheikh
Sheikh
Not to be confused with sikhSheikh — also spelled Sheik or Shaikh, or transliterated as Shaykh — is an honorific in the Arabic language that literally means "elder" and carries the meaning "leader and/or governor"...
Saud bin Ali Al-Thani of Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
said that, "The 2011 calendar could not have gotten to a better start than with an event in the Philippines, where basketball is almost a religion." The country last won the club championship in 1996 when Hapee Toothpaste defeated Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese basketball club Isuzu Lynx.
Venue
Former SBP executive director Noli EalaNoli Eala
Jose Emmanuel M. Eala, better known as Noli Eala, was the sixth commissioner of the Philippine Basketball Association from 2003 to 2007. Before he became the commissioner of the league, he was a play-by-play commentator of Viva-Vintage Sports, which broadcasts the PBA Games, from the early 1990s...
announced that the venue for the FIBA Asia Champions Cup in 2011 would be the Philsports Arena
PhilSports Arena
The Philippine Institute of Sports Arena or PhilSports Arena is an indoor sporting arena located inside the PhilSports Complex in Pasig, Philippines. It was formerly known as the University of Life Training and Recreational Arena or the ULTRA. The arena and its surrounding sports complex are...
in Pasig, Manila
Metro Manila
Metropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. The arena, which is located inside the PhilSports Complex
PhilSports Complex
The Philippine Institute of Sports Complex is a national sports complex of the Philippines. It is located in Meralco Avenue in Pasig, Metro Manila, Philippines...
, is maintained by the Philippine Sports Commission
Philippine Sports Commission
The Philippine Sports Commission was created through Republic Act No. 6847 in 1990 to serve as the "sole policy-making and coordinating body of all amateur sports development programs and institutions in the Philippines"...
, a government-run organization aimed at developing sports in the country.
The arena enjoys a rich basketball tradition having been the venue of most of the games of the Philippine Basketball Association
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
, the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the oldest in the world outside the U.S., from 1985 to 1992 and from 1999 to 2002. Further, it also hosted the majority of the games in the elimination round of the basketball tournaments of the 2010–11 season
UAAP Season 73
UAAP Season 73 is the 2010-2011 athletic year of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. It was hosted by De La Salle University...
of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
In January 2011, FIBA Asia deputy secretary general Hagop Khajirian along with SBP president Manuel V. Pangilinan
Manuel V. Pangilinan
Manuel V Pangilinan , also known as Manny Pangilinan and MVP, is a Filipino businessman. He is the Chairman of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, from 1998 up to the present....
inspected the venue.
| Pasig |
|---|
| PhilSports Arena PhilSports Arena The Philippine Institute of Sports Arena or PhilSports Arena is an indoor sporting arena located inside the PhilSports Complex in Pasig, Philippines. It was formerly known as the University of Life Training and Recreational Arena or the ULTRA. The arena and its surrounding sports complex are... Capacity: 10,000 |
Qualification
Ten professional basketball clubs from the Asian region competed in the annual tournament. All of the five FIBA Asia sub-zones had one automatic berth each. The Philippines were represented by Smart GilasSmart Gilas
Smart Gilas Pilipinas is a developmental Philippine national basketball team sponsored by Smart Communications and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas...
, the country's Philippine national team, as part of the club's preparations for the FIBA Asia Championship
FIBA Asia Championship
The FIBA Asia Championship for Men is a tournament which takes place every two years between teams of the continent. This is the Asian qualifying tournament for the FIBA World Championship and the Olympic basketball tournament...
of the same year. Smart Gilas was joined by nine other teams from West Asia, Middle Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Gulf.
For the participating clubs teams from the Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
sub-zone, Al Shabab and Al-Rayyan were representing United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
and Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
, respectively. A club from the Middle Asia
Middle Asia
Middle Asia is a region of Asia from the Caspian Sea in the west, to Mongolia in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north. The geographical term has appeared sometime prior to the 20th century in the Russian Empire and was closely associated with the Russian Turkestan and the...
sub-zone was also invited to participate in the tournament. But due to financial reasons, the invited teams from Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
and Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
begged off from the tournament. FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2011 organizing committee chairman Aboy Castro said that a replacement club from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, which is also bracketed under the Middle Asia sub-zone by FIBA Asia, has already been contacted. However, India withdrew from participating in the tournament.
Initially, the East Asia
East Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
sub-zone was supposed to be represented by a club from Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. FIBA Asia deputy secretary general Hagop Khajirian, at the tournament's group draw, reported that a top Japanese club from the BJ League
Bj league
The bj league is a professional basketball league in Japan that began on November 5, 2005. The ten team league is divided into two conferences, the Eastern Conference, and the Western Conference. It had its inaugural All-Star game in 2006. One of its major sponsors is Spalding.The bj league...
would participate in the Asia Champions Cup this year. Khajirian said that they were waiting for either the Ryukyu Golden Kings
Ryukyu Golden Kings
Ryukyu Golden Kings is a professional basketball team playing in the bj league, the top-tier professional basketball league of Japan....
or Rizing Fukuoka
Rizing Fukuoka
The Rizing Fukuoka are a Japanese basketball team, playing in the Western Conference of the bj league. They are based in Fukuoka Prefecture.-Reference:* at asia-basket.com*...
to confirm their participation. However, the Japan Basketball Association
Japan Basketball Association
The Japan Basketball Association is the governing body of basketball in Japan. Formed in 1930, it is based in Tokyo. The JABBA is a member of the International Basketball Federation and FIBA Asia...
withdrew from the tournament, prompting the organizers to invite a replacement from the Korean Basketball League
Korean Basketball League
The Korean Basketball League, often abbreviated to the KBL, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in South Korea. Its inaugural season was in 1997. The season starts in October and ends in April the following year. The KBL consists of 10 teams. Each team plays 54 games . Each team...
. Afterwards, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
declined the invitation to participate in the event.
Wild cards
Two wild cardWild card (sports)
The term wild card refers broadly to a tournament or playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play.-International sports:...
s were determined by FIBA Asia as Korea and India failed to confirm their participation in the tournament. The spots for the two countries were filled in by Duhok of Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
. FIBA Asia secretary general Dato Yeoh Choo Hock, explaining the wild cards, said that, "Our aim is to have a fairly balanced and completely competitive event. In the past too, we have given similar wild cards keeping mind the need for a competitive event."
WABA Super League
Four teams were eligible to qualify from the West Asia Basketball Association Champions CupWABA Champions Cup
The WABA Champions Cup is the West Asian club championship for basketball organized by West Asia Basketball Association, and takes place every year, the tournament also serves as a qualifying tournament for the FIBA Asia Champions Cup.-Champions:...
, which is the West Asian basketball club championship. Lebanese
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
basketball team Al-Riyadi
Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut
Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut, also known as Riyadi Club and Sporting Club is a Lebanese Basketball club based in Raouché, Beirut where both men's and women's tournaments are held every year....
, who placed third in both 2008 and 2009 editions of the FIBA Asia Champions Cup, and Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
n club Al Jalaa
Al-Jalaa Aleppo
Al-Jalaa Aleppo, is a Syrian Basketball club based in Aleppo. They compete in the Syrian D1 League, and have qualified for the Asian Champions Cup on two occasions-Syrian League and Cup Record:*Syrian League Runner-Up – 2004...
have qualified by just entering the semifinals of the 2011 WABA Super League. Even though Al-Jalaa did not show up to play the fifth game of the WABA finals in 2011, the club was still allowed to participate in the year's Champions Cup. However, the team was penalized
Sanctions (law)
Sanctions are penalties or other means of enforcement used to provide incentives for obedience with the law, or with rules and regulations. Criminal sanctions can take the form of serious punishment, such as corporal or capital punishment, incarceration, or severe fines...
with a two-year ban from playing in the WABA Champions Cup
WABA Champions Cup
The WABA Champions Cup is the West Asian club championship for basketball organized by West Asia Basketball Association, and takes place every year, the tournament also serves as a qualifying tournament for the FIBA Asia Champions Cup.-Champions:...
and was also fined USD 30,000.
Two-time defending FIBA Asia Champions Cup winner Mahram Tehran defeated Zob Ahan in their battle for third place to qualify as the team from Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. ASU, on the other hand, beat Al Riyadi Aramex
Aramex (Jordan)
Al Riyadi Aramex Basketball Club is a Jordanian basketball club based in Amman, Jordan. They compete in the Jordanian Basketball Federation.-WABA Champions Cup:* 1998: 2nd place* 2003: 4th place* 2006: Quarterfinalist* 2007: 8th place-External links:*...
in the qualifying game to identify the Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
ian representative to the tournament.
ASEAN Basketball League
In March 2011, FIBA Asia secretary general Dato Yeoh Choo Hock announced that the Chang Thailand Slammers, the 2010–112010–11 ABL Grand Finals Playoffs
The 2010–11 ASEAN Basketball League Grand Finals Playoffs was the second season of competition since its establishment. A total of four teams competed...
ASEAN Basketball League
ASEAN Basketball League
The ASEAN Basketball League, often abbreviated to the ABL, is a men's professional basketball league in Southeast Asia. Six clubs from six different countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations competed in the league's 2009 inaugural season...
champions, would represent the South East Asia sub-zone in the event. However, the Basketball Association of Thailand got suspended, prohibiting the team from participating in any FIBA-sanctioned event. This led ABL CEO Kuhan Foo and FIBA Asia to replace the Slammers with the Westports KL Dragons, ranked third in the ABL, for the year's Champions Cup.
To prepare for the tournament, the Malaysian players of the KL Dragons competed as a team in the 17th Father Martin Cup
Father Martin Cup
The Father Martin Cup is a pre-season collegiate basketball tournament in the Philippines. It gathers teams from various collegiate leagues, including the UAAP and NCAA, in a basketball tournament just before the start of the collegiate season....
, a pre-season collegiate
College athletics
College athletics refers primarily to sports and athletic competition organized and funded by institutions of tertiary education . In the United States, college athletics is a two-tiered system. The first tier includes the sports that are sanctioned by one of the collegiate sport governing bodies...
basketball tournament in the Philippines. KL Dragons assistant coach Ariel Vanguardia was also named head coach of the team for the Champions Cup as Goh Heng Chuat, who coaches the team in the ABL, is busy preparing the Malaysia national basketball team
Malaysia national basketball team
The Malaysia national basketball team represents Malaysia at international basketball competitions. Its sole appearance at a world championship was in 1986. Petronas is the major sponsor for Malaysia Basketball Association. The women's national team have more successes internationally compared to...
for the 2011 Southeast Asia Basketball Association
Southeast Asia Basketball Association
The Southeast Asia Basketball Association is a subzone of FIBA Asia consisting of countries from Southeast Asia. The ASEAN Basketball League, a professional league, is the top level of club competition run by the SEABA.-SEABA Championship:...
tournament and the 2011 Southeast Asian Games
2011 Southeast Asian Games
The 26th Southeast Asian Games was held in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia on 11 until 22 November 2011. Indonesia's fourth time to host the SEA Games, it last hosted the Games in 1997...
.
Qualified teams
| East Asia | |Persian Gulf | |Middle Asia | |Southeast Asia | |West Asia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Al-Ittihad |
 Smart GilasSmart Gilas Smart Gilas Pilipinas is a developmental Philippine national basketball team sponsored by Smart Communications and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas... |
 Al-RiyadiSporting Al Riyadi Beirut Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut, also known as Riyadi Club and Sporting Club is a Lebanese Basketball club based in Raouché, Beirut where both men's and women's tournaments are held every year.... |
||
 Al-Rayyan |
 KL Dragons |
 Al-Jalaa Aleppo |
||
 Al Shabab |
 Mahram Tehran |
|||
 ASU |
||||
 Duhok |
* Note: For the East Asia sub-zone, Japan withdrew from the event as they were still recovering from the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
The 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku, also known as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, or the Great East Japan Earthquake, was a magnitude 9.0 undersea megathrust earthquake off the coast of Japan that occurred at 14:46 JST on Friday, 11 March 2011, with the epicenter approximately east...
. Korea also turned down the invitation to participate in the event. Japan's original slot was later awarded to Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia. For the middle asia sub-zone, its slot was awarded to Duhok of Iraq after Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, and India all begged off from the tournament.
Group draw
The draw was held on April 15, 2011 at the Discovery Suites Hotel, Pasig. FIBA Asia deputy secretary general Hagop Khajirian conducted the draw along with SBP president Manny PangilinanManuel V. Pangilinan
Manuel V Pangilinan , also known as Manny Pangilinan and MVP, is a Filipino businessman. He is the Chairman of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, from 1998 up to the present....
, SBP executive director Sonny Barrios
Sonny Barrios
Renauld N. Barrios, better known as Sonny Barrios, is the seventh commissioner of the Philippine Basketball Association. Before serving as the commissioner, he became the officer in charge of the league on August 2007 when his predecessor Noli Eala resigned from his office after being disbarred by...
, and former FIBA Asia secretary general Mauricio C. Martelino. The qualified basketball clubs were divided into two groups of five.
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| ASU KL Dragons Al-Ittihad Duhok Smart Gilas Smart Gilas Smart Gilas Pilipinas is a developmental Philippine national basketball team sponsored by Smart Communications and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas... |
Al-Riyadi Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut, also known as Riyadi Club and Sporting Club is a Lebanese Basketball club based in Raouché, Beirut where both men's and women's tournaments are held every year.... Al-Rayyan Al Shabab Mahram Tehran Al JalaaAl-Jalaa Aleppo Al-Jalaa Aleppo, is a Syrian Basketball club based in Aleppo. They compete in the Syrian D1 League, and have qualified for the Asian Champions Cup on two occasions-Syrian League and Cup Record:*Syrian League Runner-Up – 2004... |
Squads
All 10 participating clubs for the 2011 Fiba Asia Champions Cup had 15 players on their rosters. Each team was allowed to tap two imports to reinforce their squads.Opening ceremony
The opening ceremony of the tournament was held on May 27, 2011 at the MeralcoMeralco
The Manila Electric Company , also known as MERALCO or Meralco, is the Philippines' largest distributor of electrical power.The word MERALCO, is an acronym for Manila Electric Railroad And Light COmpany, which was the company's original name from 1903 to 1919.MERALCO is the Metro Manila's only...
multi-purpose hall in Pasig City. The participating teams from West Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Gulf regions attended the welcome dinner where the Filipino culture dominated the theme of the ceremony. The guests were entertained by Filipino folk dances during the event, and were served Filipino dishes.
Preliminary round
For the preliminary roundRound-robin tournament
A round-robin tournament is a competition "in which each contestant meets all other contestants in turn".-Terminology:...
, 10 teams were drawn into two groups composing of five teams each. The clubs played against all the other teams in their respective groups. The top four teams from each group advanced to the knockout
Single-elimination tournament
A single-elimination tournament, also called a knockout, cup or sudden death tournament, is a type of elimination tournament where the loser of each match or bracket is immediately eliminated from winning the championship or first prize in the event...
stage. The two teams that finished last in their groups played against each other for the ninth place.
Group A
| Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Gilas Smart Gilas Smart Gilas Pilipinas is a developmental Philippine national basketball team sponsored by Smart Communications and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas... |
4 | 4 | 0 | 346 | 271 | +74 | 8 |
| ASU |
4 | 3 | 1 | 328 | 288 | +40 | 7 |
| Al-Ittihad |
4 | 2 | 2 | 319 | 331 | −12 | 6 |
| Duhok |
4 | 1 | 3 | 293 | 307 | −14 | 5 |
| KL Dragons |
4 | 0 | 4 | 293 | 382 | −89 | 4 |
All times are local (UTC+08).
Group B
| Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al-Riyadi Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut, also known as Riyadi Club and Sporting Club is a Lebanese Basketball club based in Raouché, Beirut where both men's and women's tournaments are held every year.... |
4 | 4 | 0 | 349 | 309 | +40 | 8 |
| Mahram Tehran |
4 | 3 | 1 | 330 | 272 | +58 | 7 |
| Al-Rayyan |
4 | 2 | 2 | 305 | 286 | +19 | 6 |
| Al Jalaa Al-Jalaa Aleppo Al-Jalaa Aleppo, is a Syrian Basketball club based in Aleppo. They compete in the Syrian D1 League, and have qualified for the Asian Champions Cup on two occasions-Syrian League and Cup Record:*Syrian League Runner-Up – 2004... |
4 | 1 | 3 | 292 | 325 | −33 | 5 |
| Al Shabab |
4 | 0 | 4 | 286 | 370 | −84 | 4 |
All times are local (UTC+08).
Championship bracket
Consolation bracket
Quarterfinals
All times are local (UTC+08).Semifinals 5th–8th
Semifinals
7th place
All times are local (UTC+08).5th place
3rd place
Finals
Final standings
| Rank | Al Riyadi
| 7–0 |
|---|---|---|
 |
Mahram Tehran |
5–2 |
 |
Al Rayyan |
4–3 |
| 4 | Smart Gilas Smart Gilas Smart Gilas Pilipinas is a developmental Philippine national basketball team sponsored by Smart Communications and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas... |
5–2 |
| Failed to Reach Semifinals | ||
| 5 | ASU |
5–2 |
| 6 | Al Jalaa Al-Jalaa Aleppo Al-Jalaa Aleppo, is a Syrian Basketball club based in Aleppo. They compete in the Syrian D1 League, and have qualified for the Asian Champions Cup on two occasions-Syrian League and Cup Record:*Syrian League Runner-Up – 2004... |
2–5 |
| 7 | Al-Ittihad |
3–4 |
| 8 | Duhok |
1–6 |
| Failed to Reach Quarterfinals | ||
| 9 | Al Shabab |
0–4 |
| KL Dragons |
0–4 | |
Awards
| 2011 FIBA Asia Champions Cup |
|---|
 Al Riyadi 1st title |
| Most Valuable Player Most Valuable Player In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests... |
|---|
| Fadi El Khatib Fadi El Khatib Fadi El Khatib , born January 1, 1979, is a Lebanese basketball player currently playing for Champville SC in the Lebanese Basketball League... |
Statistical leaders
The top ten of the five statistics are shown below.Points
| Pos. | G | Pts. | Courtney Fields
| 4 | 99 | 24.8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Christopher Williams Chris Williams (basketball) Chris Williams is an American professional basketball player. A 1.99 m small forward, he led the 2004-05 Euroleague in steals with 2.8 per game playing for the Frankfurt Skyliners. He had won the German championship with Frankfurt in 2004. From 2005 to 2007 he played in Korea for Ulsan Mobis... |
7 | 171 | 24.4 | ||
| 3 | Christopher Ayer |
4 | 89 | 22.3 | ||
| 4 | Vladislav Dragajlovic |
7 | 151 | 21.6 | ||
| 5 | Fadi El-Khatib |
7 | 147 | 21.0 | ||
| 6 | Chauncey Leslie |
7 | 139 | 19.9 | ||
| 7 |  Marcus DouthitMarcus Douthit Marcus Eugene Douthit is an American-Filipino basketball player who graduated from Providence College. After his stint with the Providence Friars, he was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2004 NBA Draft... |
7 | 134 | 19.1 | ||
| 8 | Jameel Watkins Jameel Watkins Jameel Watkins is an American professional basketball center. He was a college standout for the Georgetown Hoyas during the late 1990s but never played in the NBA.-College career:... |
6 | 112 | 18.7 | ||
| 9 | C.J. Giles |
7 | 130 | 18.6 | ||
| 10 | Chudnay Earl Gray |
6 | 109 | 18.2 | ||
Rebounds
| Pos. | G | Rebs. | Vladislav Dragajlovic
| 7 | 97 | 13.9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | C.J. Giles |
7 | 85 | 12.1 | ||
| 3 | Marcus Douthit Marcus Douthit Marcus Eugene Douthit is an American-Filipino basketball player who graduated from Providence College. After his stint with the Providence Friars, he was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2004 NBA Draft... |
7 | 85 | 12.1 | ||
| 4 | Christopher Ayer |
4 | 47 | 11.8 | ||
| 5 | Loren Woods Loren Woods Loren Woods is an American professional basketball player, currently playing with Zob Ahan Isfahan BC in the Iranian Basketball Super League... |
6 | 64 | 10.7 | ||
| 6 | Ahmad Ismail |
6 | 63 | 10.5 | ||
| 7 | Jameel Watkins Jameel Watkins Jameel Watkins is an American professional basketball center. He was a college standout for the Georgetown Hoyas during the late 1990s but never played in the NBA.-College career:... |
6 | 59 | 9.8 | ||
| 8 | Tanguy Ngombo Tanguy Ngombo Tanguy Alban Harrys Ngombo, often incorrectly written as Targuy Ngombo , is a Congolese-born Qatari professional basketball player who plays for Al Rayyan of the Qatar Basketball League. He has represented the Qatari national team in international competition. He was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks... |
7 | 68 | 9.7 | ||
| 9 | Courtney Fields |
4 | 33 | 8.3 | ||
| 10 | Cheikh Samb |
7 | 55 | 7.9 |
Assists
| Pos. | G | Asts. | Osama Daghles Sam Daghlas Osama Mohd Fathi Daghles is an American-born Jordanian professional basketball player of Palestinian origin... | 7 | 52 | 7.4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | J.V. Casio |
7 | 43 | 6.1 | ||
| 3 | Samad Nikkhah Bahrami |
7 | 34 | 4.9 | ||
| 4 | Ali Al Juboori |
3 | 14 | 4.7 | ||
| 5 | Guganeswaran Batumalai Guganeswaran Batumalai Guganeswaran Batumalai is a Malaysian basketball player.He is 5'11 and weighs 170lb , playing the Guard/Forward position for the Westports KL Dragons.-References:*... |
4 | 18 | 4.5 | ||
| 6 | Darren Keely |
7 | 30 | 4.3 | ||
| 7 | Jamaal Miller |
7 | 30 | 4.3 | ||
| 8 | Quitaba Al-Doori |
7 | 29 | 4.1 | ||
| 9 | Jassim Haji |
3 | 12 | 4.0 | ||
| 10 | Rodrigue Akl Rodrigue Akl Rodrigue Akl is a Lebanese basketball player with Anibal Zahle of the Lebanese Basketball League. He is a six-foot-three-inch tall point guard.-Club career:... |
5 | 20 | 4.0 |
Blocks
| Pos. | G | Blks. | Cheikh Samb
| 5 | 18 | 3.6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Loren Woods Loren Woods Loren Woods is an American professional basketball player, currently playing with Zob Ahan Isfahan BC in the Iranian Basketball Super League... |
4 | 14 | 3.5 | ||
| 3 | C.J. Giles |
5 | 10 | 2.0 | ||
| 4 | Marcus Douthit Marcus Douthit Marcus Eugene Douthit is an American-Filipino basketball player who graduated from Providence College. After his stint with the Providence Friars, he was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2004 NBA Draft... |
5 | 8 | 1.6 | ||
| 5 | Christopher Ayer |
4 | 7 | 1.7 | ||
| 6 | Samaki Walker Samaki Walker Samaki Ijuma Walker is an American professional basketball power forward and center. Walker played college basketball at the University of Louisville and was drafted in 1996 by the Dallas Mavericks, where he played until 1999... |
5 | 6 | 1.7 | ||
| 7 | Ali Fakhreddine Ali Fakhreddine Ali Fakhreddine is a professional Lebanese basketball player who is currently a member of Lebanese Basketball League team Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut. He is also a member of Lebanon national basketball team as a Forward-Center. He's 2.02 m tall .-External links:* at asia-basket.com* at FIBA.com... |
3 | 4 | 1.3 | ||
| 8 | Asi Taulava Asi Taulava Pauliasi M. Taulava also known as Asi Taulava is a American-born Filipino-Tongan professional basketball player playing in the Philippines for the Meralco Bolts in the Philippine Basketball Association.... |
5 | 4 | 1.2 | ||
| 9 | Japeth Aguilar Japeth Aguilar Japeth Paul C. Aguilar , better known as Japeth Aguilar born in Pampanga, Philippines, is a Filipino basketball player. He recently played for Smart Gilas, and will play for the Talk N Text Tropang Texters in the Philippine Basketball Association... |
5 | 5 | 1.0 | ||
| 10 | Marcelle Yaqqub |
5 | 5 | 1.0 |
Steals
| Pos. | G | Stls. | Hamed Afagh Hamed Afagh Hamed Afagh Eslamieh is a professional Iranian basketball player who plays for Zob Ahan Isfahan of the Iranian Super League and also for the Iranian national basketball team... | 5 | 13 | 2.6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Qutaiba Al-Doori |
5 | 9 | 1.8 | ||
| 3 | Jameel Watkins Jameel Watkins Jameel Watkins is an American professional basketball center. He was a college standout for the Georgetown Hoyas during the late 1990s but never played in the NBA.-College career:... |
5 | 8 | 1.6 | ||
| 4 | C.J. Giles |
5 | 7 | 1.4 | ||
| 5 | Marcus Douthit Marcus Douthit Marcus Eugene Douthit is an American-Filipino basketball player who graduated from Providence College. After his stint with the Providence Friars, he was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2004 NBA Draft... |
5 | 6 | 1.2 | ||
| 6 | Courtney Fields |
4 | 5 | 1.2 | ||
| 7 | Christopher Williams Chris Williams (basketball) Chris Williams is an American professional basketball player. A 1.99 m small forward, he led the 2004-05 Euroleague in steals with 2.8 per game playing for the Frankfurt Skyliners. He had won the German championship with Frankfurt in 2004. From 2005 to 2007 he played in Korea for Ulsan Mobis... |
5 | 5 | 1.0 | ||
| 8 | Darren Keely |
5 | 5 | 1.0 | ||
| 9 | J.V. Casio |
5 | 5 | 1.0 | ||
| 10 | Ali Hamad |
5 | 4 | 0.8 |
Tournament officials
Through the tournament's official website, FIBA Asia named the refereeReferee
A referee is the person of authority, in a variety of sports, who is responsible for presiding over the game from a neutral point of view and making on the fly decisions that enforce the rules of the sport...
s and commissioners that will officiate the FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2011. Below are the technical officials
Official (basketball)
In basketball, an official is a person who has the responsibility to enforce the rules and maintain the order of the game. The title of official also applies to the scorers and timekeepers, as well as other personnel that have an active task in maintaining the game...
for the entire tournament:
|
|
Broadcasting rights
The FIBA Asia Champions Cup was aired on Philippine VHF television network Intercontinental Broadcasting CorporationIntercontinental Broadcasting Corporation
Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation is a Philippine VHF television network of the Government Communications Group headed by the Press Secretary. Its studios are located at Broadcast City, Old Balara, Capitol Hills, Diliman, Quezon City and its transmitter is located at the Coca Cola plant,...
via Sports5
Sports5
TV5 Sports or Sports5 is a division of Associated Broadcasting Company , which airs many of the sports events in the Philippines. The world's second oldest professional basketball league, Philippine Basketball Association, was its flagship program since it acquired of the television rights from...
. In April 2011, Sports5, the sports division of TV5
Associated Broadcasting Company
The Associated Broadcasting Company, Inc is a television network in the Philippines, with main broadcast facilities and transmitter located at 762 Quirino Highway, San Bartolome, Novaliches, Quezon City. The network was previously known as the , Associated Broadcasting Company remains the legal...
, signed a blocktime
Block programming
Block programming or television block is a strategy of broadcast programming and radio programmers. Block programming occurs when the television network schedules similar television programs back-to-back. The concept is to provide similar programming to keep the viewers. Radio stations use it...
agreement with IBC-13 to air live sports coverage via AKTV, a primetime block that airs local and international sports events.
| Country | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| Philippines |
IBC-13 Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation Intercontinental Broadcasting Corporation is a Philippine VHF television network of the Government Communications Group headed by the Press Secretary. Its studios are located at Broadcast City, Old Balara, Capitol Hills, Diliman, Quezon City and its transmitter is located at the Coca Cola plant,... (AKTV AKTV AKTV is a sports and lifestyle primetime programming block in the Philippines. Owned and operated by TV5, it occupies the 5:00 to 11:00pm timeslot of IBC; weekend coverage usually begins at 10:00 am. It started since June 5, 2011.-History:... ) |
Event website
In May 2011, FIBA AsiaFIBA Asia
FIBA Asia is a zone within the International Basketball Federation which contains all 44 Asian FIBA federations.-National teams:East AsiaGulfMiddle AsiaSoutheast AsiaWest Asia-Top ten FIBA Asia teams:...
announced that the official site of the tournament has gone live online. The website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
has all the information about the event such as its overview, rosters, and system of competition. In addition, the website also features real-time updates as well as news, live game results, and interviews.