Fasten your seat belts: Asia's top clubs are in action
The FIBA Asia Champions Cup is Asia’s premier club level basketball competition, involving the champion clubs of the top ten countries in Asia.
Every team is allowed to include two import players (Players not of the same origin as the nationality of the club) in their rosters.
Teams from Philippines have won the gold four times – the highest for any country – closed followed by teams from China, Lebanon and Iran all with three gold medals each.
Al Hikmeh Sagesse of Lebanon, who won back-to-back at home in 1999-2000 (the first one a gold on debut) and then in 2004 are the only team to win the gold medal three times.
Iranian clubs hold the distinction of winning the gold in the three previous Champions Cups – Saba Battery in 2007 and 2008 followed Mahram’s gold medal on debut at the 20th edition at Jakarta last year.
A Qatari team has won the gold twice – incidentally on both occasions it was Al Rayyan the current hosts who took that honour.
This is the first time Doha, the capital of Qatar, will play host to the FIBA Asia Champions Cup.
Doha, however, has played host to 23rd FIBA Asia Championship in 2005. The other FIBA Asia event Doha hosted was the 2000 FIBA Asia U20 Championship.
Al Rayyan, the hosts of the 21st FIBA Asia Champions Cup hold an impressive record in the tournament – having won a medal in all their eight appearances so far, starting with their silver on debut at the 2001 edition at Dubai.
Al Rayyan were the champions of the FIBA Asia Champions Cup in 2002 and 2005 besides winning three silver and as many bronze. They however, missed out on participation in the 20th FIBA Asia Champions Cup at Jakarta last year.