Merlion Cup (basketball)

Last updated

Merlion Cup
Current season, competition or edition:
Sports current event.svg 2017 Merlion Cup (basketball)
Singapore Merlion Cup (2016) logo.png
Logo used since 2016
Sport Basketball
First season1984
CountryFlag of Singapore.svg  Singapore
Most recent
champion(s)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Adelaide 36ers
(1st title)
Most titles Flag of the Soviet Union.svg USSR Spartak
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China (2 titles each)

The Merlion Cup is an international basketball tournament, in which clubs, national teams and selections take part. It is organised by the Basketball Association of Singapore.

Contents

History

The inaugural Merlion Cup was hosted in 1984 with the Chinese national team winning over Spanish team Madrid Estudiantes. [1] The tournament was held next year but the 1986 edition was cancelled due to sponsorship issues amidst a recession. [2]

The tournament was resumed in 1987 and was held annually until the 1996 with the 1993 edition not held due to the 1993 Southeast Asian Games [3] and the 1995 edition being cancelled. [4]

The Gay World Stadium later renamed as the Geyland Indoor Stadium has been used as the venue of the tournament from the inaugural until the 1987 tournament. From the 1989 until the 1996 edition the Singapore Indoor Stadium was used as the venue of the basketball meet. [5]

The Merlion Cup was not to be held again until 2016 when the BAS decided to revive the tournament. Two more editions in two years is planned by BAS citing the success of the 2016 edition attributing healthy attendances throughout the competition. [6]

Results

YearHostFinalThird place Game
ChampionScoreSecond placeThird placeScoreFourth place
1984
Details
Geylang [7] Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
China
71–70 [1] Flag of Spain.svg
Madrid Estudiantes
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Georgia USSR
82–73 Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Mazda Cannons
1985
Details
Geylang [8] Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
USSR Spartak
75–70 [9] Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
China
?
1987
Details
Geylang Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
USSR Spartak
[10]
? Flag of Germany.svg
Steiner-Optik Bayreuth
? (Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China Army or Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg KK Smelt Olimpija) [11]
1988
Details
Geylang Flag of the United States.svg
Brewster Heights Packing
[12]
?Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
China Olympic
?
1989
Details
Kallang Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Kiev Stroitel
84–81 [13] Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
China
Flag of the United States.svg
University of Nevada alumni
82–77 [14] Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Gold Coast Cougars
1991
Details
Kallang Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
China
90–74 [15] Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
USSR Spartak
? (Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kiev IPS Budivelnik or Flag of the United States.svg World Basketball League All-Stars)
1992
Details
Kallang Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg
Fajing
96–76 [16] Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
Shanghai
?
1994
Details
Kallang Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Melbourne Tigers
[17]
? Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg
Frankwell
?
1996
Details
Kallang Flag of Indonesia.svg
Aspac Texmaco
[18]
88–84 [19] Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
China
?
2016
Details
Kallang Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
Shanghai Sharks
78–77 Flag of the Philippines.svg
Mighty Sports
Flag of South Korea.svg
Seoul Samsung Thunders
94–55 Flag of Singapore.svg
Singapore Slingers
2017
Details
Kallang Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Adelaide 36ers
101–81 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
Shanghai Sharks
Flag of South Korea.svg
Jeonju KCC Egis
78–68 Flag of Singapore.svg
Singapore Slingers

Medal tally

By country

CountryGold medal icon.svg GoldSilver medal icon.svg SilverTotal [note 1]
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 369
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 314
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 202
Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 113
Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 101
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 101
Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 011
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 011
Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany 011

See also

Notes

  1. Does not include bronze medal results due to lack of data

References

  1. 1 2 Koh, Tony (9 September 1984). "China take title in thrilling clash". Singapore Monitor. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  2. Siouw, Peter (14 October 1986). "Commercial Cup is off". The Straits Times. p. 23. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  3. "Miscellaneous Column 1". The Straits Times. 24 December 1993. p. 36. Retrieved 29 August 2016. THE local basketball scene was very quiet, what with the popular Merlion Cup international competition being postponed to next year because of the June South-east Asia Games.
  4. "Merlion Cup cancelled". The Straits Times. 13 February 1995. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  5. Ho, Shirlynn (15 May 1989). "Merlion Cup first at Indoor Stadium". The Straits Times. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  6. Chia, Alvin (26 September 2016). "BAS aims for at least two more Merlion Cups". The Straits Times. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  7. "Sports around the World". The Age. 10 September 1984. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  8. "You'll be surprised what comes to light in Singapore this month". New Sunday Times. 13 September 1985. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  9. Siouw, Peter (16 September 1985). "Spartaks fly in final". The Straits Times. p. 29. Retrieved 29 August 2016. Russians win explosive Merlion battle against stubborn China... ...The European giants (USSR Spartak) hammered out a dramatic 75–70 victory...
  10. Lee, Wai Wun (8 July 1988). "Tbilisi to carry on Soviet Challenge". The Straits Times. p. 37. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  11. Lim, Seng Tiong (18 July 1987). "Zharkov zeal seals Spartak's victory". The Straits Times. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  12. Chan, Alfonso (8 August 1988). "Bets on the Americans". The New Paper. p. 32. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  13. "Spectacular Soviets". The New Paper. 4 December 1989. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  14. Lee, Wai Wun (4 December 1989). "Switch in tactics pays off". The Straits Times. Retrieved 29 August 2016. Finally a switch in tactics helped the Americans (University of Nevada Alumni) overcome Gold Coast Gougars, of Australia, 82-77 to finish third in the Merlion Cup basketball tournament at the Singapore Indoor Stadium last night.
  15. Sim, Albert (24 November 1991). "Chinese in runaway victory". The Straits Times. Retrieved 29 August 2016. CHINA put on a sparkling performance to overwhelm Spartak, of the Soviet Union, 90–74 in the final of the Merlion Cup basketball tournament last night.
  16. Gascon, George (21 December 1992). "HK Fajing strolls to the title". The Straits Times. Retrieved 29 August 2016. Merlion Cup basketball final: HK Fajing 96 Shanghai 76
  17. "Mauling Tigers bags title". The Straits Times. 28 November 1994. p. 51. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  18. "Aspac Texmaco Basketball Team". Asian Basketball Association. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  19. "Aspac's splurge on US stars pays off". The Straits Times. 9 September 1996. Retrieved 29 August 2016.