FIBA International Christmas Tournament

FIBA International Christmas Tournament [1] also known as the Christmas Tournament (Torneo de Navidad) was a men's basketball international friendly competition, at the club level (and in some editions with national teams), organized by FIBA at its first decades through the Commission of International Organizations [2] under the hand of Raimundo Saporta, club director and president of the International Commission of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), and with the authorization and support of R. William Jones, its general secretary, so it had the officiality of FIBA in its first decades of life,[3] being also the starting point of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, whose first edition appears in the history of this competition.[4][5]

FIBA International Christmas Tournament
SportBasketball
Founded1966
Inaugural season1966
No. of teams4
CountryFIBA members
ContinentEurope
Most recent
champion(s)
Real Madrid
(26th title)
Most titles Real Madrid
(26 titles)

History

The competition was held for the first time in January 1966 with the name of FIBA Intercontinental Cup on the occasion of the inauguration of the new basketball venue of Real Madrid, the Pabellón de la Ciudad Deportiva (later called the "Raimundo Saporta Pavilion"). This edition also served as the starting point of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup (later known as the FIBA Club World Cup), whose results were valid for the first edition of the aforementioned competition of the highest basketball organism, and whose first trophy It was the same as the one used in the FIBA International Christmas Tournament until 1980.

The second edition of the Christmas Tournament was baptized at the time as Latin Cup, due to the origin of the participating teams (there was a competition called Latin Cup in 1953 that only had an edition, although the one of December 1966 counts as the second edition of the Christmas Tournament), and it was not until the third edition, in 1967, when the tournament was renamed by the popular and better-known FIBA International Tournament Christmas -Torneo de Navidad- (also known as the "Trophy Raimundo Saporta", and later "Memorial Fernando Martín", together with the denomination of Christmas Tournament, as well as "Philips Trophy" from its beginnings and El Corte Inglés from 1981 until the end of the 80s [6]).[4][5] That is, FIBA organized, Philips put the money and Real Madrid yielded the field, with the approval and consent of the FEB.[2] As of 1981, Real Madrid, with the sponsorship of the English Court (until 1989, subsequently replacing other sponsors [7]), managed the tournament, 9 although their relations with FIBA continued, and proof of this is the constant presence, year after year, of the Christmas tournament that, despite what the fan can think, does not organize Real Madrid but the Committee of International Activities of the FIBA (proof of this is that the 1984 edition is within the Great Moments of the FIBA Basket).[3]

The tournament ended up acquiring a great importance, and he was attended by some of the most prestigious teams and combined at the time. Despite this, considered nowadays as a friendly competition, although the prestige of the twelve silver medals of the winner for the contenders was maximum, since until 1980 it had the official status and the protection of FIBA. However, the first edition of the International Christmas Tournament made the FIBA Intercontinental Basketball Cup officially emerge, a competition that "merengues" would win four times.

It could be said that the International Christmas Tournament, while it was under the auspices and organization of the FIBA (1966-1980), had a rank of para-official competition, that is, that it had an official rank or character (although it was not considered like this at present), but it worked as such at that time. For what was an international friendly competition of an official nature. Although from 1981 it was managed by Real Madrid, the Committee of International Activities of FIBA was behind it. In fact it was the starting point of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, and whose second edition of this tournament (called Copa Latina in that edition), already breaking away from the Intercontinental, continued under the organization and official FIBA in everything concerning the delivery of trophies and the FIBA emblem on the podium, as well as FIBA referees, but the fact that its last decades were largely managed by Real Madrid, because it gave the competition, for all intents and purposes, a friendly character, despite its weight, importance and notoriety, but above all due to the fact that its participants acceded by invitation (although in the FIBA Club World Cup as well). In short, the officiality of FIBA was languishing as of 1980 (despite the fact that FIBA and its committee were still behind the event, as attested by the presence, year after year, of FIBA referees [7]) and redefining itself in a friendly tournament (from 1980), although of great prestige for all tale meant and the international character of it.

Results

The competition featured three different trophy models throughout its history. The first gold and granted by FIBA until 1980, the second granted by Real Madrid together with its sponsor El Corte Inglés during the time that the sponsorship lasted (1981-1989), and the third trophy model that granted Real Madrid during his last decades.[8][9]

Year Champions Second place Third place Fourth place Results / Notes
1966
Details

Ignis Varese

Corinthians

Real Madrid

Chicago Jamaco Saints
Final: 66–59
3rd place game: 112–96
1966
Details

Simmenthal Milano

Real Madrid

ASVEL

Benfica
Four team league stage.
1967
Details

Real Madrid

Juventud Kalso

Victoria Melbourne

River Plate
Four team league stage.
1968
Details

Real Madrid

Uruguay

Meralco Reddy Kilowatts

Picadero
Four team league stage.
1969
Details

Real Madrid

Panama

Buenos Aires Selection

Juventud Nerva
Four team league stage.
1970
Details

Real Madrid

Juventud Nerva

Gimnasia y Esgrima

Puerto Rico
Four team league stage.
1971
Details

North Carolina Tar Heels

Real Madrid

Juventud Schweppes

Unión Española
Four team league stage.
1972
Details

Real Madrid

Palmeiras

Virginia Cavaliers

Estudiantes Monteverde
Four team league stage.
1973
Details

Real Madrid

Puerto Rico

Juventud Schweppes

Obras Sanitarias
Four team league stage.
1974
Details

Real Madrid

North Carolina Tar Heels

Cuba

Estudiantes Monteverde
Four team league stage.
1975
Details

Real Madrid

Palmeiras

Arizona State Sun Devils

Estudiantes Monteverde
Four team league stage.
1976
Details

Real Madrid

Tennessee Volunteers

Cavigal Nice

Africa Selection
Four team league stage.
1977
Details

Real Madrid

Australia

Defensor Sporting

Bradley Braves
Four team league stage.
1978
Details

Real Madrid

Joventut Freixenet

Czechoslovakia

Obras Sanitarias
Four team league stage.
1979
Details

Soviet Union

Real Madrid

Athletes in Action

Joventut Freixenet
Four team league stage.
1980
Details

Real Madrid

Cotonificio

Sírio

Partizan
Four team league stage.
1981
Details

Real Madrid

Marlboro All-Stars

Inmobanco

Israel
Four team league stage.
1982
Details

Inmobanco

Real Madrid

Marlboro All-Stars

São José
Four team league stage.
1983
Details

Soviet Union

Real Madrid

New York All-Stars

Cuba
Four team league stage.
1984
Details

Soviet Union

Real Madrid

Cheiw All-Stars

Yugoslavia
Four team league stage.
1985
Details

Real Madrid

Yugoslavia

Monte Líbano

Golden State All-Stars
Four team league stage.
1986
Details

Real Madrid

Yugoslavia

Brazil

Winston All-Stars
Four team league stage.
1987
Details

Real Madrid

Soviet Union

Greece

Argentina
Four team league stage.
1988
Details

Yugoslavia

Real Madrid

Soviet Union

Monte Líbano
Four team league stage.
1989
Details

Jugoplastika

Real Madrid

Aris

Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
Four team league stage.
1990
Details

Real Madrid Otaysa

POP 84

Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv

Limoges CSP
Four team league stage.
1991
Details

Real Madrid Asegurator

Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv

Australia

Benetton Treviso
Four team league stage.
1992
Details

Estudiantes Argentaria

Real Madrid Teka

Cibona

Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
Four team league stage.
1993
Details

Brazil All-Stars

Stefanel Trieste

Real Madrid Teka

Estudiantes Argentaria
Four team league stage.
1994
Details

Yugoslavia

Real Madrid Teka

Moscow Selection

São Paulo All-Stars
Four team league stage.
1995
Details

Real Madrid Teka

Australia

Rio Claro

Cuba
Four team league stage.
1996
Details

Real Madrid Teka

Olympiacos

Efes Pilsen

Scavolini Pesaro
Four team league stage.
1997
Details

Real Madrid Teka

Italy

Brazil

Nea Zealand
Four team league stage.
1998
Details

CSKA Moscow

Real Madrid Teka

Partizan

Union Olimpija
Final: 84–77
3rd place game: 66–62
1999
Details

Panathinaikos

Real Madrid Teka

Partizan

Zadar
Final: 78–77
3rd place game: 76–74
2000
Details

Real Madrid Teka

São Paulo All-Stars
N/AN/AFinal: 111–83
2001
Details

Ural Great Perm

Real Madrid
N/AN/AFinal: 80–69
2002
Details

Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv

Real Madrid
N/AN/AFinal: 87–71
2003
Details

Real Madrid

Ülker
N/AN/AFinal: 86–78
2004
Details

Real Madrid

Telemar Rio de Janeiro
N/AN/AFinal: 85–69
2006
Details

Real Madrid

Lietuvos rytas
N/AN/AFinal: 88–78

References

  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-11-16. Retrieved 2017-11-15.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. País, Ediciones El (23 December 1979). "La URSS, favorita en el Torneo de Navidad". Elpais.com. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  3. País, Ediciones El (24 January 1985). "Reportaje - LA FIBA, o la geopolítica en el baloncesto". Elpais.com. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  4. Relaño, Alfredo (23 December 2012). "Aquel torneo de todas las Navidades". Elpais.com. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-09-21. Retrieved 2017-11-15.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. País, Ediciones El (11 December 1981). "El Corte Inglés presento el Torneo de Navidad". Elpais.com. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  7. "ABC (Madrid) - 24/12/1993, p. 81 - ABC.es Hemeroteca". hemeroteca.abc.es. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  8. Cobi Sobrino (23 December 2011). "REAL MADRID v URSS.Torneo de Navidad.1984". Youtube.com. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  9. Cañas, Jose Maria. "PMB Los Ojos del Tigre". Losojosdeltigre.com. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
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