Merlion Cup (basketball)

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.

Merlion Cup
Current season, competition or edition:
2017 Merlion Cup (basketball)
Logo used since 2016
SportBasketball
Inaugural season1984
Country Singapore
Most recent
champion(s)		 Adelaide 36ers
(1st title)
Most titles USSR Spartak
 China (2 titles each)

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
Year Host Final Third place Game
Champion Score Second place Third place Score Fourth place
1984
Details		 Geylang[7]
China		 71–70[1]
Madrid Estudiantes
Georgia USSR		 82–73
Mazda Cannons
1985
Details		 Geylang[8]
USSR Spartak		 75–70[9]
China		 ?
1987
Details		 Geylang
USSR Spartak[10]		 ?
Steiner-Optik Bayreuth		 ? ( China Army or KK Smelt Olimpija)[11]
1988
Details		 Geylang
Brewster Heights Packing[12]		 ?
China Olympic		 ?
1989
Details		 Kallang
Kiev Stroitel		 84–81[13]
China
University of Nevada alumni		 82–77[14]
Gold Coast Cougars
1991
Details		 Kallang
China		 90–74[15]
USSR Spartak		 ? ( Kiev IPS Budivelnik or World Basketball League All-Stars)
1992
Details		 Kallang
Fajing		 96–76[16]
Shanghai		 ?
1994
Details		 Kallang
Melbourne Tigers[17]		 ?
Frankwell		 ?
1996
Details		 Kallang
Aspac Texmaco[18]		 88–84[19]
China		 ?
2016
Details		 Kallang
Shanghai Sharks		 78–77
Mighty Sports
Seoul Samsung Thunders		 94–55
Singapore Slingers
2017
Details		 Kallang
Adelaide 36ers		 101–81
Shanghai Sharks
Jeonju KCC Egis		 78–68
Singapore Slingers

Medal tally

By country
Country Gold SilverTotal[note 1]
 China369
 Soviet Union314
 Australia202
 Hong Kong113
 Indonesia101
 United States101
 Philippines011
 Spain011
 West Germany011

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

References
  1. 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 Strait 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). "Tbilsi 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.
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