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
Sport	Basketball
Inaugural season	1984
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	Silver	Total[note 1]
China	3	6	9
Soviet Union	3	1	4
Australia	2	0	2
Hong Kong	1	1	3
Indonesia	1	0	1
United States	1	0	1
Philippines	0	1	1
Spain	0	1	1
West Germany	0	1	1

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.