FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2025: Spain's Unicaja Set to Return and Defend Title at Singapore Indoor Stadium
- SportPlus News
- Jul 17
- 4 min read
With teams now officially announced, ticket sales are underway for the third consecutive edition of the tournament held at the Singapore Indoor Stadium
SINGAPORE, 17 JULY 2025 – The FIBA Intercontinental Cup returns to Singapore this September with reigning champion Unicaja of Spain returning to defend their title, announced FIBA and Kallang Alive Sport Management (KASM).
Over 25,000 basketball fans witnessed four days of exhilarating world-class basketball action at the Singapore Indoor Stadium last year while hundreds of thousands more around the world caught the live broadcast. With all six continents represented this year, the 2025 edition is expected to draw equally strong support as tickets to the FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2025 go on sale today, with free entry on the first day of competition.
From 18 to 21 September at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, Unicaja will be joined by the other FIBA continental champions and an NBA G League representative. The other teams are 2024-25 Basketball Champions League (BCL) Americas winners Flamengo of Brazil, who last won the FIBA Intercontinental Cup in 2022; Japan’s Utsunomiya Brex who clinched the BCL Asia 2025 title last month; newly crowned National Basketball League (NBL) champions Illawarra Hawks from Australia; Libya’s Alahli SC, who emerged as Basketball Africa League (BAL) champions in their debut season; and the NBA G League United. The teams from Japan, Australia and Libya will be making their first-ever appearance in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, setting the scene for tantalising clashes against more experienced opponents.
“For our Club, Unicaja, it is an honour and a source of pride to be able to participate in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup. Thanks to this competition we play against all the champion teams of the FIBA universe, and we carry the name of our city, our region and our sponsors all over the world. Last season's experience in Singapore was extraordinary, and we want to repeat it again this year,” said Antonio J. López Nieto, President, Unicaja.
"We are very excited to participate in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup Singapore 2025 after winning our first BCL Asia 2025 tournament, winning a double overtime victory in the quarter-finals and a hard-fought battle in the finals. We would like to maximize the strength of our chemistry we built by having almost the same roster in the last couple of years. We will challenge ourselves as a team against the continental champions who have won their respective qualifying rounds. We are very much looking forward to playing against the world’s best club teams," said Mitsumasa Fujimoto, President, Utsunomiya Brex.
Each group competes in a single round robin format and the two group winners will square off in the Final on 21 September to determine the FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2025 champion.
The two group runners-up will meet in the 3rd-Place Game, while the teams that finish third in their respective groups will play for fifth place overall.
FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis said: "The FIBA Intercontinental Cup reached a new milestone every single time during the past three years, realising step by step the dream of a truly intercontinental club competition.
"The response from the clubs, from the leagues, from our partners and from the Singapore public was overwhelmingly positive. This 35th edition is their reward for daring to dream, the consolidation of a daring vision.”
Marcus Tan, Chief of Sport Development Group at Sport Singapore said: “The return of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, after March’s FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup and June’s NBA Rising Stars Invitational, adds to Singapore’s exciting basketball calendar this year. The tournament gives our basketball community a chance to watch top-level international teams in action, featuring defending champions Unicaja and other continental champions. By having them here, we hope to inspire our young players and create valuable learning opportunities for local players, coaches and officials. We look forward to the community experiencing world-class basketball.”
Countdown begins as tickets go on sale
Returning to Singapore for the third straight year, the FIBA Intercontinental Cup is a celebration of basketball that sees the best basketball teams from around the world compete against each other. Last year’s historic edition saw all five FIBA regions represented in the tournament for the first time and this year, fans will get to witness world-class sporting action with all six continents represented.
Tickets for the games start from $10 and are on sale now on the FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2025 website. Early bird discounts for selected tickets are available till 30 July. During the early bird sale period, fans enjoy a 30 per cent discount on Standard and 3-day pass tickets.
Mega fans who opt for the Ultimate Fan Pass will enjoy a 10 per cent discount if they purchase the pass during the early bird sale. With the Ultimate Fan Pass, fans will have access to a premium culinary experience at the All-Star lounge, courtside seats and exclusive opportunities to meet and mingle with basketball legends.
Following the early bird sale period, spectators will receive a 10 per cent discount when they purchase four or more tickets within the same category.
To ensure that more fans can experience the thrill of live sport, entry to the FIBA Intercontinental Cup games on the first day (18 September) will be free on a first-come-first-served basis.
Yazed Osman, KASM Group Head Events & Placemaking and Place Management, said: “We are pleased to welcome the 2025 league champions, and basketball fans from Singapore and across the world to the FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2025. This annual event at Singapore Sports Hub has become a focal point for the basketball fraternity. Beyond thrilling elite basketball action on court, this third edition will also mark the return of skills and technical clinics for various groups within the basketball community, including children, technical officials and coaches. Through initiatives like these, free entry on game day one, and complemented by our free-to-play outdoor courts available for public use year-round and hosting of school and club tournaments, we hope to develop the sport further and unite the community through basketball.”
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