Dubai: Lebanon’s three-time Asian champions Club Sagesse will take on Al Shabab Club in the opening match of the 26th Dubai International Basketball Championships at the Al Ahli Club’s indoor hall on Thursday.
The Lebanese outfit will face the Dubai side in the tournament opener at 5pm, with the opening ceremony following at 7pm. The final match of the opening night will see the UAE national team take on Sporting Club, from Lebanon, at 7.30pm.
Club Sagesse, winners of the Fiba Asia Champions Cup in 1999, 2000 and 2004, and the DP World-sponsored Al Shabab will be joined by Sala Club of Morocco and And 1 USA in Group A, while Group B will be between the UAE, Sporting Club, Al Zamalek of Egypt, Al Ittihad of Libya and the Nlex Road Warriors from the Philippines.
The nine-team tournament, which is sponsored by Emirates airline, will see three matches held daily from 5pm. January 21 will be a rest day, after which the quarter-finals will be held on January 22.
Most of the teams have already arrived in the UAE, with the Nlex Road Warriors due to be among the last sides to land at Dubai International Airport on Thursday.
