Dubai: The cream of basketball talent from the Arab world will be in action as Al Shabab Club play host to the inaugural December 2 Basketball Championship this week.

The six-team competition will see newly-crowned Asian champions Al Riyadhi of Lebanon take on Team Philippines and Al Shabab, the Gulf Clubs champion and hosts, who have been sponsored by Al Sadaf.

In Group B, Asian runners-up Jordan will be with Lebanese side Champville and Sharjah Club, who were crowned Arab Clubs Champion earlier this year.

Best Arab teams

"We wanted an event that would be an annual competition for the best teams in the Arab world — and that is how this competition was planned," Abdullah Hassan Al Hammadi, the tournament director, said at the press conference to announce the tournament.

"We are committed to this competition and each year we will ensure we have the best teams from the entire Arab region to come and join us in celebrating the UAE National Day," he added.

Matches will be held daily at 5pm and 7pm. The entry fee for spectators has been kept at an affordable Dh10.

"There are eight free air tickets on offer to Leban-on and Jordan during the course of the competition," said Mattar Surour, executive manager of Al Shabab Club.

The press conference to announce the competition was also attended by Abdullah Murad, Vice President of the organising committee; Ahmad Abdullah, corporate communications manager of Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority; Abdul Latif Al Nasseri, chairman of Sadaf Group; and Emad Touhamy, assistant director, sales and marketing at the Gloria Hotel.

Fixtures

  • December 1: (5 pm) Sharjah vs Champville; (7 pm) Opening Ceremony; (7.45 pm) Al Shabab vs Team Philippines.
  • December 2: (5 pm) Champville vs Jordan; (7 pm) Team Philippines vs Al Riyadhi.
  • December 3: (5 pm) Jordan vs Sharjah; (7 pm) Al Riyadhi vs Al Shabab.
  • December 4: (5 pm) Third place play-off: A2 vs B2; (7 pm) Final: A1 vs B1.