SAN JUAN (DIRECTV League of the Americas 2017) - The International Basketball Federation in the Americas confirmed that Monterrey and Ponce will host the Semi-Final Phase of the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas 2017.

The first Semi-Final Group of the continental league will be held February 24-26 in Monterrey, Mexico, while the second will be played March 3-5 in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

The groups have been configured as follows:

Semi-Final # 1 / February 24-26 / City: Monterrey, Mexico
Fuerza Regia (Mexico)
Soles de Mexicali (Mexico)
La Union de Formosa (Argentina)
Guaros de Lara (Venezuela)

Semi-Final # 2 / March 3-5 / City: Ponce, Puerto Rico
Leones de Ponce (Puerto Rico)
San Lorenzo (Argentina)
Weber Bahía (Argentina)
Hebraica y Macabi (Uruguay)

"I would like to begin by congratulating these 8 clubs that are today the best in our continent, after competing in a Group Phase filled with emotion and unforgettable moments. The start of this 2017 edition has been a true celebration of our sport and we have had great fan turnout in every group. We thank all the clubs that formally requested to host the Semifinal. Their passion and interest flatters us and every teams is worthy of hosting this important Semi-Final instance," said Usie Richards, President of FIBA in the Americas.

"Being able to confirm Monterrey and Ponce as venues for the Semi-Final Phase is a reason for great satisfaction. Both Fuerza Regia and Leones de Ponce are elite clubs in their respective countries, with sports facilities of the highest level and all the conditions to guarantee the highest of spectacles. We are confident that we will enjoy the best of our continent’s basketball,” he concluded.

The Semifinal Round schedule will be announced in the short future.

Teams will play in round-robin format for three (3) days. The best two teams from each group will advance to the Final 4, where the first place of Semi-Final #1 will face the second place of Sem-Final #2 and vice versa. The next day, the losers will play for the third place on the podium, while the winners will play to be crowned Champion of America.

Guaros de Lara (Venezuela) is the defending champion of the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas.

The DIRECTV Liga de las Americas is broadcast through DIRECTV (América), Punto2 (Puerto Rico) and through the web at livebasketball.tv (subscription required).

For the best coverage of the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas 2017, visit ligamericas.com and our social networks @ligamericas.

FIBA