BEIJING (China) - After three years full of highlights and memorable moments in Singapore, the FIBA Intercontinental Cup is turning a new page, as the event moves to Beijing, China.
The event tips off on September 22, giving us just enough time to introduce the six participating teams.
They will be divided in two groups of three teams. The top two teams will advance to the Semi-Finals (1A vs. 2B, 1B vs. 2A), while the bottom-placed teams from the two groups battle for fifth in the event.
The FIBA Intercontinental Cup will crown its new champion on September 27.
Last three events
Year | Champion | 2nd place | 3rd place | 4th place | 5th place | 6th place |
2023 | Sesi Franca (BRA) | Telekom Baskets Bonn (GER) | Zhejiang Golden Bulls (CHN) | Al Ahly (EGY) | NBA G League Ignite (USA) | Al Manama (BRN) |
2024 | Unicaja (ESP) | NBA G League United (USA) | Tasmania JackJumpers (AUS) | Al Riyadi (LBN) | Petro de Luanda (ANG) | Quimsa (ARG) |
2025 | Unicaja (ESP) | NBA G League United (USA) | Alahli SC (LBA) | Flamengo (BRA) | Illawarra Hawks (AUS) | Utsunomiya Brex (JPN) |
How did they get here?
There has been a positive trend in African basketball since the start of the Basketball Africa League in 2021, with the champions participating in the Intercontinental Cup since 2022.
Zamalek (EGY), US Monastir (TUN) and Al Ahly (EGY) all had top four finishes, before Alahli SC (LBA) made history in 2025 by finishing third, behind only Unicaja (ESP) and the NBA G League United (USA).
This time around, RSSB Tigers put together an impressive roster to try and continue their successful run from the BAL 2026.
In the Regular Season, they were in the Kalahari Conference, storming through to the top of the standings with four wins in five games, earning the third seed ahead of the Play-Offs.
Once there, they decided to make the roads around the BK Arena in Kigali all one-way streets, pouring in 193 points across two games against FUS Rabat in the Quarter-Finals, then defeating Al Ahly 106-97 in the Semi-Finals.
The Championship Game went down to the wire, but the Tigers prevailed, defeating Petro de Luanda 90-88 to claim their first BAL title. Those aren't typos, they really scored 97.3 points per game in the Play-Offs.
Who are they facing in Beijing?
The BAL winners open up their Intercontinental Cup account with an encounter against Rytas Vilnius, the winners of the Basketball Champions League Europe, tip-off time 9:30 am Rwanda time on September 22.
Exactly 24 hours later, they are back on the court in Beijing, facing the CBA champions Shanghai Sharks.
Who are the players to watch?
Coach Henry Mwinuka has one of the best Rwandan players on his roster in Ntore Habimana, an all-round guard who averaged 13.3 points, 6.0 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game at FIBA AfroBasket 2025, and won four Rwanda Basketball League titles.
Two more important homegrown additions are Alex Mpoyo, with a memorable FIBA AfroBasket 2025 Qualifiers campaign that saw him put up 16.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, and Dieudonne Ndizeye, coming off of a strong FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 African Qualifiers run with 13.0 points across five games played so far.
The MVP of the BAL 2026 is also back on the roster. Craig Randall II was simply unstoppable in Africa last season, averaging an unreal 36.1 points per game, including a career-high 54 points set in April.
Another hero from the BAL championship run is back in Teafale Lenard, author of 19.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists for the Tigers last season.
Johnny Hamilton offers even more international flavor, a seven-footer who had three seasons averaging more than two blocks per game in his career.
Tyler Bey will bring plenty of international experience, having dominated the Israeli League in 2022-23 and 2024-25 with Ness Ziona and Hapoel Haifa.
His partner in the frontcourt is a near seven-footer Jonathan Galloway, who was a double-double threat all over the world, from Denmark through Croatia, Switzerland, Türkiye, Finland, Czechia, Cyprus, Kosovo all the way to Venezuela and now Rwanda.
Full roster
Schedule and tickets
You can find the full schedule here. Tickets are available here.