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?
Boca Juniors are one of the biggest sporting clubs in the world, known primarily for their soccer team and the accompanying fans at the mythical La Bombonera. Just a couple of hundred meters away, the same kind of magic happens at La Bombonerita, the indoor arena where the basketball team resides.
They have been one of Argentina's most successful basketball clubs, claiming five national league titles, four of them happening in the 2000s, with three South American Championships won in a row from 2004 to 2006.
However, their biggest continental success came in 2026. Boca edged out KTO Minas from Brazil and Aguada from Uruguay to win their group and advance to the Quarter-Finals, where they swept fellow Argentines Instituto 2-0.
They went on to host the Final Four in Buenos Aires, blowing out a pair of Brazilian giants in Flamengo and Sesi Franca to claim the Basketball Champions League Americas title for the first time in club's history.
Francisco Caffaro was named the MVP of the Season, with his teammate Santiago Scala joining him in the all-tournament team.
By winning the BCL Americas, they qualified for the Intercontinental Cup for the first time. The football team won the Intercontinental Cup three times (1977, 2000, 2003), is it time for the first basketball cup?
Who are they facing in Beijing?
The South American champs will take the floor on September 22, facing the hosts in the Beijing Royal Fighters, with their fans back in Buenos Aires tuning in at 8:30 in the morning.
After a day off, Boca will be back in action on September 24, taking on the select team from the United States, NBA G League United, also at 8:30 in the morning, Buenos Aires time.
Who are the players to watch?
Coach Nicolas Casalanguida has a balanced roster with plenty of homegrown players, including a constant double-double threats in Agustin Barreiro and Francisco Caffaro, who averaged 22.0 points and 14.9 rebounds combined en route to the BCLA title last season.
Among the rare internationals on this team, Kriss Helmanis proudly waves the Latvian flag, coming through as one of the biggest prospects of his generation, with a memorable U20 campaign in 2022, when he had 13.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game for Latvia.
Tomas Monacchi is an interesting newcomer, coming in from Instituto, where he averaged 12.5 points across 36 games in the domestic championship in Argentina, knocking down 41.2 percent of threes on nearly nine attempts per game.
Jose Vildoza is returning to the club after a year in Spain, and he is one of the rare players in this event with prior FIBA Intercontinental Cup experience. Vildoza played it twice with San Lorenzo, in 2019 and 2020, finishing third on both occasions.
The only American player on the roster is Micheal Warren, a 30-year-old shooting guard with loads of experience all over the world, including 10.9 points and 40.7 percent three-point shooting for Gaiteros in Venezuela in 2026.
Full roster
Schedule and tickets
You can find the full schedule here. Tickets are available here.