Sao Paulo's Ginasio Ibirapuera to host 2015 Intercontinental Cup

SAO PAULO (2015 Intercontinental Cup/Liga de las Americas) - The countdown to the 2015 Intercontinental Cup began on Monday, when the Ginasio do Esporte Club Sirio in Sao Paulo hosted a press conference attended by some of the protagonists who will participate in this year's edition of the competition.

Liga de las Americas champions Paschoalotto/Bauru and Turkish Airlines Euroleague champions Real Madrid will square off at Ibirapuera on 25 and 27 September.

After winning the Liga de las Americas title, Bauru will be the third Brazilian team with a chance to win the world title.

In 2013, the first edition of the "modern" Intercontinental Cup, presented the duel between Pinheiros and Olympiakos of Greece, where the Brazilians came in second.

In 2014, Flamengo defeated Maccabi Tel-Aviv of Israel.

"It is a great pleasure for FIBA to be here again," said Alberto Garcia, Executive Director of FIBA Americas.

"Brazil was once again champion of the Liga de las Americas, and today Brazil has the best basketball in the continent, no doubt.

"Seven or eight years ago, Brazil began to organise its basketball and with the work done by the LNB [Brazil's national league] it has quickly become a power on the continent."

"The numbers speak for themselves. The NBB has been active for seven seasons and Brazilian basketball has evolved much since then," said Juan Fernando Rossi, Vice-President of the LNB.

"In the last six international championships, Brazil has won five and we can say that we are currently going through the most beautiful moment of basketball. It has regained the public and credibility in such a short time and with the support of the CBB and FIBA."

Brazil will host the Intercontinental Cup for the third time.

Ibirapuera has a strong connection with the competition. It hosted the first-ever tournament in 1973, and was the site when Brazil side Sirio were crowned world champions in 1979.

FIBA