JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) - The Saudi Basketball Federation (SBF) took up the onerous task of hosting the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 with one single goal – create a legacy to last generations.
As the event enters its homestretch, FIBA Asia sat down with SBF President, Dr. Ghassan Yousuf Tashkandi to understand if they have achieved their goals.
Excerpts from an interview:
Question: From the very first day of the Saudi Basketball Federation’s (SBF) preparations for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 hosting up to this point, how glad are you with how things have turned out?
Dr. Tashkandi: From day one, our objective was clear: to deliver an event that reflects the ambition, professionalism, and hospitality of Saudi Arabia. I am extremely pleased with how everything came together. The teamwork between the federation, our partners, and the local organizing committee was remarkable. Seeing the players, fans, and officials enjoy a world-class basketball experience here in Jeddah is deeply rewarding and a testament to months of dedicated preparation.
The FIBA Asia Cup 2025 marked the 31st edition of FIBA’s flagship event for men’s national teams in Asia. For the competition to be held in Saudi Arabia for the first time since 1997, how much of an honor was it not only for the SBF but for the kingdom as well?
It is a tremendous honor - not just for the Saudi Basketball Federation, but for the entire Kingdom. Hosting the FIBA Asia Cup after nearly three decades sends a strong message about Saudi Arabia’s growing stature in global sports. It reflects the leadership’s vision to make the Kingdom a hub for international events, and for basketball, it’s a chance to inspire the next generation of players and fans.
You have said previously that Jeddah “is out to make a mark as one of the top organizers of an international basketball competition.” Do you believe that the city and the federation were able to accomplish as much?
Absolutely. Jeddah has shown that it has the facilities, the organization, and the passion to deliver at the highest level. From the arena setup to the fan engagement activities, we aimed to create an atmosphere worthy of the continent’s best teams. Feedback from FIBA officials, teams, and spectators has been overwhelmingly positive, which confirms that Jeddah has indeed made its mark.
Given the reception of the event here, how optimistic are you that this could help spur the growth of basketball in the country and in this region?
I am very optimistic. The excitement generated by hosting such a prestigious tournament is a powerful catalyst for basketball’s growth. We’ve already seen a spike in interest among young players and increased media coverage of the sport. Our hope is that this momentum will lead to more grassroots programs, stronger local leagues, and greater regional collaboration in the sport.
FIBA