{{Short description|International basketball tournament}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{EngvarB|date=September 2019}} {{Infobox sports league | title = Merlion Cup | current_season = 2017 Merlion Cup (basketball) | logo = Singapore Merlion Cup (2016) logo.png | pixels = 250 | caption = Logo used since 2016 | sport = [[Basketball]] | founded = | inaugural = 1984 | folded = | ceo = | fame = | motto = | teams = | country = {{SIN}} | champion = {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Adelaide 36ers]]<br />(1st title) | most_champs = {{flagicon|Soviet Union}} USSR Spartak<br />{{bk|CHN}} (2 titles each) | singles = | TV = | website = }}
The '''Merlion Cup''' is an international [[basketball]] tournament, in which clubs, national teams and selections take part. It is organised by the Basketball Association of Singapore.
==History== The inaugural Merlion Cup was hosted in 1984 with the Chinese national team winning over Spanish team Madrid Estudiantes.<ref name=China1984>{{cite news|last=Koh|first=Tony|title=China take title in thrilling clash|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/singmonitor19840909-1.2.35.1.aspx|access-date=29 August 2016|work=Singapore Monitor|date=9 September 1984}}</ref> The tournament was held next year but the 1986 edition was cancelled due to sponsorship issues amidst a recession.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Siouw|first1=Peter|title=Commercial Cup is off|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19861014-1.2.41.14.aspx?q=merlion+cup+basketball&page=5&sort=relevance&token=basketball%2ccup%2cmerlion&sessionid=ca935549bbe54d9bbfc01922603640d9|access-date=29 August 2016|work=The Straits Times|date=14 October 1986|page=23}}</ref>
The tournament was resumed in 1987 and was held annually until the 1996 with the 1993 edition not held due to the [[1993 Southeast Asian Games]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Miscellaneous Column 1|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19931224-1.2.42.17.aspx?q=Merlion+Cup+Basketball&mode=advanced&f_df=19930101&f_dt=19931231&page=1&sort=relevance&token=basketball%2ccup%2cmerlion&sessionid=1285eed03929415799552f9e7c6a6f10|access-date=29 August 2016|work=The Straits Times|date=24 December 1993|page=36|quote=THE local basketball scene was very quiet, what with the popular Merlion Cup international competition being postponed to next year because of the June South-east Asia Games.}}</ref> and the 1995 edition being cancelled.<ref>{{cite news|title=Merlion Cup cancelled|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19950213-1.2.46.7.aspx|access-date=29 August 2016|work=The Straits Times|date=13 February 1995}}</ref>
The Gay World Stadium later renamed as the Geyland Indoor Stadium has been used as the venue of the tournament from the inaugural until the 1987 tournament. From the 1989 until the 1996 edition the [[Singapore Indoor Stadium]] was used as the venue of the basketball meet.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ho|first1=Shirlynn|title=Merlion Cup first at Indoor Stadium|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19890515-1.2.42.1.aspx?q=merlion+cup+basketball&page=23&sort=relevance&token=basketball%2ccup%2cmerlion&sessionid=05f3e6d54ebc4bff91ef620c42614081|access-date=29 August 2016|work=The Straits Times|date=15 May 1989}}</ref>
The Merlion Cup was not to be held again until 2016 when the BAS decided to revive the tournament. Two more editions in two years is planned by BAS citing the success of the 2016 edition attributing healthy attendances throughout the competition.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chia|first1=Alvin|title=BAS aims for at least two more Merlion Cups|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/sport/basketball/bas-aims-for-at-least-two-more-merlion-cups|access-date=26 September 2016|work=The Straits Times|date=26 September 2016}}</ref>
==Results== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; width: 98%; text-align: center;"
|- bgcolor=#C1D8FF !rowspan=2 width=5%|Year !rowspan=2 width=10%|Host !width=1% rowspan=13 bgcolor=ffffff| !colspan=3|Final !width=1% rowspan=13 bgcolor=ffffff| !colspan=3|Third place Game |- bgcolor=#EFEFEF !width=15%|Champion !width=9%|Score !width=15%|Second place !width=15%|Third place !width=9%|Score !width=15%|Fourth place |- bgcolor=#D0E7FF |'''1984'''<br />''[[1984 Merlion Cup (basketball)|Details]]'' |[[Geylang]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Sports around the World|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5VFVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rZUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3366%2C5575556|access-date=29 August 2016|work=The Age|date=10 September 1984}}</ref> |'''{{bk-big|China}}''' |'''71–70'''<ref name=China1984/> |{{flagicon|ESP|size=30px}}<br />Madrid Estudiantes |'''{{flagicon|URS|size=30px}}<br />[[Dinamo Tbilisi BC|Georgia USSR]]''' |'''82–73''' |{{flagicon|AUS|size=30px}}<br />[[Canberra Cannons|Mazda Cannons]] |- |'''1985'''<br />''[[1985 Merlion Cup (basketball)|Details]]'' |[[Geylang]]<ref>{{cite news|title=You'll be surprised what comes to light in Singapore this month|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bOFHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zo0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2581%2C3443320|access-date=29 August 2016|work=New Sunday Times|date=13 September 1985}}</ref> |'''{{flagicon|URS|size=30px}}<br />USSR Spartak''' |75–70<ref>{{cite news|last1=Siouw|first1=Peter|title=Spartaks fly in final|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19850916-1.2.49.19.aspx|access-date=29 August 2016|work=The Straits Times|date=16 September 1985|page=29|quote=Russians win explosive Merlion battle against stubborn China... ...The European giants (USSR Spartak) hammered out a dramatic 75–70 victory...}}</ref> |{{bk-big|China}} |colspan=3|? |- bgcolor=#D0E7FF |'''1987'''<br />''[[1987 Merlion Cup (basketball)|Details]]'' |[[Geylang]] |'''{{flagicon|URS|size=30px}}<br />USSR Spartak'''<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lee|first1=Wai Wun|title=Tbilisi to carry on Soviet Challenge|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19880708-1.2.65.14.aspx|access-date=29 August 2016|work=The Straits Times|date=8 July 1988|page=37}}</ref> |? |{{flagicon|FRG|size=30px}}<br />[[Medi Bayreuth|Steiner-Optik Bayreuth]] |colspan=3|? ({{flagdeco|CHN}} [[Bayi Rockets|China Army]] or {{flagdeco|YUG}} [[KK Olimpija|KK Smelt Olimpija]])<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lim|first1=Seng Tiong|title=Zharkov zeal seals Spartak's victory|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19870718-1.2.48.1.aspx?q=merlion+cup+basketball&page=34&sort=relevance&token=basketball%2ccup%2cmerlion&sessionid=ad5dffbb041b4b08b564fdaa63f52499|access-date=29 August 2016|work=The Straits Times|date=18 July 1987}}</ref> |- |'''1988'''<br />''[[1988 Merlion Cup (basketball)|Details]]'' |[[Geylang]] |'''{{flagicon|USA|size=30px}}<br />Brewster Heights Packing'''<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chan|first1=Alfonso|title=Bets on the Americans|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/newpaper19880808-1.2.32.5.aspx|access-date=29 August 2016|work=The New Paper|date=8 August 1988|page=32}}</ref> |? |{{bk-big|CHN|name=China Olympic}} |colspan=3|? |- bgcolor=#D0E7FF |'''1989'''<br />''[[1989 Merlion Cup (basketball)|Details]]'' |[[Kallang]] |'''{{flagicon|URS|size=30px}}<br />[[BC Budivelnyk|Kiev Stroitel]]''' |84–81<ref>{{cite news|title=Spectacular Soviets|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/newpaper19891204-1.2.37.7.aspx?q=Merlion+Cup+Basketball&mode=advanced&f_df=19890101&f_dt=19891231&page=3&sort=relevance&token=basketball%2ccup%2cmerlion&sessionid=90b4f358c3be4864a487c786eb365ffa|access-date=29 August 2016|work=The New Paper|date=4 December 1989}}</ref> |{{bk-big|CHN}} |'''{{flagicon|USA|size=30px}}<br />[[University of Nevada]] alumni''' |82–77<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lee|first1=Wai Wun|title=Switch in tactics pays off|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19891204-1.2.42.2.aspx?q=merlion+cup+basketball&page=29&sort=relevance&token=basketball%2ccup%2cmerlion&sessionid=38d42d6c358442fdbeee41947a855333|access-date=29 August 2016|work=The Straits Times|date=4 December 1989|quote=Finally a switch in tactics helped the Americans (University of Nevada Alumni) overcome Gold Coast Gougars, of Australia, 82-77 to finish third in the Merlion Cup basketball tournament at the Singapore Indoor Stadium last night.}}</ref> |{{flagicon|AUS|size=30px}}<br />[[Gold Coast Rollers (NBL)|Gold Coast Cougars]] |- |'''1991'''<br />''[[1991 Merlion Cup (basketball)|Details]]'' |[[Kallang]] |'''{{bk-big|CHN}}''' |90–74<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sim|first1=Albert|title=Chinese in runaway victory|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19911124-1.2.56.2.aspx?q=Merlion+Cup+Basketball&mode=advanced&f_df=19910101&f_dt=19911231&page=4&sort=relevance&token=basketball%2ccup%2cmerlion&sessionid=2032029e71944758977766cfc93c7c7c|access-date=29 August 2016|work=The Straits Times|date=24 November 1991|quote=CHINA put on a sparkling performance to overwhelm Spartak, of the Soviet Union, 90–74 in the final of the Merlion Cup basketball tournament last night.}}</ref> |{{flagicon|URS|size=30px}}<br />USSR Spartak |colspan=3|? ({{flagdeco|URS}} [[BC Budivelnyk|Kiev IPS Budivelnik]] or {{flagdeco|US}} [[World Basketball League]] All-Stars) |-bgcolor=#D0E7FF |'''1992'''<br />''[[1992 Merlion Cup (basketball)|Details]]'' |[[Kallang]] |'''{{flagicon|HKG|colonial|size=30px}}<br />Fajing''' |96–76<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gascon|first1=George|title=HK Fajing strolls to the title|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19921221-1.2.55.3.aspx?q=merlion+cup+basketball&page=20&sort=relevance&token=basketball%2ccup%2cmerlion&sessionid=66a00640542343219a154af8d993d4e3|access-date=29 August 2016|work=The Straits Times|date=21 December 1992|quote=Merlion Cup basketball final: HK Fajing 96 Shanghai 76}}</ref> |{{flagicon|China|size=30px}}<br />Shanghai |colspan=3|? |- |'''1994'''<br />''[[1994 Merlion Cup (basketball)|Details]]'' |[[Kallang]] |'''{{flagicon|AUS|size=30px}}<br />[[Melbourne Tigers]]'''<ref>{{cite news|title=Mauling Tigers bags title|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19941128-1.2.65.1.aspx?q=Merlion+Cup+Basketball&mode=advanced&f_df=19940101&f_dt=19941231&page=2&sort=relevance&token=basketball%2ccup%2cmerlion&sessionid=f9606e73e24042f38fe9847924a63ed7|access-date=29 August 2016|work=The Straits Times|date=28 November 1994|page=51}}</ref> |? |{{flagicon|HKG|colonial|size=30px}}<br />Frankwell |colspan=3|? |- |- bgcolor=#D0E7FF |'''1996'''<br />''[[1996 Merlion Cup (basketball)|Details]]'' |[[Kallang]] |'''{{flagicon|INA|size=30px}}<br />[[Aspac Jakarta|Aspac Texmaco]]'''<ref>{{cite web|title=Aspac Texmaco Basketball Team|url=http://www.aba-online.com/eng/eng/teams/001.html|website=Asian Basketball Association|access-date=29 August 2016}}</ref> |88–84<ref>{{cite news|title=Aspac's splurge on US stars pays off|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19960909-1.2.51.9.aspx?q=Merlion+Cup+Basketball&mode=advanced&f_df=19960101&f_dt=19961231&page=2&sort=relevance&token=basketball%2ccup%2cmerlion&sessionid=7cbecf48c7294aa79ee3ed6af0679554|access-date=29 August 2016|work=The Straits Times|date=9 September 1996}}</ref> |{{bk-big|CHN}} |colspan=3|? |- |'''2016'''<br />''[[2016 Merlion Cup (basketball)|Details]]'' |[[Kallang]] |'''{{flagicon|CHN|size=30px}}<br />[[Shanghai Sharks]]''' |78–77 |{{flagicon|PHI|size=30px}}<br />[[Mighty Sports]] |{{flagicon|KOR|size=30px}}<br />[[Seoul Samsung Thunders]] |94–55 |{{flagicon|SIN|size=30px}}<br />[[Singapore Slingers]] |- bgcolor=#D0E7FF |'''2017'''<br />''[[2017 Merlion Cup (basketball)|Details]]'' |[[Kallang]] |'''{{flagicon|AUS|size=30px}}<br />[[Adelaide 36ers]]''' |101–81 |{{flagicon|CHN|size=30px}}<br />[[Shanghai Sharks]] |{{flagicon|KOR|size=30px}}<br />[[Jeonju KCC Egis]] |78–68 |{{flagicon|SIN|size=30px}}<br />[[Singapore Slingers]] |- |}
==Medal tally==
===By country=== {|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |- !width=140px|Country !!width=70px|{{gold medal}} !!width=70px|{{silver medal}}!!Total{{refn|Does not include bronze medal results due to lack of data|group="note"|name="bronze"}} |- |align=left| {{CHN}} || 3 || 6 || 9 |- |align=left| ''{{URS}}'' || 3 || 1 || 4 |- |align=left| {{AUS}} || 2 || 0 || 2 |- |align=left| {{HKG}} || 1 || 1 || 3 |- |align=left| {{INA}} || 1 || 0 || 1 |- |align=left| {{USA}} || 1 || 0 || 1 |- |align=left| {{PHI}} || 0 || 1 || 1 |- |align=left| {{ESP}} || 0 || 1 || 1 |- |align=left| ''{{FRG}}'' || 0 || 1 || 1 |- |}
== See also == * [[William Jones Cup]] * [[Merlion Cup]] * [[FIBA Intercontinental Cup]]
==Notes== {{reflist|group=note}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{International basketball}}
[[Category:Merlion Cup (basketball)| ]] [[Category:International basketball competitions hosted by Singapore]] [[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1984]] [[Category:1984 establishments in Singapore]] [[Category:Basketball competitions in Asia between national teams]]