Sesi Franca crowned FIBA Intercontinental Cup Champions of 2023 as six club teams set Singapore alight with a weekend of exhilarating basketball
Sesi Franca were crowned FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2023 champions in a nail-biting and exhilirating final at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
From 21-24 September 2023, six of the world's best club basketball teams had set the SIngapore Sports Hub alight with mesmerizing skills and nifty footwork, as the FIBA Intercontinental Cup arrived on Singapore's shores for the first time - featuring top stars such as two-time NBA Champion Norris Cole and potential NBA draft 2024 first pick Ron Holland.
Battle to be World Champions
Germany’s Telekom Baskets Bonn travelled to Singapore as Basketball Champions League winners, while Egypt’s legendary Al Ahly had just won the Basketball Africa League.
Al Manama from Bahrain qualified for the Intercontinental Cup on the back of winning the FIBA West Asia Super League; while eventual champions Sesi Franca, hailed from their namesake Municipality in São Paulo, Brazil and were winners of the Basketball Champions League Americas.
Meanwhile the NBA G League's representative was Team Ignite, one of the most exciting young teams in the minor league, and the Zhejiang Golden Bulls rounded up the list of stellar names, making history in Singapore as the first Chinese club to ever participate in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup.
Round-up of FIBA Intercontinental Cup Action
Storming their way through the group stage, Sesi Franca and Telekom Baskets Bonn were set up as the two eventual finalists, topping their respective groups.
Al Ahly were runners-up in Group A after beating NBA G League Ignite and losing to the Brazilian outfit. Similarly in Group B, Zhejiang Golden Bulls had defeated Al Manama 95-78, before falling to Bonn the next day. The two teams battled for third place, where Wang Shilong’s Golden Bulls secured the last spot on the podium.
Ignite and Al Manama played out a close game to determine who would finish last. It was still anyone’s game up until the final three minutes when the American team went on to win 80-60.
Thrilling Finale
It’s safe to say that the best was kept for last as fans got a thrilling finale to the event.
Sesi Franca were up 18-13 at the end of the first quarter but both teams took turns at going ahead as the game went on, tying on several occasions.
By the end of the fourth quarter, the Telekom Baskets Bonn players had their arms up in the air in jubilation as they won 69-68 but there was drama at the death. Umpires urged the players back on court. Due to a shot clock violation, the game was restarted with just 1.9 seconds to go.
Fans not only in the stadium but in the municipality of Franca, held their breaths. 1.9 seconds was all they needed. Captain, Lucas Dias landed a buzzer beater fadeaway jump to end it 70-69.
Jubilation turned to bitter disappointment for the German team in a matter of seconds as Sesi Franca were crowned FIBA Intercontinental Cup champions 2023, which Head Coach, Helinho Rubens hailed as the best day of his life.
Entertainment Galore
It wasn’t all ball at the Fanzone as members of the public were also treated to evening live band performances.
Across three days, OCBC Square was treated to a lineup consisting of Leon and Band, DJ Yenn, LED Water Drummer, Fatt and Karyn as well as Anchorblanc, who performed pop hits such as Dance Monkey by Tones and I and Ed Sheeran’s Shape Of You.