Sport Basketball Country Singapore | Inaugural season 1984 | |
 | ||
Most recent
champion(s) Aspac Texmaco
(1st title) Most titles USSR Spartak
China (2 titles each) | ||
The Merlion Cup is an international basketball tournament, in which clubs, national teams and selections take part. It is organized 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. The tournament was held next year but the 1986 edition was cancelled due to sponsorship issues amidst a recession.
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 and the 1995 edition being cancelled.
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.
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.