SINGAPORE, 20 SEPTEMBER 2025 – The FIBA Intercontinental Cup in Singapore continues to make history with the event’s first-ever pro-amateur (pro-am) game on Saturday (20 Sept). Members of the Singapore basketball community were treated to the rare opportunity of playing alongside top local and international players on the competition court at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Eight young players from schools and basketball academies here participated in the 40-minute game. They shared the court with Mr David Neo, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Senior Minister of State for Education, as well as FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2025 Ambassadors Pero Antic and Ronny Turiaf. Joining the action were national cagers Chase Tan, Mohamed Zahid, Ariel Loiter and Lim Jia Min, as well as local artistes Allan Wu and Calvert Tay. Completing the line-up were Derek Chew from Kallang Alive Sport Management, Benjamin Gauthier (Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer of FIBA) and Alan Goh (Chief Executive Officer of Sport Singapore).
The team led by Team Singapore’s Lim clinched a 46-43 win over fellow national player Tan’s side in the game, which comprised two 20-minute halves and rolling substitutions. The pro-am game took place before the final two group stage matches of the ongoing FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2025. Six teams are competing in this year’s edition – defending champions Unicaja (Spain), the NBA G League United (USA), Alahli SC (Libya), Utsunomiya Brex (Japan), Flamengo (Brazil) and Illawarra Hawks (Australia).
Ronny Turiaf, FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2025 ambassador, said: “It is always a lot of fun getting to know new people through basketball and I’ve really enjoyed participating in this pro-am game where I got to meet basketball fans and players from different backgrounds in Singapore. It is activities like this that show us how global events like the FIBA Intercontinental Cup can unite communities through sport. Staging a pro-am alongside the Intercontinental Cup for the first time is an achievement that shows the popularity of the sport not just in Singapore but in the region as well, and I hope this will inspire more people to play basketball.”
Lim said: "It’s a real honour to be part of the Pro-Am match and share the court with some of the legends of the game. Opportunities like this don’t come often, and for us as national athletes, it’s an incredible experience to learn, grow, and be inspired by those who’ve reached the top. It’s also a great way to bring the basketball community together and showcase the spirit of the sport."
Yazed Osman, Kallang Alive Sport Management Group Head of Events and Placemaking, and Place Management, said: “Hosting and organising the FIBA Intercontinental Cup in Singapore over the last three years have helped strengthen skills and technical capabilities, enabling the growth of the sport. Through curated programming, we celebrated basketball greats, uplifted aspiring talents, inspired youths, and made the sport accessible to all across our spaces. Organising the pro-am game this year brings the sport to a new level and affirms the values of friendship, teamwork, and social inclusion and cohesion that are strengthened through sport.”
Basketball history was made in 2023 when Singapore Sports Hub became the first-ever venue to host the tournament in Asia. More than 40,000 patrons came together to catch live basketball action across eight exciting game days in 2023 and 2024. As part of the commitment to making the sport accessible to the community, day 1 of the tournament was made free to all patrons in both the 2024 and 2025 editions.
Holding a pro-am game this year alongside the FIBA Intercontinental Cup signals the continued growth of the event in Singapore since the Republic became the first Asian city to host this prestigious tournament. During last year’s edition, the induction ceremony for the FIBA Hall of Fame was held in Singapore for the first time.
The FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2025 concludes on 21 September. Updates on the event are available at the FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2025 website, and on the Singapore Sports Hub’s social media pages.
ENDS
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About FIBA Intercontinental Cup
FIBA and Sport Singapore entered a three-year partnership that brings the FIBA Intercontinental Cup to Asia for the first time. Singapore Sports Hub is the venue of choice, providing the stage for three editions of the event, from 2023 through 2025. FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2025 will see six participating basketball clubs battling it out on the court for the coveted FIBA Intercontinental Cup trophy. The event is organised by Kallang Alive Sport Management, supported by Sport Singapore and Basketball Association of Singapore, and sponsored by AirAsia (Official Airline), Pan Pacific Singapore (Official Hotel) 100Plus (Official Hydration), Aequs (Official Partner) and Singapore Pools (Official Partner).
About Sport Singapore
As the national sports agency, Sport Singapore’s core purpose is to inspire the Singapore spirit and transform Singapore through sport. Through innovative, fun and meaningful sporting experiences, our mission is to reach out and serve communities across Singapore with passion and pride. With Vision 2030 – Singapore’s sports master plan, our mandate goes beyond winning medals. Sport Singapore uses sport to create greater sporting opportunities and access, more inclusivity and integration as well as broader development of capabilities. Sport Singapore works with a vast network of public-private-people sector partners for individuals to live better through sport.
To find out more, visit SportSG’s websites at www.sportsingapore.gov.sg and https://www.activesgcircle.gov.sg/read. National sport/exercise participation statistics are available on the Sport Data Exchange Singapore (SportDexSG).
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About Singapore Sports Hub
Singapore Sports Hub is an iconic, premier destination offering sporting, entertainment and lifestyle experiences for all to enjoy. This world-class development is managed by Kallang Alive Sport Management Co Pte Ltd (KASM). It offers programming that comprises international, recreational and competitive events, live entertainment as well as activities that cater to the broader community. The Singapore Sports Hub aims to serve the sporting and entertainment needs of people from all walks of life.
For more information, please visit the Singapore Sports Hub's pages:
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