FIBA International Christmas Tournament
SportBasketball
Founded1966
Inaugural season1966
No. of teams4
CountryFIBA members
ContinentEurope
Most recent
champion(s)
Spain Real Madrid
(26th title)
Most titlesSpain Real Madrid
(26 titles)

FIBA International Christmas Tournament[1] also known as the Christmas Tournament (Torneo de Navidad) was a men's basketball international friendly competition at the club level (and in some editions with national teams), organized by FIBA at its first decades through the Commission of International Organizations under the hand of Raimundo Saporta, club director and president of the International Commission of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), and with the authorization and support of R. William Jones, its general secretary, so it had the officiality of FIBA in its first decades of life,[2] being also the starting point of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, whose first edition appears in the history of this competition.[3][4] After 1980, the tournament transitioned to being an festive exhibition, although it still garnered attention and popularity.

History

The competition was held for the first time in January 1966 with the name of FIBA Intercontinental Cup on the occasion of the inauguration of the new basketball venue of Real Madrid, the Pabellón de la Ciudad Deportiva (later called the "Raimundo Saporta Pavilion"). This edition also served as the starting point of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup (later known as the FIBA Club World Cup), whose results were valid for the first edition of the aforementioned competition of the highest basketball organism, and whose first trophy It was the same as the one used in the FIBA International Christmas Tournament until 1980.

The second edition of the Christmas Tournament was baptized at the time as Latin Cup, due to the origin of the participating teams (there was a competition called Latin Cup in 1953 that only had an edition, although the one of December 1966 counts as the second edition of the Christmas Tournament), and it was not until the third edition, in 1967, when the tournament was renamed by the popular and better-known FIBA International Tournament Christmas – Torneo de Navidad – (also known as the "Trophy Raimundo Saporta", and later "Memorial Fernando Martín", together with the denomination of Christmas Tournament, as well as "Philips Trophy" from its beginnings and El Corte Inglés from 1981 until the end of the 80s).[5][3] That is, FIBA organized, Philips put the money and Real Madrid yielded the field, with the approval and consent of the FEB.[6] As of 1981, Real Madrid, with the sponsorship of the English Court (until 1989, subsequently replacing other sponsors), managed the tournament, although their relations with FIBA continued.[2]

Despite the tournament's perceived importance at the time, it is considered nowadays a friendly competition, although the prestige of the twelve silver medals of the winner for the contenders was maximum, since until 1980 it had the official status and the protection of FIBA. However, the first edition of the International Christmas Tournament made the FIBA Intercontinental Basketball Cup officially emerge, a competition that "merengues" would go on to win four times.

It could be said that the International Christmas Tournament, while it was under the auspices and organization of the FIBA (1966–1980), had a rank of para-official competition, that is, that it had an official rank or character (although it was not considered like this at present), but it worked as such at that time. For what was an international friendly competition of an official nature. Although from 1981 it was managed by Real Madrid, the Committee of International Activities of FIBA was behind it. In fact it was the starting point of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, and whose second edition of this tournament (called Copa Latina in that edition), already breaking away from the Intercontinental, continued under the organization and official FIBA in everything concerning the delivery of trophies and the FIBA emblem on the podium, as well as FIBA referees, but the fact that its last decades were largely managed by Real Madrid, because it gave the competition, for all intents and purposes, a friendly character, despite its weight, importance and notoriety, but above all due to the fact that its participants acceded by invitation (although in the FIBA Club World Cup as well). In short, the officiality of FIBA was languishing as of 1980 (despite the fact that FIBA and its committee were still behind the event, as attested by the presence, year after year, of FIBA referees) and redefining itself in a friendly tournament (from 1980), although of great prestige for all tale meant and the international character of it.[6]

Results

The competition featured three different trophy models throughout its history. The first gold and granted by FIBA until 1980, the second granted by Real Madrid together with its sponsor El Corte Inglés during the time that the sponsorship lasted (1981-1989), and the third trophy model that granted Real Madrid during his last decades.[7][8]

Year Champions Second place Third place Fourth place Results / Notes
1966
Details
Italy
Ignis Varese
Brazil
Corinthians
Spain
Real Madrid
United States
Chicago Jamaco Saints
Final: 66–59
3rd place game: 112–96
1966
Details
Italy
Simmenthal Milano
Spain
Real Madrid
France
ASVEL
Portugal
Benfica
Four team league stage.
1967
Details
Spain
Real Madrid
Spain
Juventud Kalso
Australia
Victoria Melbourne
Argentina
River Plate
Four team league stage.
1968
Details
Spain
Real Madrid
Uruguay
Uruguay
Philippines
Meralco Reddy Kilowatts
Spain
Picadero
Four team league stage.
1969
Details
Spain
Real Madrid
Panama
Panama
Argentina
Buenos Aires Selection
Spain
Juventud Nerva
Four team league stage.
1970
Details
Spain
Real Madrid
Spain
Juventud Nerva
Argentina
Gimnasia y Esgrima
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Four team league stage.
1971
Details
United States
North Carolina Tar Heels
Spain
Real Madrid
Spain
Juventud Schweppes
Chile
Unión Española
Four team league stage.
1972
Details
Spain
Real Madrid
Brazil
Palmeiras
United States
Virginia Cavaliers
Spain
Estudiantes Monteverde
Four team league stage.
1973
Details
Spain
Real Madrid
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Spain
Juventud Schweppes
Argentina
Obras Sanitarias
Four team league stage.
1974
Details
Spain
Real Madrid
United States
North Carolina Tar Heels
Cuba
Cuba
Spain
Estudiantes Monteverde
Four team league stage.
1975
Details
Spain
Real Madrid
Brazil
Palmeiras
United States
Arizona State Sun Devils
Spain
Estudiantes Monteverde
Four team league stage.
1976
Details
Spain
Real Madrid
United States
Tennessee Volunteers
France
Cavigal Nice
United Nations
Africa Selection
Four team league stage.
1977
Details
Spain
Real Madrid
Australia
Australia
Uruguay
Defensor Sporting
United States
Bradley Braves
Four team league stage.
1978
Details
Spain
Real Madrid
Spain
Joventut Freixenet
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Argentina
Obras Sanitarias
Four team league stage.
1979
Details
Soviet Union
Soviet Union
Spain
Real Madrid
United States
Athletes in Action
Spain
Joventut Freixenet
Four team league stage.
1980
Details
Spain
Real Madrid
Spain
Cotonificio
Brazil
Sírio
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Partizan
Four team league stage.
1981
Details
Spain
Real Madrid
United States
Marlboro All-Stars
Spain
Inmobanco
Israel
Israel
Four team league stage.
1982
Details
Spain
Inmobanco
Spain
Real Madrid
United States
Marlboro All-Stars
Brazil
São José
Four team league stage.
1983
Details
Soviet Union
Soviet Union
Spain
Real Madrid
United States
New York All-Stars
Cuba
Cuba
Four team league stage.
1984
Details
Soviet Union
Soviet Union
Spain
Real Madrid
United States
Cheiw All-Stars
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Four team league stage.
1985
Details
Spain
Real Madrid
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Brazil
Monte Líbano
United States
Golden State All-Stars
Four team league stage.
1986
Details
Spain
Real Madrid
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Brazil
Brazil
United States
Winston All-Stars
Four team league stage.
1987
Details
Spain
Real Madrid
Soviet Union
Soviet Union
Greece
Greece
Argentina
Argentina
Four team league stage.
1988
Details
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Spain
Real Madrid
Soviet Union
Soviet Union
Brazil
Monte Líbano
Four team league stage.
1989
Details
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Jugoplastika
Spain
Real Madrid
Greece
Aris
Israel
Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
Four team league stage.
1990
Details
Spain
Real Madrid Otaysa
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
POP 84
Israel
Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
France
Limoges CSP
Four team league stage.
1991
Details
Spain
Real Madrid Asegurator
Israel
Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
Australia
Australia
Italy
Benetton Treviso
Four team league stage.
1992
Details
Spain
Real Madrid Teka
Spain
Estudiantes Argentaria
Croatia
Cibona
Israel
Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
Four team league stage.
1993
Details
Brazil
Brazil All-Stars
Italy
Stefanel Trieste
Spain
Real Madrid Teka
Spain
Estudiantes Argentaria
Four team league stage.
1994
Details
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Spain
Real Madrid Teka
Russia
Moscow Selection
Brazil
São Paulo All-Stars
Four team league stage.
1995
Details
Spain
Real Madrid Teka
Australia
Australia
Brazil
Rio Claro
Cuba
Cuba
Four team league stage.
1996
Details
Spain
Real Madrid Teka
Greece
Olympiacos
Turkey
Efes Pilsen
Italy
Scavolini Pesaro
Four team league stage.
1997
Details
Spain
Real Madrid Teka
Italy
Italy
Brazil
Brazil
New Zealand
Nea Zealand
Four team league stage.
1998
Details
Russia
CSKA Moscow
Spain
Real Madrid Teka
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Partizan
Slovenia
Union Olimpija
Final: 84–77
3rd place game: 66–62
1999
Details
Greece
Panathinaikos
Spain
Real Madrid Teka
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Partizan
Croatia
Zadar
Final: 78–77
3rd place game: 76–74
2000
Details
Spain
Real Madrid Teka
Brazil
São Paulo All-Stars
N/AN/AFinal: 111–83
2001
Details
Russia
Ural Great Perm
Spain
Real Madrid
N/AN/AFinal: 80–69
2002
Details
Israel
Maccabi Elite Tel Aviv
Spain
Real Madrid
N/AN/AFinal: 87–71
2003
Details
Spain
Real Madrid
Turkey
Ülker
N/AN/AFinal: 86–78
2004
Details
Spain
Real Madrid
Brazil
Telemar Rio de Janeiro
N/AN/AFinal: 85–69
2006
Details
Spain
Real Madrid
Lithuania
Lietuvos rytas
N/AN/AFinal: 88–78

Medals (1966-2006)

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Spain (ESP)2718550
2 Russia (RUS)5128
3 Serbia (SRB)3328
4 Italy (ITA)2204
5 Brazil (BRA)16512
6 United States (USA)13610
7 Greece (GRE)1124
8 Israel (ISR)1113
9 Australia (AUS)0123
10 Turkey (TUR)0112
 Uruguay (URU)0112
12 Lithuania (LTU)0101
 Panama (PAN)0101
 Puerto Rico (PUR)0101
15 Argentina (ARG)0022
 France (FRA)0022
17 Croatia (CRO)0011
 Cuba (CUB)0011
 Czech Republic (CZE)0011
 Philippines (PHI)0011
Totals (20 entries)414135117
  1.  Russia +  Soviet Union
  2.  Serbia +  Yugoslavia
  3.  Czech Republic +  Czechoslovakia

References

  1. José Luis Alises Moreno. "Torneo Internacional de Navidad". Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Reportaje - LA FIBA, o la geopolítica en el baloncesto". El País. 24 January 1985. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  3. 1 2 Relaño, Alfredo (23 December 2012). "Aquel torneo de todas las Navidades". El País. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  4. Martin Tello (24 December 2004). "El Torneo de Navidad se despide tras 40 años". as.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  5. "El Corte Inglés presento el Torneo de Navidad". El País. 11 December 1981. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  6. 1 2 "ABC (Madrid) - 24/12/1993, p. 81 - ABC.es Hemeroteca". hemeroteca.abc.es. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  7. Antonio García (16 December 2019). "Intrahistorias y cuentos de los torneos de Navidad. Cuando España se paraba a ver el baloncesto…". gigantes.com. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  8. Cañas, Jose Maria. "PMB Los Ojos del Tigre". Losojosdeltigre.com. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
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