Maccabi bid to become world basketball champs

Maccabi Tel Aviv will bid to become the best basketball club side in the world when they take on Flamengo in the 2014 FIBA Euroleague Intercontinental cup.

The two-legged tie which takes places in Rio de Janeiro in late September, pits the Israelis, who won the Eurobasket, against the Brazilian side, who won the South American equivalent.

Jordi Bertomeu, the President and CEO Euroleague Basketball, said: “We’re sure that our new Turkish Airlines Euroleague champion, Maccabi, will add great momentum to this reborn initiative with its excellent team, consistent professionalism and worldwide following of fans.”

Alberto Garcia, Secretary General of FIBA Americas, said: “In recent months we have seen two incredible finals, with the Liga de las Americas and the Euroleague, and are confident that we will have an elite match-up when our representative Flamengo of Brazil takes on Maccabi of Israel in Rio de Janeiro.

“With the Maracanazinho as our stage, full of the biggest and most important fan-base in Brazil, along with the strong support of the Maccabi fans around the world, we have no doubt it will be a historic weekend for global basketball.”

Maccabi will be looking to win the Cup for the second time in their history, with the first leg taking place on 26 September, Game 2 will take place two days later.