Due to a series of unforeseen events, the FIBA AmeriCup has had to reschedule their playoffs, so all of the championship games will be held at the Belize Civic Center in Belize City from July 22-22, 2018. The FIBA AmeriCup was formerly known as the FIBA Americas Championship and is an international basketball competition between national teams in the Western Hemisphere.
Originally, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua were scheduled to host games in their nations, but a number of issues forced the games to be relocated. The first round of the playoffs will begin on July 20, 2018, where Belize will square off against El Salvador. On the following day, July 21, El Salvador will face off against Costa Rica. And on the final day of the playoffs, Sunday, July 22, Belize will go head to head with Costa Rica.
The winner of these playoff rounds will qualify for the next round of the FIBA AmeriCup championship in 2019. Several teams will then be chosen to compete in FIBA’s Olympic Games qualifying tournaments, and the winner will be eligible to compete at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo Japan.
The FIBA AmeriCup championship game is held every two years. In 2017, the United States beat Argentina 81-76 in the gold medal game while Mexico beat the Virgin Islands 79-65 to win the bronze medal. Since its inception in 1980 (when it was known as the FIBA Americas Championship, Belize has never qualified for the medal round.
The United States has won the championship seven times and earned one silver medal in 1989 when it was narrowly defeated 89-80 by Puerto Rico.
Despite widespread enthusiasm across the country, the Belize national basketball team has very little international experience and has never competed in the Olympic Games. Since joining FIBA in 1973, Belize has struggled to successfully compete against regional teams. In 1998, Belize’s basketball team won the CARICOM men’s champions. And on 2001, Belize won the Central American Games championship.
“We warmly welcome all the FIBA Americup competitors to Belize,” said Larry France, marketing manager at Chabil Mar Resort. “And we wish all the teams the very best of luck!”
Chabil Mar is a luxury resort located on the beautiful Placencia Peninsula in southern Belize. Chabil Mar regularly organizes tours and activities, including transportation for any guests who want to attend the FIBA AmeriCup playoff games in Belize City between July 20-22, 2018.
