FIBA AmeriCup Trophy Tour takes over Bahia Blanca

 BAHIA BLANCA (FIBA AmeriCup 2017) - The FIBA AmeriCup 2017 Trophy Tour continued Thursday, with a press conference in Bahia Blanca, Argentina where basketball stakeholders, media members and potential partners in the country got a close glimpse of the new trophy that will be awarded to the champions of the FIBA AmeriCup 2017.

Argentinian Basketball Federation President Federico Susbielles, and Bahia Blanca’s Ministry of Sports Director Bernardo Stortoni were on hand during the ceremony.

“We are very happy to present the trophy in Bahía Blanca, a city that breathes basketball in every corner,” said Susbielles. “We believe that this tournament, along with the new Qualifiers to the FIBA Basketball World Cup will mark a before and after for our sport on the continent. We have the tools to generate more diffusion and development, now it is time to work to achieve it.”

Bahia Blanca will host Group B of the FIBA AmeriCup 2017 from August 27-39, with the participation of national teams from the Virgin Islands, Venezuela, Canada and host Argentina.

“From the Municipality, we thank the Argentine Basketball Confederation for the confidence in Bahia Blanca,” said Stortoni. “Our message is of support and above all for the enjoyment of our youth, and for those who love the sport. It's a luxury for us, now we must work to have a good event."

The FIBA AmeriCup 2017 Trophy Tour will continue with further cities to be announced for the coming days and throughout the summer.

"The FIBA AmeriCup Trophy Tour visited Bahia Blanca, and for the second time the tour stopped in a city filled with basketball history and tradition. Our continental competition boasts having a city that breathes basketball passionately, which we are confident will live to the highest the FIBA AmeriCup 2017 and the best National Teams of the Americas,” said FIBA Americas President, Usie Richards.

The newly-minted FIBA AmeriCup 2017 Trophy is "founded on history", with a new shape and feel inspired by an evolution of previous trophies handed out throughout the history of the continental competition. It has an etched map of the Americas engraved in the inner and outer surface, as well as all the past continental champions from 1980-2015 editions.

The new AmeriCup Trophy will be handed out for the first time on September 3 to the FIBA AmeriCup 2017 champions in Cordoba, Argentina.

For more information and the most complete coverage of the FIBA AmeriCup 2017, visit fiba.com/AmeriCup and follow @FIBA on social media.

FIBA