CHN - Line-up unveiled for 2012 Stankovic Continental Cup

GUANGZHOU CITY (2012 Stankovic Continental Cup) - Every summer, important international basketball tournaments are staged around the globe to help national teams gear up for runs at the podium in major events like the FIBA Basketball World Cup and Olympics.

Since 2005, outstanding sides have travelled to China to compete in the Stankovic Continental Cup, an event each hopes will serve as a launch pad for a success in major championships where medals are at stake.

Guangzhou City will host the Stankovic Continental Cup for the second year in a row 6-10 July, 2012.

FIBA Asia Championship gold medalists China and Yi Jianlian will be there, along with African champions Tunisia and Oceania winners Australia.

All three of the national teams will be stepping up their preparations for the London Games.

Russia will also have a national side taking part in the Stankovic Continental Cup 2012, though it is likely to be their 'B' team as David Blatt will be coaching Andrei Kirilenko and the rest of the first team at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Caracas, Venezuela, 2-8 July.

In Guangzhou City, the teams will play each other in a round-robin format on the first three days and following a rest day, the number one ranked side will square off against the No. 2, with the other two national teams fighting for third place.

Past winners are Lithuania (2005), Greece (2006), Slovenia (2007), Angola (2008), Australia (2009), Slovenia (2010) and Angola and New Zealand (2011).

The FIBA Honorary President, Dr. Carl Men Ky Ching, founded this event as a way to pay tribute to Borislav Stankovic, the FIBA Secretary General Emeritus who has worked tirelessly in his career to promote the development of international basketball.

The Stankovic Cup was co-staged in Guangzhou City last year and will be held there for the foreseeable future.

FIBA