NEWS

Gasol named Global Ambassador for FIBA World Cup

February 6, 2023 4:46 p.m.

MIES (Switzerland) – International basketball icon Pau Gasol has been named a FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Global Ambassador.

With FIBA’s flagship event getting underway in 200 days in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia, Gasol will be on hand at a championship he knows very well.

Gasol made a huge splash at his first World Cup in 2002 in Indianapolis, leading Spain to fifth place. He ended up as the tournament’s sixth leading scorer, averaging more than 19 points per game.

Gasol’s biggest moment with Spain came when he spearheaded his country’s run to glory at the 2006 World Cup in Japan. He was so prolific, averaging 21.2 points and 9.4 rebounds per game while shooting a blistering 63.1 percent from the field, that he was named MVP of the event despite having to miss the Final because of injury.

In his last World Cup appearance on home soil in 2014, Gasol led Spain to six straight wins before the hosts were upset by France in the Quarter-Finals. He had been so good in the tournament that Gasol again made the All-Star Five.

In all, Gasol played at three World Cups, five Olympics and seven FIBA EuroBaskets.

He helped Spain win silver medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and then bronze at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.

In the history of the EuroBasket, Gasol is one of the most decorated players. At the EuroBaskets in 2009 and 2015, he was the MVP as Spain captured titles. In 2011, he was in the All-Star Five as his national team also reached the top of the podium.

Gasol was in the All-Star Five when Spain finished runners-up at EuroBaskets 2003 and 2007 and when Spain were third in 2001 and 2017.

Even as a member of Spain’s youth teams, Gasol competed and had success. He helped his country beat the USA in the Final of the 1999 World Championship for Junior Men.

Looking ahead to the World Cup, Gasol, who has joined Argentina superstar Luis Scola as a World Cup Global Ambassador, knows a lot has to go right for the eventual winners.

“The World Cup is the toughest trophy in basketball to win”, Gasol said. “A winning team needs character and chemistry and teammates who will pick you up when you’re down”.

“This is a great honor for me to be a part of such a great team of basketball legends and to join Luis Scola, a true legend and one of my toughest rivals, in this role as Global Ambassador for the 2023 World Cup”.

Gasol was a wonderful representative for the game during his playing days and has been since his retirement after the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Only several months ago, he served as FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 Ambassador and was courtside in Sydney, supporting and promoting women’s basketball. He is also a member of the International Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission. Gasol is an advisor, investor and activist in projects related to sports and wellbeing.

NEWS

Satisfy your cravings with these best-selling Nanyang drinks

September 15, 2023 3:30 p.m.

Nanyang isn’t only known for its Laksa Prawn, Cheesy Chicken Chop Noodles and Singapore’s best selling Hainanese Chicken Rice and Kopi.

It also has several best-selling drinks to whet your appetite and satisfy your sweet tooth, such as Iced Teh Melaka, Kopi Jelly Milk Tea, Milo Dinosaur and Kopi O.

Head over to your nearest Nanyang branches nationwide.

NEWS

USA back on top; Germany takes Top 3 spot in FIBA World Ranking

September 15, 2023 1:28 p.m.

MIES (Switzerland) – The recent completion of the prestigious FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 has produced some eye-catching positive climbs in the latest FIBA World Ranking Men, presented by Nike.

USA reclaim pole position with 786.6 points after benefiting from their consistency at major tournaments over the last three summers. Finishing in fourth place at the FIBA Basketball World Cup where they outperformed former number one nation Spain, their run to the Semi-Finals came off the back of winning an Olympic title at Tokyo in 2021 and also taking bronze at the FIBA AmeriCup 2022.

Recently crowned FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 champions Germany have another slice of history to enjoy as they step into the top three of the rankings for the very first time after moving up a massive eight places and onto 759.7 points. Their stunning success made all the more incredible because of the fact they made the journey to the top step of the podium without tasting defeat.

Canada also have another reason to celebrate too, with their maiden FIBA Basketball World Cup medal fueling an even bigger rise of nine spots. They now occupy sixth position with 745.5 points.

Serbia performed in outstanding fashion to make the title game and their second-placed finish gave their fans something to be proud of. Those supporters can also now enjoy and reflect on their country being a top five nation again as they move up a place and into fifth position on 755.6 points.

Meanwhile, when it comes to the scale and impact of climbing the rankings in the upper echelon, nobody can match Latvia. They have rocketed up a staggering 22 places and into the top 10 after their heroic underdog displays which ensured they took fifth place at the FIBA Basketball World Cup. They now sit in 8th position on 743.7 points.

There were many other teams who impressed at the flagship event, including Brazil who recorded three wins in five games and moves up a place into 12th in the rankings on 660.5 points. The Americas region can also boast a nice move upwards of five places into 16th for Puerto Rico on 611.1 points, while Dominican Republic rise six spots into 18th place on 561.9 points.

There were also notable improvements for Georgia who move up 10 positions and into 23rd on 465.9 points, Japan jump 11 spots to 26th on 432.2 points and Lebanon claim an uplift of 16 places into 28th on 423.3.

One nation that truly made everyone sit up and take notice at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 were first-timers South Sudan. They made history by beating China to claim a first win at the event, then pushing on to beat the Philippines and Angola. This has resulted in a sensational climb of 32 spots in the rankings. They now find themselves in 31st place with 375.5 points.

For more information about the method used in the calculation of the FIBA World Ranking Men, please refer to the “How It Works” section.

Click here to view the full FIBA World Ranking Men, presented by Nike.