FIBA International Christmas Tournament also known as the Christmas Tournament (Torneo de Navidad) was a men's basketball international friendly competition at the club level (and in some editions with national teams), organized by FIBA at its first decades through the Commission of International Organizations under the hand of Raimundo Saporta, club director and president of the International Commission of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), and with the authorization and support of R. William Jones, its general secretary, so it had the officiality of FIBA in its first decades of life, being also the starting point of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, whose first edition appears in the history of this competition. After 1980, the tournament transitioned to being an festive exhibition, although it still garnered attention and popularity.

History The competition was held for the first time in January 1966 with the name of FIBA Intercontinental Cup on the occasion of the inauguration of the new basketball venue of Real Madrid, the Pabellón de la Ciudad Deportiva (later called the "Raimundo Saporta Pavilion"). This edition also served as the starting point of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup (later known as the FIBA Club World Cup), whose results were valid for the first edition of the aforementioned competition of the highest basketball organism, and whose first trophy It was the same as the one used in the FIBA International Christmas Tournament until 1980.

The second edition of the Christmas Tournament was baptized at the time as Latin Cup, due to the origin of the participating teams (there was a competition called Latin Cup in 1953 that only had an edition, although the one of December 1966 counts as the second edition of the Christmas Tournament), and it was not until the third edition, in 1967, when the tournament was renamed by the popular and better-known FIBA International Tournament Christmas – Torneo de Navidad – (also known as the "Trophy Raimundo Saporta", and later "Memorial Fernando Martín", together with the denomination of Christmas Tournament, as well as "Philips Trophy" from its beginnings and El Corte Inglés from 1981 until the end of the 80s). That is, FIBA organized, Philips put the money and Real Madrid yielded the field, with the approval and consent of the FEB. As of 1981, Real Madrid, with the sponsorship of the English Court (until 1989, subsequently replacing other sponsors), managed the tournament, although their relations with FIBA continued.

Despite the tournament's perceived importance at the time, it is considered nowadays a friendly competition, although the prestige of the twelve silver medals of the winner for the contenders was maximum, since until 1980 it had the official status and the protection of FIBA. However, the first edition of the International Christmas Tournament made the FIBA Intercontinental Basketball Cup officially emerge, a competition that "merengues" would go on to win four times.

It could be said that the International Christmas Tournament, while it was under the auspices and organization of the FIBA (1966–1980), had a rank of para-official competition, that is, that it had an official rank or character (although it was not considered like this at present), but it worked as such at that time. For what was an international friendly competition of an official nature. Although from 1981 it was managed by Real Madrid, the Committee of International Activities of FIBA was behind it. In fact it was the starting point of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, and whose second edition of this tournament (called Copa Latina in that edition), already breaking away from the Intercontinental, continued under the organization and official FIBA in everything concerning the delivery of trophies and the FIBA emblem on the podium, as well as FIBA referees, but the fact that its last decades were largely managed by Real Madrid, because it gave the competition, for all intents and purposes, a friendly character, despite its weight, importance and notoriety, but above all due to the fact that its participants acceded by invitation (although in the FIBA Club World Cup as well). In short, the officiality of FIBA was languishing as of 1980 (despite the fact that FIBA and its committee were still behind the event, as attested by the presence, year after year, of FIBA referees) and redefining itself in a friendly tournament (from 1980), although of great prestige for all tale meant and the international character of it.

Results The competition featured three different trophy models throughout its history. The first gold and granted by FIBA until 1980, the second granted by Real Madrid together with its sponsor El Corte Inglés during the time that the sponsorship lasted (1981-1989), and the third trophy model that granted Real Madrid during his last decades.

YearChampionsSecond placeThird placeFourth place Results / Notes1966Details Ignis VareseCorinthiansReal MadridChicago Jamaco SaintsFinal: 66–593rd place game: 112–961966Details Simmenthal MilanoReal MadridASVELBenficaFour team league stage.1967Details Real MadridJuventud KalsoVictoria MelbourneRiver PlateFour team league stage.1968Details Real MadridUruguayMeralco Reddy KilowattsPicaderoFour team league stage.1969Details Real MadridPanamaBuenos Aires SelectionJuventud NervaFour team league stage.1970Details Real MadridJuventud NervaGimnasia y EsgrimaPuerto RicoFour team league stage.1971Details North Carolina Tar HeelsReal MadridJuventud SchweppesUnión EspañolaFour team league stage.1972Details Real MadridPalmeirasVirginia CavaliersEstudiantes MonteverdeFour team league stage.1973Details Real MadridPuerto RicoJuventud SchweppesObras SanitariasFour team league stage.1974Details Real MadridNorth Carolina Tar HeelsCubaEstudiantes MonteverdeFour team league stage.1975Details Real MadridPalmeirasArizona State Sun DevilsEstudiantes MonteverdeFour team league stage.1976Details Real MadridTennessee VolunteersCavigal NiceAfrica SelectionFour team league stage.1977Details Real MadridAustraliaDefensor SportingBradley BravesFour team league stage.1978Details Real MadridJoventut FreixenetCzechoslovakiaObras SanitariasFour team league stage.1979Details Soviet UnionReal MadridAthletes in ActionJoventut FreixenetFour team league stage.1980Details Real MadridCotonificioSírioPartizanFour team league stage.1981Details Real MadridMarlboro All-StarsInmobancoIsraelFour team league stage.1982Details InmobancoReal MadridMarlboro All-StarsSão JoséFour team league stage.1983Details Soviet UnionReal MadridNew York All-StarsCubaFour team league stage.1984Details Soviet UnionReal MadridCheiw All-StarsYugoslaviaFour team league stage.1985Details Real MadridYugoslaviaMonte LíbanoGolden State All-StarsFour team league stage.1986Details Real MadridYugoslaviaBrazilWinston All-StarsFour team league stage.1987Details Real MadridSoviet UnionGreeceArgentinaFour team league stage.1988Details YugoslaviaReal MadridSoviet UnionMonte LíbanoFour team league stage.1989Details JugoplastikaReal MadridArisMaccabi Elite Tel AvivFour team league stage.1990Details Real Madrid OtaysaPOP 84Maccabi Elite Tel AvivLimoges CSPFour team league stage.1991Details Real Madrid AseguratorMaccabi Elite Tel AvivAustraliaBenetton TrevisoFour team league stage.1992Details Real Madrid TekaEstudiantes ArgentariaCibonaMaccabi Elite Tel AvivFour team league stage.1993Details Brazil All-StarsStefanel TriesteReal Madrid TekaEstudiantes ArgentariaFour team league stage.1994Details YugoslaviaReal Madrid TekaMoscow SelectionSão Paulo All-StarsFour team league stage.1995Details Real Madrid TekaAustraliaRio ClaroCubaFour team league stage.1996Details Real Madrid TekaOlympiacosEfes PilsenScavolini PesaroFour team league stage.1997Details Real Madrid TekaItalyBrazilNea ZealandFour team league stage.1998Details CSKA MoscowReal Madrid TekaPartizanUnion OlimpijaFinal: 84–773rd place game: 66–621999Details PanathinaikosReal Madrid TekaPartizanZadarFinal: 78–773rd place game: 76–742000Details Real Madrid TekaSão Paulo All-StarsN/AN/AFinal: 111–832001Details Ural Great PermReal MadridN/AN/AFinal: 80–692002Details Maccabi Elite Tel AvivReal MadridN/AN/AFinal: 87–712003Details Real MadridÜlkerN/AN/AFinal: 86–782004Details Real MadridTelemar Rio de JaneiroN/AN/AFinal: 85–692006Details Real MadridLietuvos rytasN/AN/AFinal: 88–78

Medals (1966-2006)

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References