MIES (Switzerland) – Tuesday marked a special occasion at the Patrick Baumann House of Basketball, as the leadership team of the Azerbaijan Basketball Federation (ABF) visited the FIBA headquarters for the first ever time.
ABF President Emin Amrullayevand and ABF Executive Vice-President Farrukh Mahmudov had the chance to be introduced to the House of Basketball, and held a series of productive meetings.
FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis, together with FIBA Vice-President and FIBA Europe President Jorge Garbajosa, hosted the Azerbaijani leadership duo in Mies and discussed with their guests both the significant rise that basketball has already achieved in the country and its exciting prospects in the near future.
The two sides also discussed ways to strengthen collaboration and touched on matters related to FIBA Plus, the innovative FIBA program that aims to help National Federations reach their full potential.
The ABF management team also met with Basketball Champions League CEO Patrick Comninos, coincidentally on the same day reigning domestic champions Sabah BC clinched their second ever victory in the pan-European competition, since first joining it last season.
Azerbaijan celebrated an accomplishment of historic proportions in 2024 by qualifying to its first ever Olympics, as the Women’s national team took part in the 3x3 Tournament in Paris.
A win over eventual bronze medalists USA was the highlight of Azerbaijan’s proud campaign at Paris 2024, and they followed up that success by making it all the way into the Final in what was their debut appearance in the FIBA 3x3 Champions Cup, last March.
This level of sustained success is what the ABF aspires to see at all levels, and the country’s record participation in European basketball competitions this season, with four teams in total for the first time, reflects that ambition.
In addition to Sabah, who are currently playing in their second Basketball Champions League campaign, three Azerbaijani clubs - Gence BC, LANDAU Lions and Neftchi SC - take part in the FIBA Europe Cup this season.
FIBA