India's ONGC to take part in 2013 FIBA Asia Champions Cup in Jordan

Pitting together the top clubs from various Asian countries, FIBA Asia's official international club tournament - the 24th FIBA Asia Champions Cup - is set to be held in Amman, Jordan from September 13-21, 2013. The tournament will feature nine top club men's basketball teams from nine different Asian countries. India's Men's champions from the 2013 Federation Cup in Bangalore - Uttarakhand's ONGC - will be the sole representative from South Asia at Amman.

The annual Champions Cup returns in interesting circumstances, as last year's final in Lebanon - between local side Al Riyadi Beirut and Mahram of Iran - was put off due to security concerns in the region.

India's ONGC are currently riding a wave of great success domestically, particularly after they signed Indian international stalwarts Vishesh Bhriguvanshi and Yadwinder Singh into their star-studded veteran mix. They qualified as India's top side after the blowing past Chennai's IOB at the BFI's Federation Cup Championship in February this year.

ONGC have been placed in Group B of the Champions Cup's Preliminary Round, along with Al Rayyan, Duhok, and BC Capchagay. A team from Philippines to represent South East Asia - the San Miguel Beerman - pulled out from the tournament due to unavailability of players. Since there are only four teams in the group, they are guaranteed to qualify for the knockout stage, but they will shoot for as high as finish as possible to get a favourable draw in the Quarter-Finals.

24th FIBA Asia Champions Cup Groupings

Group A: Al Hala (Bahrain), ASU (Jordan), Foolad Mahan (Iran), Khas Bronchos (Mongolia), Al Jaish (Syria).
Group B: Al Rayyan (Qatar), Duhok (Iraq), ONGC (India), BC Capchagay (Kazakhstan).

ONGC's roster for FIBA Asia Champions Cup

• Dinesh Kumar
  
• Vishesh Bhriguvanshi
  
• Amrit Pal Singh
  
• Sridhar Shanmugum
  
• Anoop Mukkanniyil
  
• Des Raj
  
• Yadwinder Singh
  
• Mohit Bhandari
  
• Trideep Rai
  
• Riyazuddin
  
• Murali Krishna Ravindran
  
• Sabeer Ahmed
  
• Head Coach: Durgesh Bhatia
  

Aside from Vishesh and Yadwinder, ONGC feature up-and-coming India international big man Amrit Pal Singh as well as savvy veterans like Bhandari, Trideep, Sridhar, and Murali Krishna.

Preliminary Round Schedule for ONGC - All Times IST

• September 14 - 6:30 PM: BC Capchagay vs. ONGC.
  
• September 15 - 8:30 PM: ONGC vs. Duhok.
  
• September 16 - 8:30 PM: Al Rayyan vs. ONGC.
  

The Quarter Finals will begin after the Preliminary Round, and the Final is scheduled for September 21st.