Rakuten and JUBF Host “World University Basketball Series 2023” in Tokyo This August, Bringing Together World-Class University Teams from Across the Globe

• Expanded roster from 2022 with a total of eight universities joining from seven countries and regions to compete.
• WUBS official site: https://www.wubseries.com/en/

TOKYO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#WUBS–Rakuten Group, Inc. and the All Japan University Basketball Federation (JUBF) today announced they will be holding Sun Chlorella’s World University Basketball Series 2023 (WUBS 2023), a champions league-style tournament for world-class university basketball teams. See the full press release here.

WUBS 2023 is hosted by JUBF with operation support provided by Rakuten Sports, a Rakuten Group business focused on creating partnerships with professional athletes and other sports services. Held again with presenting partner Sun Chlorella, this year’s tournament marks the second in the series following last year’s inaugural WUBS and will be held from August 10 to 13 at the Yoyogi National Stadium Second Gymnasium. For 2023, an expanded roster of universities will compete, with a total of eight men’s university basketball teams from seven countries and regions – Australia, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea and the United States.

Tickets for the games are now available for purchase on the official website.

This year’s participating universities are the University of Sydney from Australia, National Chengchi University (NCCU) from Chinese Taipei, Perbanas Institute from Indonesia, the 74th All Japan Intercollegiate Basketball Championship winners Tokai University and runner-up Hakuoh University from Japan, WUBS 2022 champions Ateneo de Manila University from the Philippines, Korea University from South Korea and the United States’ Radford University, which includes Japanese athlete Ibu Yamazaki. The teams will compete in a series of 12 knock-out tournament games over three days from August 11 to August 13 to determine the 2023 series champion. In addition, on August 10, an “Opening Night” exhibition game (tentative title) will be held between the Japanese university men’s basketball select team (JUBF selection) and WUBS 2022 champions, Ateneo de Manila University.

Naoki Hayashi, president of JUBF and chairman of the World University Basketball Series Executive Committee, commented, “We are delighted to announce the second year of the World University Basketball Series, after last year’s successful inaugural event. I would like to express my gratitude to all those who helped make the tournament happen. This year’s tournament will make for an even more competitive and exciting event with eight universities competing, including one from the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA). It Is my great hope that WUBS 2023 will contribute to the further growth of university basketball as well as enhance friendships across each country and region. Pandemic-related restrictions have been relaxed, and I am thrilled at this opportunity for the global basketball community to come together and experience this wonderful tournament.”

Futoshi Nakayama, President & CEO of Sun Chlorella commented, “We are honored to partner with the World University Basketball Series once again this year. The number of competing teams has doubled to eight, and we feel that WUBS’ reach is steadily growing. In addition, WUBS 2022 champions Ateneo University, 74^th All Japan Intercollegiate Basketball Championship winners Tokai University and NCAA Division 1 team Radford University will all be competing – which promises to make this tournament even more gripping than last year. I am eager to welcome many basketball fans to the games.”

Going forward Rakuten Sports and JUBF will continue to empower the next generation of rising athletes through engaging initiatives that unite fans and grow the sport of basketball in markets around the world.

WUBS Overview

Tournament name: Sun Chlorella presents World University Basketball Series 2023

Tournament host: All Japan University Basketball Federation (JUBF)

Tournament organizing committee: World University Basketball Series Organizing Committee

Tournament operation support: Rakuten Sports

Date: Thursday, August 10 to Sunday, August 13, 2023

Venue: Yoyogi National Stadium Second Gymnasium (Tokyo, Shibuya Ward, Jinnan 2-1-1)

Format: Double-elimination tournament

Number of games: 13 games in total (1 exhibition game, 12 tournament games)

Participating teams: University of Sydney (Australia), National Chengchi University (Chinese Taipei), Perbanas Institute (Indonesia), Hakuoh University (Japan), Tokai University (Japan), Ateneo de Manila University (Philippines), Korea University (South Korea) and Radford University (United States)

Competition rules and regulations: In accordance with FIBA competition rules

Broadcast rights: NBA Rakuten, the one-stop destination for fans in Japan to watch NBA (National Basketball Association) games and programming

*Broadcast media may be added in the future.

For inquiries about tickets: com-ticket-wubs@mail.rakuten.com
For inquiries about the tournament: com-wubs@mail.rakuten.com

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