The inaugural Dubai International Basketball Junior Championship gets under way today as five local clubs and three foreign teams battle for the top spot in the event’s first edition.

Held until Sunday, September 20, the tournament will be played at American University in Dubai (AUD) from the preliminary stage to the final.

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Taking part in the competition are local clubs Al Ahli, Al Shabab, Al Wasl, Al Nasr and Al Sharjah, as well as three international teams consisting of Al Riyadi from Jordan, Barcelona of Spain and Partizan from Serbia.

The players in the tournament are required to be born from 1997-99 for the domestic teams and from 1999-2001 for the international squads.

Divided into two groups, Group A will have Barcelona, Al Sharjah, Al Nasr and Al Ahli, while Group B holds Partizan, Al Riyadi, Al Wasl and Al Shabab.

Each game will last for four, eight-minute quarters, until the semi-final when FIBA rules will be applied for 10-minute quarters.

Along with gold, silver and bronze, the closing ceremony will award individual honours for Best Player, Best Scorer, Best 3-point Scorer and Ideal Team.

Al Sharjah and Al Nasr will open the tournament when they meet at 16:00 Monday.