KARACHI, Aug 10: After lending financial support to snooker and tennis besides other sports, the fifth National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) cup basketball tournament gets into action at the Arambagh floodlit court from Sept 10, a spokesman for the bank announced on Wednesday.

He said 12 teams including defending champions Habib Bank, will fight for the glory in the eight-day event which concludes on Sept 18. The invitational event is being organised with the permission of the Sindh Basketball Association.

Besides the holders, other teams includes Navy, Karachi Police, five districts of Karachi — East, West, South, Central, Malir — Larkana, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and Sukkur.

The teams will be divided into four groups and on completion of league matches, group champions will advance into the semi-finals.

He disclosed that cash prizes and trophies would be offered to the winner and runner-up.

Secretary of the Sindh Basketball Association, former international Abdul Nasir, has been named as organising secretary.