MIES (Basketball Champions League) - Seven Italian clubs have committed to participate in the Basketball Champions League, the innovative 50-50 joint partnership between FIBA and 10 top European leagues, that will tip off its inaugural season in September 2016.

Vanoli Cremona (currently 3rd in Italy's Lega Basket Serie A standings), Sidigas Avellino (4th), Giorgio Tesi Group Pistoia (6th), Umana Reyer Venezia (7th), Openjobmetis Varese (9th), Obiettivo Lavoro Bologna (14th) and Consultinvest Pesaro (15th) all signed declaration letters confirming their participation in the competition. With the sporting criteria determining teams participating in the Basketball Champions League, they will have to achieve the necessary results to qualify.

The move comes after the Italian Basketball Federation (FIP) consulted with the clubs and both its president, Giovanni Petrucci, and the president of Italy's national Olympic Committee (CONI), Giovanni Malago, gave their full backing to the sporting principles which form the base of the Basketball Champions League.