The International Basketball Federation has announced the finalised competition schedule for the group phase and the final phase of its 2017 Asia Cup in Lebanon ©FIBA

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has announced the finalised competition schedule for the group phase and the final phase of its 2017 Asia Cup in Lebanon.

The continent's premier basketball event is due to begin on August 8 with Kazakhstan taking on debutantes New Zealand in Group C at Beirut’s Nouhad Nawfal Arena.  

The day will also see Group D action take place, before teams in Groups A and B take centre stage the following day.

The group phase is scheduled to conclude on August 13 with the top team from each group advancing to the quarter-finals.

Teams that finish second and third in each group will face off in the "qualification to the quarter-finals" play-off games.

The final is set to take place on August 20.

The full schedule can be accessed by clicking here.

The Philippines are among the 16 nations set to compete at the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup ©FIBA
The Philippines are among the 16 nations set to compete at the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup ©FIBA

The 2017 FIBA Asia Cup will be the first-ever Asia-Oceania joint continental Championship with 16 teams battling it out for top honours.

Defending champions China have been drawn against Iraq, 2015 runners-up The Philippines and Qatar in Group B. 

The official draw ceremony also saw 2015 bronze medallists Iran pitted against Jordan, Syria and India in Group A and hosts Lebanon put into Group C alongside Kazakhstan, South Korea and New Zealand.

Completing the line-up are the Group D quartet of Japan, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei and Australia.