Guam will send just 11 players:
C- Jonathan Galloway - 6'11
C - Mekeli Wesley - 6'9
PF - Matt Fegurgur - 6'9
PF - Ben Borja - 6'8
F - Mark Johnson - 6'6
F - Earnest Ross - 6'6
G - Daren Hechanova - 6'3
G - Rio Aiken - 6'2
G - Jericho Cruz 6'1
G - Alschea Olis Grape 5'8
G - Jahmar Andre White 5'8
I think 3 countries will be candidates for hosting of 2025 FIBA Asia cup...
Jordan (Amman) - They were ones who referring themselves last year to be substitute after the postponement of supposed 2021 FIBA Asia cup in Jakarta last year due to COVID... They are the favorites to get that hosting gig even they host FIBA Asia cup Womens last year too, but their Arena is not good a standard in terms of hosting a big event like Asia cup
UAE (Dubai or Abu Dhabi) - Honestly, In terms of venue, they are big advantage than Jordan, They already hosted NBA Pre-season game event last month and rumored to host Final 4 games of famous Euroleague event next year.. But FIBA also look if their national team is good too... UAE is not yet there in terms of competitiveness... They will be like Indonesia that they give a free pass in the event and not going thru qualifications....
Saudi Arabia (Jeddah) - Another one who is very serious about basketball, they hosting multiple 3x3 events and their arena in Jeddah is also very good standards, In terms of competitiveness, Saudi deserves it because they doing fine these qualifiers...
I don't see Eastern region will host the event this time due to COVID restrictions.. Indonesia only take it because they are gunning for World cup berth, w/c they failed to do so....
UAE is ideal because it's a proven tourist destination that's more open and liberal.
Don't like the idea of KSA hosting anything tbh. The only good thing about it is the country being full of Pinoys who can rock the arena.
Iran (Tehran) has a shot but they face the same problems as Jordan and KSA: venues aren't very good and not the most open place out there. The country is also a mess currently.
Qatar may get the nod but their stadium is 'meh' and their team hasn't been great for a while.
Wild Take: Bahrain is the host.
Where did you find those line ups?
I watched Tahiti games, I'm not impressed with them, They only beating worst teams... But i don't see them beating any teams in their group in FIBA Asia cup pre qualifiers....
Tahiti vs Cook Island
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQMa44xfKok&t=2637s
vs Tonga
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ItK94c_lyw
Still ASEAN (Excluding Philippines) > Pacific (excluding Guam) > South Asia
Per region rank:
1. Australia & NZL region (mainland Oceania)
2. West Asia
3. East Asia
4. ASEAN (Including Philippines)
5. Gulf region
6. Central Asia (Stan countries)
7. Pacific (Includes Guam)
8. South Asia region (Sub India continent)
Mind you, Guam struggled against Tahiti at the Pacific Games in 2019. So, I really don't consider Guam as any better than the top 10 Asian teams. I think that they will also struggle against the likes of Kazakhstan, Iraq, Syria and Palestine. Even the Indonesian team that beat us earlier this year and Thailand with Morgan and Freddie Lish could beat Guam. Any team with actual skills could beat Guam.
Guam looks good because they have been playing against weaker teams. When they faced Taipei without Artino, their game got exposed bigtime. They lacked plays and they turned the ball over many times. Those careless passes and lousy handles that they are doing against teams in Oceania and weaker ASEAN teams will not fly against decent Asian teams.
I got this line up through AJ Edu page.
Yeah... Guam has talented rosters, but they need a good system and a full time coach.... But i'm surprise that Tahiti is ranked higher than our SEA teams... Tahiti didn't played any FIBA sanctioned games unless they counting Polynesian and Pacific games as FIBA sanctioned games... I still see our SEA neighbors beating Tahiti by atleast 10 - 15 pts.... Mongolia for me is the favorites to top the group... They are also a good team.... they were unranked because they were not participate in 5x5 FIBA games for years.....
Vietnam and Thailand could actually pose a challenge against Mongolia. With the exemptions these two have been receiving as of late, obviously, their teams will get stronger.
Among Pacific/Oceania teams, I see the most potential coming from Tonga and Samoa. Maybe, size of their lands and population is small but their people are not only genetically tall, they are also hefty.
Too bad, Tonga can no longer avail the services of Fotu and Taulava. Maybe Tautuaa has a chance to play for them.
They also consider the strength of their national teams, UAE is a good choice but national team is bad... Indonesia only get the nod to host since they have to qualify thru FIBA Asia cup top 8 for WC slot next year (w/c they failed), but in reality, they were not deserved to get automatic slot... That is my main concern for UAE... Iran is also not a good choice since Australia and NZL were banned to go Iran.. So that is not an ideal for FIBA to give Iran hosting gig... Jordan meanwhile they host FIBA Asia womens cup and some under youth category, but their stadium is bad, Anyway they give Lebanon hosting gig last 2017 even their stadium is bad too... Actually Saudi has a good stadium in Jeddah, check at their Asia cup qualifiers home games and 1st and 2nd window home game matches... That's good stadium actually, better than Jordan, Qatar and even Bahrain...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH0lq8RQaRE&t=3s
1st window home game of KSA vs Jordan
The King Abdullah sports stadium is actually exclusive always in football, but this is also using for other sports including basketball... They change it if it is football, or WWE, boxing or basketball....
https://scontent.fjed2-1.fna.fbcdn....ybs0x7mLLOPz277cMfMH_ShNAisdKSHLQ&oe=638C7AEC
Thailand will be w/o Jakrawan due to his studies... Who will be their big man? don't count out Malaysia, they came from Filbasket champs... They are in high spirits as of now
Or they could also stage the tournament in Australia/NZ because the ?FIBA Asia Cup? has never been held in Oceania.
It?s like the safest option.
Thailand team:
C Anasawee Klaewnarong - 6'6
F Moses Morgan - 6'6
F Arnat Phuangla - 6'4
F Naratip Boonserm - 6'4
F Teerawat Chantachon - 6'3
F Nicola Franco - 6'3
F Nakorn Jaisanuk - 6'2
G Jittapon Towaroj - 6'1
G Nattakarn Muangboon - 6'0
G Kannut Samerjai - 5'11
G Manatsawee Booddoung- 5'10
G Freddie Lish - 5'10
Thailand will force Moses Morgan to play big man role because of lack of bigs... their tallest guy is only 6'6... Not good for them... They will rely on speed this time.... Vietnam has 6'8 (or 6'9) guy, same as Malaysia, Tahiti and Mongolia... Because of that, Thailand will be on danger to not qualify for 2nd round... Basketball still a tall mans game..
What's Morgan's play style? If he's a wing, then, small ball four.
Can any of the others play big?