FIBA-Asia Cup 2025 Saudi Arabia

[paolylo]

We've had 3 FIBA Asia Cups (one of them rescheduled because of COVID) and 2 World Cups since FIBA restructured their calendar and still some guys are still oblivious to how those two tournaments and every single qualifying window (what's known in other sports as international dates) in Feb, July, and November create an entire 4-year cycle and why FIBA decided that standings in the World Cup (plus OQT winners) are awarded with slots in the Olympics instead of whoever wins/places a Continental Cup which they've done away with.

It's pretty obvious who's been bullshitting.

[sroth3839]

We've had 3 FIBA Asia Cups (one of them rescheduled because of COVID) and 2 World Cups since FIBA restructured their calendar and still some guys are still oblivious to how those two tournaments and every single qualifying window (what's known in other sports as international dates) in Feb, July, and November create an entire 4-year cycle and why FIBA decided that standings in the World Cup (plus OQT winners) are awarded with slots in the Olympics instead of whoever wins/places a Continental Cup which they've done away with.

It's pretty obvious who's been bullshitting.

It’s gonna be really funny if Qatar doesn’t qualify for the Asia Cup but have automatic qualification for the WCQ.

There’s a strong chance they could get the Indonesia treatment.

[paolylo]

It’s gonna be really funny if Qatar doesn’t qualify for the Asia Cup but have automatic qualification for the WCQ.

There’s a strong chance they could get the Indonesia treatment.

More like 2006. As much as I insist Japan were shit during the BAP/SBP suspension years, at least they beat Panama as hosts and came close against Tab Baldwin's NZ team. Even Lebanon (with Vogel and El Khatib) upset France. China still had Wang, Yao and a young Yi and were the undisputed best squad in Asia then. Qatar were just lucky to be there and pretty much lost by 30 to everyone.

[sroth3839]

More like 2006. As much as I insist Japan were shit during the BAP/SBP suspension years, at least they beat Panama as hosts and came close against Tab Baldwin's NZ team. Even Lebanon (with Vogel and El Khatib) upset France. China still had Wang, Yao and a young Yi and were the undisputed best squad in Asia then. Qatar were just lucky to be there and pretty much lost by 30 to everyone.

2006 was peak Qatar because of their golden generation that won Asiad silver.

They finished 3rd in the 2005 Asian Championship and qualified for the WC.

Their current team is miles behind that 00s team.

The Hagop rule pretty much killed every chance they had to form a competitive team.

[sroth3839]

More like 2006. As much as I insist Japan were shit during the BAP/SBP suspension years, at least they beat Panama as hosts and came close against Tab Baldwin's NZ team. Even Lebanon (with Vogel and El Khatib) upset France. China still had Wang, Yao and a young Yi and were the undisputed best squad in Asia then. Qatar were just lucky to be there and pretty much lost by 30 to everyone.

According to Wikipedia, There will be 8 slots for Asia-Oceania with one already given to Qatar. Similar to 2019 WC where China had one auto slot and seven spots were contested.

that means 7 spots will be contested.

[JAMSKIE]

2006 was peak Qatar because of their golden generation that won Asiad silver.

They finished 3rd in the 2005 Asian Championship and qualified for the WC.

Their current team is miles behind that 00s team.

The Hagop rule pretty much killed every chance they had to form a competitive team.

Very much agree. I remember how formidable that Qatar team in that era - early to mid-2000's. That Qatar team was composed mostly of black players. There was even that strong speculation that most of those black players are Africans whom Qatar converted into Qatari citizens so that they can play for the Qatar national team as local players.

It is even believed that such practice by Qatar led to FIBA implementing stricter rule on player eligibility.

[sroth3839]

Very much agree. I remember how formidable that Qatar team in that era - early to mid-2000's. That Qatar team was composed mostly of black players. There was even that strong speculation that most of those black players are Africans whom Qatar converted into Qatari citizens so that they can play for the Qatar national team as local players.

It is even believed that such practice by Qatar led to FIBA implementing stricter rule on player eligibility.

None of them were Qatari except 1 or 2 who didn’t play.

Al-Rayes is half-American IIRC.

They did it in Handball too.

Just look at their squad who finished second in the 2015 World Handball championships

[JAMSKIE]

None of them were Qatari except 1 or 2 who didn’t play.

Al-Rayes is half-American IIRC.

They did it in Handball too.

Just look at their squad who finished second in the 2015 World Handball championships

I think 6-foot-8 Yassin Ismael Mahmoud Mousa who is among the top players of that golden generation (though they never won any gold) Qatar team, is a natural born Qatari citizen. His son 6-foot-7 Hamad Yassin Mousa is currently a player of Qatar's U-18 team, perhaps the best player of that team. The young Mousa is even regarded to be of NBA potential

[Giannis34GOD]

According to Wikipedia, There will be 8 slots for Asia-Oceania with one already given to Qatar. Similar to 2019 WC where China had one auto slot and seven spots were contested.

that means 7 spots will be contested.

There is a chance that 2 or 3 major Asia/Pacific contenders will be out of the race... One bad start in early qualifying WC windows will have already a hard time to recover and lose opportunity... That's why this current move by SBP led by Tim cone is a must, atleast by start of 1st window of WC qualifiers on November 2025 they are already on shape to beat teams in our group... Especially in East region, where tougher teams already on the same group as early as 1st to 3rd window..

[Giannis34GOD]

Very much agree. I remember how formidable that Qatar team in that era - early to mid-2000's. That Qatar team was composed mostly of black players. There was even that strong speculation that most of those black players are Africans whom Qatar converted into Qatari citizens so that they can play for the Qatar national team as local players.

It is even believed that such practice by Qatar led to FIBA implementing stricter rule on player eligibility.

Qatar money is not enough to please FIBA.. if they can please FIFA officials to do whatever they want, they can't do that in FIBA officials.. there are many controversial games involving Qatar in football and FIFA doesn't care about that... The last one is the qualification match between India vs Qatar...

[sroth3839]

So who would be the 7 teams that will probably compete for the 7 slots as Asian representatives to the 2027 FIBA World Cup? Qatar is already qualified by virtue of being the host, right?

I think it would be, Australia, New Zealand, Lebanon, Iran, Jordan, Philippines, China, Korea, Japan that would compete for that 7 slots.

Chinese Taipei, Saudi Arabia & Kazakhstan may also join the fray.

There is a chance that 2 or 3 major Asia/Pacific contenders will be out of the race... One bad start in early qualifying WC windows will have already a hard time to recover and lose opportunity... That's why this current move by SBP led by Tim cone is a must, atleast by start of 1st window of WC qualifiers on November 2025 they are already on shape to beat teams in our group... Especially in East region, where tougher teams already on the same group as early as 1st to 3rd window..

Australia and New Zealand are easy to predict. They will always send competitive teams. That's two slots gone.

Which leaves 5 spots to be competed by:

China
Philippines
Japan
Korea
Lebanon
Jordan
Iran

Jordan and Iran are both very vulnerable.

Iran -- The retirement of their golden generation has weakened them significantly.
Jordan -- Their depth is very narrow and have been reliant on Al-Dwairi, RHJ, and Ibrahim.

Bahrain, Kazakhstan, Guam, Taiwan, and KSA may surprise some teams but I don't see it happening.

---------------

I still say Qatar might get the Indonesia treatment and their automatic qualification gets nullified if they fail to make the second round of the WCQ.

Their current team right now isn't very good and needs to win convincingly over India in the next ACQ window.

[Giannis34GOD]

Australia and New Zealand are easy to predict. They will always send competitive teams. That's two slots gone.

Which leaves 5 spots to be competed by:

China
Philippines
Japan
Korea
Lebanon
Jordan
Iran

Jordan and Iran are both very vulnerable.

Iran -- The retirement of their golden generation has weakened them significantly.
Jordan -- Their depth is very narrow and have been reliant on Al-Dwairi, RHJ, and Ibrahim.

Bahrain, Kazakhstan, Guam, Taiwan, and KSA may surprise some teams but I don't see it happening.

---------------

I still say Qatar might get the Indonesia treatment and their automatic qualification gets nullified if they fail to make the second round of the WCQ.

Their current team right now isn't very good and needs to win convincingly over India in the next ACQ window.

NZL is vulnerable... They can be beaten.. Australia is only a shoo in for Asian qualifiers... Korea for me is also vulnerable.. they are on rebuilding mode and they don't have naturalized player yet... China is also not sure.. they are not dominant as it used to be, unless they will hire finally a naturalized player to upgrade their line up

[sroth3839]

NZL is vulnerable... They can be beaten.. Australia is only a shoo in for Asian qualifiers... Korea for me is also vulnerable.. they are on rebuilding mode and they don't have naturalized player yet... China is also not sure.. they are not dominant as it used to be, unless they will hire finally a naturalized player to upgrade their line up

Korea is Korea. They have never failed to be competitive. Just look at their record against West Asian teams.

They simply got unlucky last time with COVID.

Same with China. They will always have the length and talent to pose problems against other teams.

The only teams that have beaten NZ are Korea, Lebanon, and Jordan. All those wins needed those teams to play perfectly and it was against NZ’s not so best roster.

[Giannis34GOD]

Korea is Korea. They have never failed to be competitive. Just look at their record against West Asian teams.

They simply got unlucky last time with COVID.

Same with China. They will always have the length and talent to pose problems against other teams.

The only teams that have beaten NZ are Korea, Lebanon, and Jordan. All those wins needed those teams to play perfectly and it was against NZ’s not so best roster.

But they have a losing record vs Iran... In the top 8 ranked teams that Korea is facing, it's Iran that Korea was struggling with.. even last year's Asian games who Iran parade was their young players, but Korea still lose w/ Ratliffe, Iran is 9-1 since 2007 against Korea... How you can explain that? Iran has always Korea's numbers, Korea game is one dimensional, Gilas before Baldwin having hard time vs Koreans because of poor defensive plan against them, but they are the one who is easily to defend, just lock them in their perimeter game and they are done... While Jordan should not underestimate, RHJ led Jordan is a different beast.. no one sees Jordan last Asian games to be in the finals, but they did..

[sroth3839]

But they have a losing record vs Iran... In the top 8 ranked teams that Korea is facing, it's Iran that Korea was struggling with.. even last year's Asian games who Iran parade was their young players, but Korea still lose w/ Ratliffe, Iran is 9-1 since 2007 against Korea... How you can explain that? Iran has always Korea's numbers, Korea game is one dimensional, Gilas before Baldwin having hard time vs Koreans because of poor defensive plan against them, but they are the one who is easily to defend, just lock them in their perimeter game and they are done... While Jordan should not underestimate, RHJ led Jordan is a different beast.. no one sees Jordan last Asian games to be in the finals, but they did..

That losing record against Iran was mostly during the latter’s golden generation.

How many times have we beaten Iran during the Haddadi days? Once. Same as Korea.

That’s one team bro and it’s not even guaranteed they’ll be in the same bracket.

Korea is still good enough to beat five other teams in the 1st and 2nd rounds convincingly if Iran remains their boogeymen