Everything you need to know about the FIBA U16 Asia Championship

FOSHAN (FIBA U16 Asia Championship) - After a number of stops and starts, the FIBA U16 Asia Championship is finally here, ready to knock our socks off with the young talent in the continent.

From 2-8 April, Foshan, China will host the landmark tournament bringing together 13 countries that are all vying to qualify for the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup later this year in Argentina. Only four spots are up for grabs, though, so the stakes are high and competition should be quite heated. The detailed explanation of the Competition Format may be found HERE.

Here is everything you need to know about each team in the FIBA U16 Asia Championship.

Group A
China

Previous Appearances: 4
Highest Finish: Champions (2009, 2011, 2013)
Head Coach: Yuan Yuan
Average Height: 6ft 5in (1.95m)
Tallest Player: Jiao Boqiao, 6ft 10in (2.09m)
Youngest Player: Sun Haoqin, born 28 January 2003 (eligible for FIBA U16 Asia Championship 2019)
FIBA U16 Asia Win-Loss Record: 33 wins and 2 losses
- China are the winningest country in the tournament's history. Many national team standouts came from their U16 program, most notably Zhou Qi and Guo Ailun.

Hong Kong

Previous Appearances: 2
Highest Finish: 13th (2013)
Head Coach: Aaron Cheung
Average Height: 6ft 0in (1.82m)
Tallest Player: Chan Pak Lam and Chan Tat Hei, both 6ft 2in (1.88m)
Youngest Player: Chui Tsun Ho, born 28 May 2002
FIBA U16 Asia Win-Loss Record: 2 wins and 6 losses
- Hong Kong are assured of advancing to at least the Play-Off round for the first time in tournament history.

New Zealand

Previous Appearances: 0
Head Coach: David James Bublitz
Average Height: 6ft 2in (1.87m)
Tallest Player: Morgan Trott and Jake McKinlay, both 6ft 7in (1.97m)
Youngest Player: Haven Dixon, born 13 October 2001
- The Junior Tall Blacks have never qualified to the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup, but they have a bigger window of opportunity to do it now in Foshan.

Group B
Australia

Previous Appearances: 0
Head Coach: Justin Schueller
Average Height: 6ft 4in (1.93m)
Tallest Player: Paul Tsapatolis, 6ft 8in (2.03m)
Youngest Player: Paul Tsapatolis, born 20 June 2002
- The Crocs are among the most decorated teams in the history of FIBA U17, finishing 2nd place at the world level twice, which makes them heavy favorites to win here in Foshan.

Malaysia

Previous Appearances: 4
Highest Finish: 9th (2013)
Head Coach: Lee Kheng Tian
Average Height: 6ft 0in (1.82m)
Tallest Player: Lee Jing Hung, 6ft 3in (1.90m)
Youngest Player: Wilson Lee, born 9 February 2002
FIBA U16 Asia Win-Loss Record: 10 wins and 17 losses
- Malaysia have never made it to the Quarter-Finals of this tournament, but making their fifth appearance is a testament to their robust youth program.

Philippines

Previous Appearances: 4
Highest Finish: 2nd (2013)
Head Coach: Michael Oliver
Average Height: 6ft 4in (1.93m)
Tallest Player: Kai Sotto, 7ft 1in (2.16m)
Youngest Player: Raven Cortez, born 23 October 2002
FIBA U16 Asia Win-Loss Record: 24 wins and 9 losses
- This is the Philippines' tallest team ever at this level, and the expectations are very high. It will, however, be difficult to match their historic 2013 finish.

Group C
Chinese Taipei

Previous Appearances: 4
Highest Finish: 2nd (2015)
Head Coach: Wu Cheng-Chieh
Average Height: 6ft 1in (1.86m)
Tallest Player: Cheng Ching-Hua and Ma Chien-Hao, both 6ft 6in (1.97m)
Youngest Player: Lo Shih-En, born 23 November 2002
FIBA U16 Asia Win-Loss Record: 23 wins and 11 losses
- Chinese Taipei came out of nowhere to have their best U16 campaign in 2015, but their outlook is a bit more modest this time around. Still, it would be foolish to count them out.

Iran

Previous Appearances: 2
Highest Finish: 3rd (2009)
Head Coach: Nenad Trunic
Average Height: 6ft 5in (1.95m)
Tallest Player: Jalal Agha Miri and Sorena Alizadeh Goorandani, both 6ft 9in (2.06m)
Youngest Player: Amirhossein Yazarloo and Nosratollah Yazarloo, born 21 March 2002
FIBA U16 Asia Win-Loss Record: 11 wins and 6 losses
- Iran are making an appearance for only the third time, but they are bringing the big guns. Coach Trunic has one of the tallest teams in the field, and they are dead set on making a lot of noise.

Macau

Previous Appearances: 0
Head Coach: Mu Jianxin
Average Height: 6ft 0in (1.82m)
Tallest Player: Liang Hua and Leong Wai Tong, both 6ft 3in (1.90m)
Youngest Player: Leong Wai Tong, born 18 July 2002
- Macau are making their debut at the continental level, and though hardly anyone is giving them a second look, this experience will benefit their program in a big way.

Group D
India

Previous Appearances: 4
Highest Finish: 10th (2009, 2011)
Head Coach: Vibhor Bhriguvanshi
Average Height: 6ft 2in (1.89m)
Tallest Player: Harshwardhan Tomar and Princepal Singh, both 6ft 10in (2.08m)
Youngest Player: Jerome Prince George, born 1 October 2002
FIBA U16 Asia Win-Loss Record: 9 wins and 17 losses
- India's size will be a big factor for them in much the same way Satnam Singh Bhamara's size played a huge factor in their top 10 finish in 2011.

Japan

Previous Appearances: 4
Highest Finish: 3rd (2011, 2013)
Head Coach: Torsten Loibl
Average Height: 6ft 0in (1.84m)
Tallest Player: Rin Yamazaki, both 6ft 3in (1.91m)
Youngest Player: Chikara Tanaka, born 4 May 2002
FIBA U16 Asia Win-Loss Record: 20 wins and 14 losses
- It'll be difficult to match their podium finishes in 2011 and 2013, but just like those teams, this year's Japan squad have a phenomenal young talent in Chikara Tanaka.

Korea

Previous Appearances: 4
Highest Finish: Champions (2015)
Head Coach: Kim HyunSoo
Average Height: 6ft 3in (1.90m)
Tallest Player: Cha MinSeok, 6ft 6in (1.99m)
Youngest Player: Lee KyuTae, born 4 April 2002
FIBA U16 Asia Win-Loss Record: 11 wins and 6 losses
- Their famous victory in the 2015 Semi-Finals ended China's dominance of the tournament, but it'll be even harder to defend their crown now, especially with the entry of Australia and New Zaland.

Lebanon

Previous Appearances: 2
Highest Finish: 6th (2011, 2013)
Head Coach: Vinko Bakic
Average Height: 6ft 4in (1.92m)
Tallest Player: Yorgo Bou Harb, both 6ft 8in (2.04m)
Youngest Player: Yousef Khayat, born 11 March 2003 (eligible for FIBA U16 Asia Championship 2019)
FIBA U16 Asia Win-Loss Record: 10 wins and 8 losses
- Despite being a hotbed of hoops, Lebanon have not made much of an impact at the U16 level. Coach Vinko Bakic and his wards, though, are hoping to change that this year.

FIBA