FIBA Basketball

    5 takeaways from Day 2 of the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Eastern Region Pre-Qualifiers

    NONTHABURI (FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Eastern Region Pre-Qualifiers) – Now that every team has showcased what they have, we’re able to get a better picture of what might happen from here on out.

    NONTHABURI (FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Eastern Region Pre-Qualifiers) – Day two of the Eastern Region Pre-Qualifiers come to an end with the undefeated teams maintaining their perfect records. Now that every team has taken the courts and put on showcase what they have, we’re able to get a better picture of how this tournament might unfold itself in the coming days. Here are 5 more takeaways from the second day of the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Eastern Region Pre-Qualifiers!

    Joshua Fox is REALLY good

    Fiji’s star forward is averaging an absurd 18.0 points, 15.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game while shooting over 50% from the field and 60% from downtown. All of that results in an efficiency rating of 24.5 to lead the tournament so far.

    Not only does Fox do the dirty work down low, he sets up his teammates for open shots, and gets his own as well.

    Fox poured in 20 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 steals against Thailand and even though it eventually was not enough to get Fiji the win, you could always feel that Fiji had a chance of making a comeback anytime their star was on the court.

    Unfortunately, Fox fouled out of the game in the fourth quarter and will now have to go all out against Singapore to keep their hopes of qualifying for the FIBA Asia Cup alive tomorrow.

     Malaysia’s double-edged sword

    After being the last team to qualify for this Eastern Region round from the SEABA Pre-Qualifiers, Malaysia has turned the tables to own a 2-0 record going into the second round.

    Malaysia has made it clear that the young core of Ting Chun Hong (20 points), Teo Kok Hou, and Wong Yi Hou (10 points in 4th Quarter today) are going to be their backcourt of the future, and the trio are doing well. 21-year-old Chang Zi Feung is now also stepping up (9 points, 4 rebounds) to give Malaysia a strong and very young core.

    However, it was also their youth that allowed Macau to claw back into the game after leading by as much as 22 points early on by committing 17 turnovers.

    The pressure will pile on in the later games in the upcoming days, so coach Bryan Lester will have to keep his young guns calm and under control. 

    Thailand’s loaded paint presence

    Chanatip Jakrawan was the story of Thailand’s first game and now it was their other two big men who flexed their muscles in today’s game against Fiji.

    Teerawat Chantachon went a perfect 7/7 for 14 points, showing why he is regarded as just a bright part of Thailand’s future as Jakrawan. Then it was Nopporn Saengtong who grabbed a team-leading 13 boards in the win as well. Add in a wide-bodied Moses Morgan and the four combine for a bulky and lengthy front court presence.

    Their biggest test will come tomorrow as they face Guam’s huge frontline of Earnest Ross, Curtis Washington, and Tai Wesley.

    Sweet stroke Earnest Ross

    The tournament’s current leading scorer (19.0 PPG) has the physique of a player that bulldozes his way to the rim (which he probably can). However, the majority of Ross’ points have coming from his on point shooting stroke. Leading the tourney with 9 three-pointers off 15 attempts, Ross is shooting the lights out from downtown, giving his defenders a headache on what to do against the 6’5” forward.

    On the occasion that he isn’t launching threes, Ross has shown that he can penetrate to the hoop and finish at the rim as well.

    Ross has had his way in Thailand so far and it will take a lot to slow him down.

    Near perfect debut from Tai Wesley

    Guam kept Tai Wesley on the bench in the opening match against Fiji, but didn’t hold him back from his FIBA Asia debut against Singapore. In just a little over 19 minutes of action, Wesley made all of his seven shots for 14 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, dished out 6 assists, and got a hold of one steal in the process of it all.

    Even without the youngest Wesley, Guam was already looking formidable. Now that he is seeing action, Guam’s chances of winning it all seems very likely.

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