BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Window 3 of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers witnessed a bevy of players stand out with memorable performances that truly proved impactful for their respective national teams.
That included first-timers in the men's competitions, coming in and showing that they're hardly dazed by the bright lights, with little to no jitters as well in a stage as big as the recent continental cup qualifier.
Take a look at the five hoopers that proved solid in their debuts.
Myron Gordon, SYR
In easily one of the feel-good stories of the Qualifiers, Syria booked a trip to the tournament proper following a sweep of their Window 3 games - first a rout of UAE and then a thriller of a win against Bahrain.
Those all-important wins were big thanks to the presence of Myron Gordon. In their 86-61 conquest of the Emiratis, the 27-year-old guard submitted 20 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals.
He then went on to show that his debut was no fluke by upping the ante against Bahrainis. There, he dropped 27 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the floor, including a 3-of-4 clip from beyond the arc, alongside 6 rebounds and 7 assists as they escaped with an 89-87 victory to secure their third straight trip to the Asia Cup.
Elijah Pepper, AUS
Already assured of a spot to the August meet since Window 2 last November, Australia went with youth in the recent window and Elijah Pepper wasted no time proving himself worth of the call-up.
One of the six that made their first Boomers appearance, the 23-year-old played a major role in their dominant wins against Southeast Asian sides Indonesia and Thailand in Traralgon to complete a sweep of the Qualifiers.
He tallied 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists against Timnas, and then finished with a 24-5-5 line versus the Thais as Pepper gave the reigning two-time Asia Cup champions something to look forward to in the future.
Muhammad Ali Abdurrahkman, KSA
Muhammad Ali Abdurrahkman was actually a late addition to the Window 3 roster of Saudi Arabia but the 30-year-old combo guard proved that the coaches made the correct decision in bringing him in.
After a feeling-out stage of sorts against Jordan, the University of Michigan product went on to show what he can bring to the table by unloading 23 points, highlighted by a 6-of-8 shooting from three, 2 rebounds, 7 assists, a steal, and a block to help lead their 93-71 conquest of Palestine in Jeddah.
Abdurrahkman finished the window with averages of 16.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 2.0 steals, and a block, making him one player to watch out for as Saudi Arabia prepares to host this year's Asia Cup.
Seyed Mahdi Jafari, IRI
Iran continued their youth movement in Window 3 by integrating fresh faces into the squad and that includes 21-year-old guard Seyed Mahdi Jafari, who delivered commendably in their wins against India and Kazakhstan.
In those two games, Jafari posted averages of 7.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and a steal in 15.0 minutes of playing time. Definitely not bad for a FIBA debutant, and such numbers tell how much upside he has which could bode well for a program that's still in the process of building the best possible team it could for the future.
John Harper, JPN
The youngest player to ever play in the B.League finally made his Japan seniors debut as John Harper Jr. saw action for the traditional contenders for the first time this Window 3.
He played just one game but the 22-year-old guard made the most out of it no doubt, showcasing his relentless defense and energy to help the AKATSUKI JAPAN escape Mongolia, 89-79, before an electric crowd at the UG Arena in Ulaanbaatar in easily one the most exciting games to take place in this Asia Cup Qualifiers.
The former 2021 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup campaigner finished with 7 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists and with his first seniors game now in the books, Harper should be one of those which fans have to watch out for in the coming years.
FIBA