BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Only one between Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong, China can keep the dream alive as they enter Window 3 of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers.
Group B
February 20
Chinese Taipei versus Philippines - 07:00 PM (GMT+8) - Taipei (TPE) Hong Kong versus New Zealand - 07:00 PM (GMT+8) - Tsuen Wan (HKG)
February 23
New Zealand versus Philippines - 03:00 PM (GMT+13) - Auckland (NZL) Hong Kong, China versus Chinese Taipei - 07:00 PM (GMT+8) - Tsuen Wan (HKG)
Both squads are at the bottom of Group B behind the Philippines (4-0) and New Zealand (3-1) - teams that have already secured their tickets to the tournament proper this summer in Saudi Arabia by going 1-2 across the first two windows.
So, the only way for either Chinese Taipei or Hong Kong, China to stay afloat is by securing third place in the pool, for it would bring them to the Qualifying Tournament for Third-Placed Teams (the date and time of which to be announced soon).
As it stands, Chinese Taipei are sporting a 1-3 record, with their lone win actually coming at the expense of Hong Kong - a dominant 85-55 victory at the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium in the previous window last November.
That result kept Hong Kong, China winless in the Qualifiers with an 0-4 record, making Window 3 a must-win situation for a crew that has some sort of renewed hope coming into the assignments with the arrival of new guy Glen Yang.
A seasoned pro that's had stints in the Canadian Elite Basketball League as well as in the Philippine Basketball Association, Yang should serve as a solid playmaker for a team that's bidding to return to the Asia Cup after missing the 2022 edition.
He'd be tested right away as Hong Kong, China begin their Window 3 campaign by hosting the visiting Tall Blacks, which had beaten them in the first window.
Then it will be the rematch against Chinese Taipei also at the Tsuen Wan Stadium, with the whole squad, of course, looking for payback - and a chance to spoil their opponents' bid for third place in what should be a revenge so sweet for them.
But while much of the attention will fall on those two teams, not to be forgotten in Group B action is the encore between the Philippines and New Zealand in without a doubt one of the most anticipated games of the upcoming window.
Game is set February 23 at the Spark Arena in Auckland, with the Tall Blacks keen on maximizing homecourt advantage after being left stunned at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay last November following a 93-89 defeat they absorbed at Gilas' hands.
It couldn't get any tougher for NZ, given the fact that they lost in the same place where their erstwhile unbeaten four-game winning streak against the Filipino dribblers began - in the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, to be precise.
And so, expect the wards of Coach Judd Flavell to go out bent on getting back at Gilas, which are currently sitting on top of group with a 4-0 record.
FIBA