BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Window 3 of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers is crucial for both Iraq and Palestine as it could make or break their hopes of advancing.
Group D
February 21
Jordan versus Saudi Arabia - 07:00 PM (GMT+3) - Amman (JOR) Iraq versus Palestine - 07:00 PM (GMT+3) - Baghdad (IRQ)
February 24
Iraq versus Jordan - 07:00 PM (GMT+3) - Baghdad (IRQ) Saudi Arabia versus Palestine - 07:00 PM (GMT+3) - Jeddah (KSA)
The two are sitting at the bottom of Group D behind the unbeaten Jordan (4-0) and hosts Saudi Arabia (3-1), making their respective assignments must-win situations if they are to keep their chances of reaching the tournament proper alive.
Between them, only the Iraqis have a win to boot with a 1-3 card, with their lone victory coming at the expense of Palestine - a 75-72 escape back in Window 1.
Needless to say,. they want to repeat as the crew is bound for another rematch with their WABA rivals - who are 0-4 - on February 21 at the Al Shaeb Hall in Baghdad.
Another win against Palestine would boost their bid of at least finishing third in the group, which, if they do, would bring them to the Qualifying Tournament for Third-Place Teams in a last attempt for teams to realize their Asia Cup aspirations.
But while it's looming to be another interesting clash between the hopefuls, not to be forgotten are the top two teams in Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
In fact, those two are set to open Group D action on February 21, with the Falcons hosting the Saudis at Prince Hamzah Sport Hall in Amman.
Homecourt advantage is on their side and they plan to maximize as much in an attempt to assert their mastery of KSA after winning in their first game, 79-64.
It's actually becoming a rivalry between these two teams, having faced one another multiple times in recent years - most of which were close affairs.
They traded wins in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers, before Jordan won their next two meetings - first in the Asia Cup 2022 in Indonesia where they went on to reach the Semi-Finals, and then the aforementioned match.
But of course, Saudi would not want their foes to extend that streak, looking to bank on the momentum they've built in the Qualifiers. They're coming into the window riding on a two-game winning streak after sweeping their games last November.
Aside from earning payback, next week's games should also serve as a gauge for the Asia Cup 2025 hosts to further assess their progress as a collective, given that the prestigious continental meet is just about six months from now.
FIBA