BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Another gameday done and dusted in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers, leaving only one more spot at the Asia Cup left to be claimed from this phase of the competition.
Before we head into this final games of the Qualifiers, let's take a breath and look back at what happened on Gameday 5.
Here are six key takeaways from the first two days of action in the third window!
And then there were three
We came into the window with five undefeated teams that were looking for a clean sweep of the Asia Cup Qualifiers. After the first gameday, however, we're down to only three.
Australia and Jordan handily took care of business against their counterparts, while Lebanon had to sweat out the final moments against Bahrain. They still have zero losses so far.
The Philippines and Japan, however, suffered their first losses with Gilas being upset by Chinese Taipei and China getting their revenge against AKATSUKI JAPAN.
That just goes to show you that wins don't necessarily come easily in the Asia Cup Qualifiers. As it stands, that's already one less undefeated team from the previous cycle of Qualifiers. And there's still one more game to go.
The future is here
At this point, we aren't really surprised that Mohammad Amini is good. This has been evident since he was dominating the youth competitions and even leading the World Cup 2023 team in scoring.
Still, we can't help but marvel at just how good he is - and how much better he can be. His near-perfect game against India (33 points, 14-15 field-goal shooting, 5 three-pointers without a miss, and what seemed like a million alleyoop throwdowns) was just another exhibit of his excellence.
That he was able to do that in front of the hometown crowd while clinching a spot at the Asia Cup, and with Hamed Haddadi in attendance for his jersey retirement ceremony made it seem like the stage was set for a performance to remember for the youngster.
Thailand are no pushovers
Thailand have not played at the Asia Cup since 2013. They went winless in the Asia Cup 2022 Qualifiers with the second-worst point difference among all teams. It would be fair for opposing teams and fanbases to consider them as bottom dwellers.
While they haven't changed status to become powerhouses overnight, they've displayed over the windows that they can indeed be a dangerous underdog.
Korea nearly had to learn that the hard way as they witnessed a 15-point lead evaporate in the final quarter against Thailand before barely escaping with a one-point win. Established talents like Nattakarn Muangboon, Moses Morgan, and Freddie Lish have enjoyed the debut of Martin Breunig in the Asia Cup Qualifiers and that might just be enough to get them back to the big dance later this year in Jeddah.
Never underestimate Chinese Taipei
You would think that teams would have learned by now that Chinese Taipei can never be overlooked. Guam learned that out in a heartbreaking aggregate loss in the Qualifying Tournament for Third-Place Teams in the previous cycle. Jordan barely came out on top in the Asia Cup 2022 Quarter-Finals. And we all remember the historic win over China in 2013.
Chinese Taipei struck again in this final window, taking down the Philippines in one of the best games of the competition so far highlighted by both teams trading daggers. The win earned them a spot at the Qualifying Tournament for Third-Place teams without having to stress out in the final gameday, where they will took to get a ticket to Jeddah and pull off even more upsets.
Qatar are back
In the history of the FIBA Asia Cup, there are 10 national teams to have ever placed on the podium on multiple occasions. Qatar are one of those teams, winning bronze in 2003 and 2005.
So it must have felt good for them to have secured an Asia Cup spot and make it back after not qualifying for the competition in 2022. They've done so by claiming a direct spot as one of the highest-placed teams in the Group as well.
Moreover, the recent form they've been in should spell confidence for those that are rooting for a deep competition run by the Gulf powerhouse. Kazakhstan are not an easy opponent to face, but Qatar struck early, absorbed the counterblows, and broke away for a big win to start their final window.
Down to the Buzzer
It's a bit poetic, actually. We will finding out which teams can still keep their Asia Cup hopes alive in the last two games of this last window with Syria and Bahrain tipping off at the exact same time as Lebanon face Bahrain.
You can find out the details here but a summary would be to say that one of the three teams between Syria, Bahrain, and UAE will have their dreams shattered at the buzzer with either Syria or Bahrain certainly booking their ticket to Saudi Arabia later this year.
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