BISHKEK (Kyrgyzstan) - Kazakhstan booked their ticket to the FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2024 after ruling the CABA Qualifiers that took place from July 10-12 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
The young #SteppenWolves formalized their entry to the continental showpiece following a dominant 113-54 conquest of Uzbekistan to complete the two-game sweep of the tilt.
All hands were on deck in the triumph, with Sayan Mamutov top-billing with all-around numbers of 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists, plus a steal for an efficiency of 23.
Mukhammed Maralbayev made 13 points. The tandem of Bektemir Tau and Mikhail Chopov supplied 12 points apiece, while Bogdan Boiko chipped in 10 points in the victory.
Kazakhstan indeed upped the ante with the quintet stepping up after 3 players showed the way in their 59-42 wire-to-wire win against hosts Kyrgyzstan the day prior.
Zakhar Medovskoy led the squad with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Aibolat Omarov and Ilya Pestov tallied identical numbers of 11 points and 5 rebounds each.
With the Kazakhs' entry, other teams will try their luck in reaching the U18 Asia Cup through the other Sub-Zone Qualifiers taking place in the next two months.
Both the SABA and WABA Qualifiers are ongoing in Sri Lanka and Iraq, respectively, with 1 spot up for grabs in SABA and 2 in WABA. The SEABA Qualifiers will be held in Malaysia on July 19-21 with 2 tickets on the line. The GBA Qualifiers, meanwhile, are set on July 29-August 2 in Kuwait, where 2 slots will be fought for.
The FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2024 will be held on September 2-9 in Amman, Jordan. Korea are the reigning champions after edging out Japan, 77-73, in the Final in Tehran, Iran, in 2022.
FIBA