Freddie Lish's return: ''Playing in Mongolia, it's amazing''

ULAANBAATAR (Mongolia) - Freddie Lish seems to play with a bit of an extra skip in his step here at the UG Arena in Ulaanbaatar.

"I think BCL Asia gives teams an opportunity to see what other countries can bring [in terms of] the toughness and the grit of other countries.”

There's a sense of familiarity in the way he moves in this specific venue, despite it being nearly 10,000 kilometers away from his first home in Wisconsin and nearly 4,000 kilometers away from Bangkok, his second home.

And it makes total sense.

Lish has played here more than anywhere else in the past few years. For the Thailand national team, he played in all seven games through both windows of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Pre-Qualifiers which was hosted here in Mongolia.

His electric style of play made him a fan favorite, even when they rooted against him in a Thai national team jersey, and it was enough to convince local clubs to sign him to play in Mongolia's "The League". So he played two seasons professionally here as well.

Upon his return with Hi-Tech Basketball Club for the Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia) Qualifiers Round 1 to what can be considered another "home" in the well-traveled baller's career, Lish did not shy away from expressing his love for this special place.

"I just had a conversation with my teammates about this." he said. "Playing in Mongolia, it's amazing."

"The basketball culture is definitely growing here and as far as fans, they show you a lot of love.

So I feel like the country in general, are doing a great job of building the basketball culture here and it’s amazing."

"They play hard every game," said Lish, specifically about that basketball culture. "They give their all. The teams always put together a team that's worthy of coming to watch."

But his love always comes back to showing appreciation for the fans here.

"The fans are amazing, too. They show lots of love. They come to most of the games and even if you're outside, they'll come up to you and say hi. It's a good feeling. They treat you like a basketball player."

If there's anyone who deserves to be treated like a basketball player, it's a legit "baller" like Lish. The 35-year-old guard has been averaging 18.0 points across two games in the BCL Asia Qualifiers Round 1, putting on all the moves to get his way around the hardwood.

Next up on the list of opponents for Lish and his team? The League champions Ulaanbaatar Xac Broncos. And he can't wait.

"I'm looking forward to play against Tommy [Bilguun Battuvshin] and Sanchir [Tungalag], you know, the two superstars here," said Lish.

"I definitely think it'll be a good look for our team to go against the top players in the country."

"Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. That will be a big one."

However, the Mongolian teams - both the Broncos and Bishrelt Metal - aren't the only teams that Lish has a connection with. Throughout his years venturing through the Asian basketball landscape one ankle-breaking crossover at a time, he's played with and against many of the best talents in the region - many of whom are here at the BCL Asia Qualifiers.

When Hi-Tech faced Pelita Jaya in their first game, Lish encountered many rivals that he'd clashed against in the past whether it is with the national team or at a professional club setting from Brandon Jawato to Andakara Prastawa to Justin Brownlee.

Then there are the Malaysian players on NS Matrix Deers, who he's both played against and with.

"Anthony [Liew]'s out here, we got Kuek [Tian Yuan] out here. They've always showed me love. I always love playing out there [in Malaysia], but it's going to be great to just be able to watch them play and see how much they've grown over the years."

There's also the Deers' guard Taishaun Johnson who has not only played in Thailand recently, but also comes from the same college as Lish ("It's gonna be fun to play against the alumni from the same school [South Alabama] I went to"). Hong Kong Eastern is a team that Lish has played against many times, likewise with Adroit who has players that have played in Singaporean clubs that Lish has had many clashes with.

"We're just looking forward to seeing everybody who's out here, you know, taking it day by day."

All things considered, Lish is a primary example of what makes BCL Asia so exciting. That a skilled player like himself who goes around playing against some of the best in Asia has the chance to reunite with those former teammates and opponents on a platform where they get to compete for regional supremacy, it's something that ends up being a valuable experience for everyone.

"I think BCL Asia gives teams an opportunity to see what other countries can bring [in terms of] the toughness and the grit of other countries," said Lish.

"I think it's good experience and good exposure for younger players and older players to still get their name out there more."

With the way Lish is playing - and highlights he's creating - his name will continue to get out there and open more opportunities for himself. Just as it has in the past which has allowed him to venture the world as he has through basketball.

"It's been a blessing to be able to play at a high level for so many years and to be able to just travel countries and see the different cultures everywhere," he said.

"Without basketball, I wouldn't be able to meet half of the people that I know now, being able to enjoy what I love to do. I'm just thankful that teams still give me an opportunity to showcase myself."

There's a good chance that the teams - all of the teams that he's played for - are just as thankful for him showcasing his skills for their side as well.

FIBA