BEIRUT (Lebanon) - The FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers are ready to jump back into action and Group A features some exciting games and players in Window 2.
Here's an overlook at how the teams are stacked up heading into the window:
Group A
The games in the Group are as follows
21 November 2024
Korea v Indonesia - 07:30 PM (GMT+9) - Goyang, KOR Thailand v Australia - 07:00 PM (GMT+7) - Bangkok, THA
24 November 2024
Korea v Australia - 03:00 PM (GMT+9) - Goyang, KOR Indonesia v Thailand - 05:00 PM (GMT+7) - Jakarta, INA
Game to watch
The action in Group A might start off a bit slow on Thursday, but the action will be packed on Sunday with so much on the line.
Korea set off the upset Alert in the previous February window. They led Australia by as large as 13 at one point of the game and even held the lead heading into the fourth quarter, but were unable to hold their ground when the Boomers stormed back. Having these two teams rematch in Korea is already exciting and adding to that suspense is that it could potentially be the game that clinches Australia a spot in the Asia Cup - if they go accordingly against Thailand.
If Australia indeed beat Thailand on Thursday, it will then be a thiller in Jakarta as Thailand and Indonesia will potentially be playing to avoid last place in the Group. There's already a friendly rivalry between the two Southeast nations and this game in the Indonesia Arena should be a fun new addition to the series.
Players to watch
It couldn't be anyone else other than Lee HyunJung. Well, it can and we'll talk about that in a bit, but Lee is the player to watch in Group A this window. This will be his first time back with the national team since 2021, when he made his debut playing in both the previous Asia Cup Qualifiers and Olympic Qualifying Tournament (15.9 points per game across both competitions).
He's gone on to play in the G League, Japan's B.League, and is now on his second season with the Illawara Hawks. Ever since he first represented Korea nearly 10 years ago in the U16 Asia Cup, Lee has been pegged as the face of the future of Korean basketball - and he hasn't disappointed. He's back this window to make sure no one has forgotten. How he fares against some of his fellow professional teammates from Australia will be fun to see unravel.
Lee is not the only player from Korea and not even the only "Lee" to watch, however, as Lee JongHyun will also be making a comeback for the first time since 2017.
Debut to watch
So, technically, this won't be Martin Breunig's first time playing for the Thailand national team. He played for Thailand in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games back in 2023 already, so he is not an unknown presence among the fans.
This will not even be his first time playing in a FIBA senior national team competition - and to be playing at home is just icing on the cake. Going up against Australia won't be easy, now matter how big (2.03M / 6'8") Breunig is, but it will be fun to see how he performs in this situation.
Anthony Beane is in a similar position as he is set to make his FIBA debut for Indonesia, but not before already making his first appearance in a Timnas jersey in the same SEA Games as Breunig.
Promising prospects
Jacob Furphy was a late addition to the Boomers' roster, but that doesn't make him any less of an exciting prospect to watch in this upcoming window. The 1.93M (6'4") guard was only recently one of the top players of the Emus at the U18 Asia Cup this year, averaging 16.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game for the champions.
He's also soon be headed to play at the collegiate level in the USA at powerhouse UCONN, but will first be making his debut with the Boomers.
"He is an elite human, a high-level player with elite Basketball IQ. But most of all he embodies the Boomers' qualities. He's a winner, he makes his teammates better & plays with a great level of passion," said Jacob Chance, Australia's new interim head coach, who will also be making his debut this window.
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