BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Fans could be in for a treat as there appears to be a wild race ahead in Group E come Window 3 of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers.
Group B
# | TEAM | GP | W | L | % | For | AGT | +/- | FA | AA | Pts |
1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 75.0 | 259 | 205 | 54 | 64.8 | 51.3 | 7 | |
2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 50.0 | 289 | 279 | 10 | 72.3 | 69.8 | 6 | |
3 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 25.0 | 244 | 287 | -43 | 61.0 | 71.8 | 5 | |
4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 50.0 | 205 | 226 | -21 | 51.3 | 56.5 | 5 |
February 21
Iran versus India - 17:00 local time - Tehran (IRI) Kazakhstan versus Qatar - 08:00 PM (GMT+5) - Astana (KAZ)
February 24
Kazakhstan versus Iran - 08:00 PM (GMT+5) - Astana (KAZ) Qatar versus India - 06:00 PM (GMT+3) - Doha (QAT)
While the other groups have already determined which teams are bound for the tournament proper in August, this particular cluster will only know in next week's games which of them will advance after how crazy their November turned out.
It was a window full of twists that made this pool unusually competitive, with India and Qatar pulling off shocking victories that shook up the standings.
The squad from South Asia, for one, stunned Kazakhstan by way of a vengeful 88-69 triumph at the Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai to nab their first win of the Qualifiers - much to the delight of 6, 128 screaming souls that filled the venue.
But the surprise didn't end there. On the same night, Qatar upended the the erstwhile unbeaten Iran in an overtime classic, 78-77, in Doha, foiling the latter's bid of becoming the first team from Group D to clinch a spot in the Asia Cup.
Plenty of heroes stepped up in that monumental win, with star guard Mike Lewis nailing the game-winning bucket with 6.4 seconds left as they scored payback after losing to Team Melli in OT as well back in the first window, 76-74, in Tehran.
The win was also the Qataris' first against the Iranians in 19 long years and more importantly, the result is indeed a major step for a program that's been gearing up toward the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027, which they will be hosting.
Will we see plenty more shockers in Window 3? That we have to see. What's certain, though, is that all four will look to do whatever it takes to reach the Asia Cup.
Currently leading the Group E standings at 3-1, Iran will look the burst the bubble of India (1-3) at home, keen on following up their 86-53 win from Window 1.
The Kazakhs, meanwhile, are aiming to do just the same against Qatar in a tiebreaker between 2-2 squads in Astana. Both games are set February 21.
Group action will resume on the 24th, with Kazakhstan hosting Iran and Qatar and India battling it out in Doha in a clash between two of November's big winners.
FIBA