BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Basketball in Asia and Oceania in 2024 was marked by some incredible results in the men’s National Team competitions, but that was not all.
Here we put together a couple of remarkable instances which qualified to be in a league of their own.
Al Riyadi rule FIBA WASL Season 2, BCL Asia inaugurals
2024 was without a doubt the year of Al Riyadi as they stamped their class in the Asian club competition scene. Not only did they win the 2023-24 Lebanese Basketball Championship but they went on to win a rare double in the FIBA West Asia Super League Season 2, winning the West Asia League crown before winning the ultimate prize by conquering the Final 8 in Qatar, capped by a come-from-behind victory over domestic rivals Sagesse in the title bout. They carried over that success in the Basketball Champions League Asia inaugurals in Dubai, sweeping their way to the crown and earning the right to represent Asia in the prestigious FIBA Intercontinental Cup in Singapore.
Sichuan Yuanda triumph in WBL Asia inaugurals
History was made on September 26 in Shenzhen this year when the Women’s Basketball League Asia tipped off, marking the start of the first-ever FIBA Women’s club competition in the Asian region. A few days later on September 28, when Sichuan Yuanda Mile Basketball Club emerged as inaugural champions ahead of Fujitsu Red Wave, Cathay Life, and Surabaya Fever.
Zhang Ziyu
Zhang Ziyu instantly became a global phenomenon the moment the world saw her play for China in the FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup in Shenzhen. The Yao Ming comparisons sprung as well given that she’s listed at 2.20 M (7’3”) but she’s not all about height; she can ball out, too. The 17-year-old center steered China to a runner-up finish and went on to bag Tournament MVP honors behind averages of 35.0 points and 12.8 rebounds per game, making her one interesting talent to watch out for in the coming years.
Haji, Goulding set three-point records one after the other
Window 2 of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers witnessed three-point records written by Ahmed Haji and Chris Goulding in a shootout that truly made November all the more memorable. Goulding hit nine triples in Australia’s 101-48 rout of Thailand to set the Continental Cup Qualifiers single-game mark for most treys, but Haji days later eclipsed as much by nailing 11 straight to help Bahrain sneak past Syria, 76-71, and become the new record holder. And oh, lest we forget that he sank those without a miss in only three quarters.
FIBA