BEIRUT (Lebanon) - We've blasted through the halfway point of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers with the conclusion of Window 2 and what a window it was.
Whether each team navigated their way through the window with wins, losses, or both, they needed the strong play of their top performers to put them in the best position to do their best. Here they are, the MVPs of each national team in the Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers Window 2.
Check out to see if your favorite player made the list!
Australia: Chris Goulding
Window 2 stats: 29.0 points per game, 19 three-point shots made, 63.3 percent three-point shooting
The Boomers did not need a heroic effort to get through Window 2 unscathed and were even able to roll over the competition with an average margin of victory of 38.0 points per game. Anyways, it was fun watching Chris Goulding go unconscious for 9 and 10 three-pointers, respectively, in two consecutive games so he gets the nod here.
Bahrain: Ahmed Haji
Window 2 stats: 25.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals per game, 14 three-point shots made, 73.7 percent three-point shooting
If we told you a 5'9"-5'10" guard from Bahrain lit up the window from beyond the arc with an unbelievable 11 consecutive three-point shots made in one game, your first guest might have probably been Mosti Rashed. But no, the correct answer is actually Ahmed Haji.
China: Hu Jinqiu
Window 2 stats: 16.0 points, 84.2 percent field-goal shooting
It was business as usual for China in this window with two big wins and likewise for Hu Jinqiu, who casually blew by the competition. The 7-footer missed only 3 shots from the field from 19 attempts, which Chinese basketball fans should be happy to see.
Chinese Taipei: Brandon Gilbeck
Window 2 stats: 11.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 6.0 blocks per game
First of all, we'd like to apologize Gilbeck for having to mention him getting dunked on in this window. And we really mean it, because that should not take anything away from his overall debut performance in this window for Chinese Taipei.
The total amount of blocks (12) certainly popped out, but he was more than just a one-man block party. Gilbeck did a little bit of everything and should be a staple of Chinese Taipei's interior defense down the road.
Guam: Earnest Ross
Window 2 stats: 18.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7 three-point shots made
Guam were close to getting their signature Asia Cup Qualifiers win against Japan, riding on an incredible performance from Earnest Ross. The 33-year-old who plays professionally in Japan erupted for 30 points on 6 three-pointers, nearly willing an inspiring comeback rally in front of their hometown fans in Mangilao.
Hong Kong, China: Oliver Xu
Window 2 stats: 10.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists per game
Their hopes of qualifying for Asia Cup 2025 seems bleak at this point, after the big loss to Chinese Taipei, but what an effort it's been from Oliver Xu. Not only has he been taking plenty of responsibility as an offensive producer for the team, he also has to maintain his reputation as a lockdown defender as well.
Enjoy his buzzer-beater against the Philippines.
India: Pranav Prince
Window 2 stats: 15.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 3.0 steals, 1.5 blocks per game, 42.8 percent three-point shooting
We highlighted Prince as a breakout player in the window, and rightfully so. Hi stepping up has elevated his status as the guy for India moving forward, taking into consideration all of the things he can do for the team.
That game of 17 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 steals, and 2 blocks against Kazakhstan was a beauty to watch in action.
Indonesia: Abraham Grahita
Window 2 stats: 19.0 points, 3.0 assists, 1.5 steals per game, 56.5 percent field-goal shooting
Grahita might have wanted some better results in his return to playing with the national team, but for now, he'll have to settle for a solid individual performance.
The wing scorer not only put up points for "Timnas", he did so consistently by shooting 13-23 from the field, 7-13 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 5-5 from the charity stripe.
Iran: Matin Aghajanpour
Window 2 stats: 31 points, 10-13 field-goal shooting, 7 three-point shots made
What a game Aghajanpour had against Qatar. Not only did he lead the game in scoring and missed only three shots on 13 attempts, one of the shots he did not miss was the clutch shot to force overtime.
That's a bit watered down now as Iran weren't able to follow through and win in the extra period.
Iraq: Murad Zewki
Window 2 stats: 11.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists per game, 4 three-point shots made
Demario Mayfield finally took a breather this window ( a grand total of 4 minutes on the bench!) so we'll give him some rest on this list too even though he averaged 14.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game this window.
Don't let that - and the fact that Iraq went winless - overshadow Zewki's up-and-coming performance. He was solid in both of Iraq's games and the 24 year old should have more to put on display moving forward.
Japan: Yudai Nishida
Window 2 stats: 21.0 points, 7.5 rebounds per game, 13 three-point shots made, 68.4 percent three-point shooting
We covered this in detail already, but it's still worth mentioning again (and maybe again) about how Nishida went from almost watching the two AKATSUKI JAPAN games in offline-mode at home to going off for 13 three-pointers across two games.
What a two-game stretch by the sharpshooter.
Jordan: Ahmad Dwairi
Window 2 stats: 13.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.5 blocks per game
You kind of sometimes forget that Dwairi is not only one of the best big men, but one of the best players, period, in Asia.
He's efficient on offense. He's a good to great passer. He cleans up the board and doesn't slack on defense. And if he's on the floor, he'll always make Jordan a threat against any team they go up against.
Kazakhstan: Vladimir Ivanov
Window 2 stats: 10.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 blocks per game
It was a rough window for Kazakhstan, going through two upsets in Qatar and India. But Ivanov was solid, highlighted by a 17-point, 10-rebound, 3-block outing against India where he shot 7-9 from the field.
Korea: HyunJung Lee
Window 2 stats: 13.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.0 steals per game
Window 2 was not exactly the best for Korea, escaping an upstart Indonesia squad and running into a fired up Australian side. There was a lot of pressure on Lee who was making a return to the senior national team and making his first FIBA appearance on home soil.
So it was understandable why there was still something left to be desired from his performance. Still, Lee was a standout player for Korea. There will definitely be a lot more to see from him down the road with the national team.
Lebanon: Wael Arakji
Window 2 stats: 18.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists per game
Arakji is still the reigning Asia Cup TISSOT MVP, at least until next year where he will potentially have the chance to defend his claim with Lebanon clinching qualification this window.
The way that he was/has been playing gives Lebanese basketball fans a lot of optimism as well whether it's the productivity and consistency of it all.
Mongolia: Erdenetsogt Ochirbat
Window 2 stats: 16.0 points, 5.5 rebounds per game
Mongolia are still winless so far in thei Asia Cup Qualifiers debut, but there's a lot of intrigue about their potential.
Case in point, you have a player like Ochirbat who flew under the radar heading into the window and stood out by scoring 16 points in both games.
New Zealand: Sam Waardenberg
Window 2 stats: 17.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists per game, 40.0 percent three-point shooting
Waardenberg has quietly been one of New Zealand's best performers and not just through this window of the Asia Cup Qualifiers, which says a lot considering the level of talent in the Tall Blacks' talent pool.
Not only did he drop 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists against Chinese Taipei, he also hammered a head-turning poster dunk on block machine Brandon Gilbeck that you do not want to miss.
Palestine: Brian Halums
Window 2 stats: 28.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2.0 steals per game
First things first, we have to give Halum's teammate Jamal Mayali his flowers. The star guard continues to shine with another window of averaging 17.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists per game. But we knew to expect that from Mayali already after a spectacular Window 1.
This time, it was time for Briam Halums who made a solid first impression for Palestine. His 35-point, 7-rebound, 7-assist, 4-steal game in a near upset against Jordan will be something they will look to build up on without a doubt.
Philippines: Kai Sotto
Window 2 stats: 15.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.0 blocks per game
We've been watching Sotto for nearly 10 years now and it's still amazing how:
smart of a player he is, which he put on display in both games of the window, especially when he put up 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists in an important win against New Zealand.
he is still only 22 years old.
Qatar: Mike Lewis
Window 2 stats: 18.0 points, 2.5 assists per game
Tyler Harris had a strong debut for Qatar, but they wouldn't have squeaked away with a second win against Iran if it wasn't for the clutch play of Mike Lewis.
Saudi Arabia: Mohammed Alsuwailem
Window 2 stats: 15.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 5.0 blocks per game
Alsuwailem was already effective in Window 1, but Window 2 was a wake-up call to remind everyone how good of a player he is - and what they should look forward to witness next year at the Asia Cup.
A window of averaging a double-double with 5 blocks per game should be enough to demand overtime for the opposing team's scouts and coaching staff for Asia Cup 2025 in Jeddah.
Syria: Amauri Hardy
Window 2 stats: 23.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.5 steals per game
This is most likely a debut that Hardy will want to move on from quickly after facing an unreal shooting performance (see Haji above) and a powerhouse of a team in Lebanon. All things considered, Hardy was solid for Syria, especially against Lebanon where he had 26 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Thailand: Freddie Lish
Window 2 stats: 21.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists per game, 10 three-point shots made
It might not have been too exciting for Thailand basketball fans to watch Lish get targeted and locked down against the physical Boomers, but whenever he did get the slightest of openings to attack and be himself, he was as entertaining as ever.
That was even more apparent in Thailand's bounce back big time win against Indonesia where he put up 31 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists - nearing a triple-double and closing in on the three-point record.
UAE: Demarco Dickerson
Window 2 stats: 23.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.5 steals per game
Double-D recorded a triple-double (16 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists) in his debut window to help his team get an important upset win over Bahrain. That seems MVP-worthy.
FIBA