CHENNAI (India) – Three significant things happened when India hosted back-to-back games in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers Window 2 last November – in a manner of speaking one leading to another.
Firstly, Chennai attendance records being broken with more than 6,000 fans watching the two games each day – something that has never happened before on Indian soil. Next came, probably powered by the voice of that “sixth man”, the home team’s first win of the Qualifiers upsetting the applecart of Kazakhstan, also incidentally their win first win on home soil.
These happenings culminated in the India coach Scott Flemming doing something he has never done before in his much decorated coaching career of more than four decades. The 67-year-old came up with what certainly ranked amongst the most exuberant locker-room moments in Asian basketball history, breaking into a delectable dance jig that took the Internet by storm.
“I don’t do that very often. I save the “victory dance” for monumental wins,” he said settling down to prepare for the next set of games in Window 3 come February.
“Knowing history, this was a time to bring it out. At the time, I was only doing it for our players, not realizing it was being filmed by the video crew. I wanted the players to really savor their success. I don’t think I’ll be giving dancing lessons anytime soon,” he laughed.
India were teetering at the end of the first quarter and managed to scrape through for a close finish in the second before a third quarter blitzkrieg put them in the driving seat to take them through.
“We focused on finishing strong,” Flemming said looking back. “This had been a problem in the past. Our best play was in the second half against Kazakhstan.”
Flemming took over the reins of the team after India lost both their games in Window 1 in the hope of a turnaround, but he shrugged off any talk of a big revolution.
“To be honest, my goal for them was to win one game,” he said.
“It had been a long time (the win), and even longer to beat a higher ranked team. Now that we have accomplished that we can set our goals higher.”
That win against Kazakhstan brought India, who till then were reeling in the pits, right back into the fray with a chance to qualify for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025, but left India needing to win at least one of the two games in Window 3. India are on road for both their games – against Iran on Feb 21 and against Qatar three days later.
And Flemming is well aware of the challenges ahead.
“These are two very good teams, and playing them on the road makes it even more of a challenge,” he said.
“Iran has some strong veteran players. We will have to respond to their physical play. With Qatar, their international imports are some of the best players in Asia. We will have to do a better job of defending them this time around.”
Flemming is only two-games old in this stint as a coach, but has the advantage of familiarity of the players.
Many of the players in the Indian roster have played under him in the past or were a part of the NBA India Academy, where Flemming served as the Director in the interim period between his two Indian team coaching stints.
“I coached many of the younger players (in the National Team) at the NBA Academy. Several of the veterans were under me on the national team the first time I was in this position (as a coach). I am sure it has helped some, with them knowing what to expect from me, as well as me being familiar with many of them,” he added.
“We talk about getting better every day and reaching our potential. That is a process and especially when they are going back and forth between coaches and systems of play. These players have been willing to do anything I have asked of them,” he said.
“I think the team has more confidence after beating a higher ranked team. It is always good for them to see their hard work paying off with a victory. The next two games are on the road against higher ranked teams. It will be a challenge but I trust this new confidence will have us prepared to play well."
FIBA