Top 10 reasons to follow the 2016 FIBA Asia Challenge
TEHRAN (2016 FIBA Asia Challenge) - The time is almost upon us to kick off the biggest continental Asian basketball competition this year — the 2016 FIBA Asia Challenge. This will start on Friday, September 9, 2016, with eight teams from four different groups playing on Day 1. East Asia rivals Japan and Korea clash first before the match pitting China against Jordan. Afterwards, hosts Iran take on Qatar, while Philippines face India to close out the evening. The remaining teams — Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Iraq and Kazakhstan — will start their games on Day 2.
What are the most interesting storylines to follow in this year’s FIBA Asia Challenge? FIBA.com gives you 10 reasons to follow the action in Tehran.
1 - Daghlas on the sidelines
OFFICIALLY: Sam Daghlas - The new head coach of #Jordan National #Basketball Team .. Good luck!
— Jordanian Basketball (@jorbasket) April 25, 2016
رسمياً - عطفآ... https://t.co/UqFfy0ukPC
Sam Daghlas is maybe the most iconic Jordanian basketball player in history, but he won’t be recording any points or assists this time around. Instead, Daghlas will call the shots as Jordan’s head coach, hoping to put them back among the continent’s elite teams.
2 - Haddadi will surely dominate!
It has been quite some time since Iran hosted a top-level FIBA Asia tournament, and, for sure, 2.18m behemoth Hamed Haddadi won’t let this opportunity pass to put on a really impressive show. Haddadi should be extra motivated to play in front of his countrymen, and that should really push him to be a near unstoppable force in the middle for Team Melli.
3 - The New Gilas
The Philippines have enjoyed a lot of success in recent years, and this has enabled them to rise steadily in the FIBA World Ranking, but with no PBA talents and no naturalized player, can this new batch of Gilas hoopsters sustain the country’s impressive run? They will be hard-pressed to finish on the podium like they did in 2014, but don’t be quick to look past them.
4 - Three-Peat in the offing for Iran?
With Haddadi expected to dominate and a balance of up-and-coming talents and experienced campaigners, Iran are hoping not just for a good showing, but to actually win their third straight FIBA Asia Challenge crown. They first won it in 2012 in Tokyo, repeated two years ago in Wuhan, and it would be nothing short of momentous for them to notch a hat-trick here at home.
5 - Can China break through?
China have been the most successful Asian basketball team in history, but they have never actually won in this competition. In fact, Team Dragon have never even placed in the top three, with their latest denial a heartbreaking loss at home against the Philippines in the battle for third place in 2014. For sure, they want to exorcise those demons and finally achieve a breakthrough this year.
6 - Korea return to the fold
Korea last joined the FIBA Asia Challenge in its inaugural year in 2004, placing second behind Qatar. Now the East Asian quintet have returned, eager to prove that they are still among the continent’s powerhouse teams. With a balanced mix of veterans and youth, Korea look to finish on the podium again using their trademark run-and-gun style of play.
7 - New naturalized players
Another thing to watch out for are a few new naturalized players set to take the stage. Iraq is bringing along 2.00m Kevin Galloway to help shore up their frontline and provide some strong play on both ends. Jordan, meanwhile, have 1.93m guard Dar Tucker, who is expected to provide the same kind of impact the famed Rasheim Wright had all those years ago, For their part, Japan have Ira Brown, a 1.93m forward who looks to bring a lot of muscle to the Akatsuki Five.
8 - The Young Guns
The FIBA Asia Challenge has always been known as a venue where rising stars are discovered, and it seems we won’t have any shortage of those here. China have young big man Zou Yuchen, who played in Rio 2016, while Gilas have a host of promising talents from their collegiate ranks. Iraq have U18 wunderkind Ihab Al-Zuhairi, Qatar will lean on 20-year-old Abdulrahman Saad, and Korea have former youth team star Heo Hoon. Those are but a few of the young guns on whom to keep tabs in the next week or so.
9 - Liu Cheng
Former SBL MVP Liu Cheng was the chief reason Chinese Taipei made it all the way to the Final of the 2014 FIBA Asia Challenge in Wuhan, beating China in the Semi-Final before giving Iran a scare on the last day. His star continues to shine brightly, as proven by a new CBA contract, and he is expected to finally be the national team’s bona fide new leader after the retirement of living legend Lin Chih-Chieh from the international game.
10 - Is India a rising power?
Two years ago, India shocked Asia by beating hosts China for the first time in history. Last year, they continued their climb by making it to the Quarter-Finals of the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship. Now the big question is can India sustain their momentum as a rising power in Asia, or will they fade away on the year’s biggest continental stage?
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