BEIRUT (FIBA Asia Cup 2017) - Lebanon, Philippines, China and Jordan may all be out of contention for a podium finish, but the race for fifth still holds a lot of weight for them.

As the year's foremost continental basketball tournament in Asia, the FIBA Asia Cup's results will carry an impact on the teams' standing in the Nike FIBA World Ranking. Ranking points are up for grabs in these classification games, and the results could determine how big a jump or slide certain countries will have. This is particularly true for the Philippines and Jordan, who are ranked 27th and 28th in the world respectively. China, meanwhile, may fall out of the top 15 if they lose all their remaining games, while Lebanon want to break into the top 40.

Aside from the points, however, pride also matters. Lebanon and Philippines are two of the most passionate and basketball-mad countries not just in Asia but in the world, and their encounter later will surely be bursting at the seams with fans and intensity. Neither team will back down, for sure, and the game should spark spirited conversations and interactions all over social media.

China and Jordan, meanwhile, have had a colored history, with China narrowly beating Jordan in the FIBA Asia Championship 2011 Final and current Jordan head coach Sam Daghlas having played in the CBA. Both are proud basketball countries who want to end their respective campaigns on a bright note, no quarter will be given in their matchup today.

The Cedars are the favorites to do well in these classification games, what with their being hosts and the continued potency of living legend Fadi El Khatib. China have underplayed in this tournament, but their superior size may also help them in their remaining matches, while Jordan and Philippines have several explosive players who can take over games and still salvage some pride for their countries.

FIBA