NONTHABURI (FIBA Asia Cup 2021 SEABA Pre-Qualifier) - Though this SEABA Pre-Qualifier for the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 will not be featuring the powerhouse of the region, the Philippines, there will be plenty of other players to keep your eyes on as the tournament progresses. Each team has assembled among the best talent their respective nations have to offer, so you can expect everyone to give it their all when they match up.

Here are some featured players that we want you to keep your focus on in particular!

1. Tyler LAMB (THA)

 The Thai-American swingman has drawn the attention of fans all over the region and rightfully so. He has one of the best resumes a player can offer, whether it was being highly ranked out of high school to playing NCAA Division 1 basketball to being an MVP in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL). This is the first time Lamb will be playing for the Thailand National Team in a FIBA tournament as well as in front of his home crowd.

Lamb is a deadly scorer whether he is pulling up for a jumpshot or driving in for a layup, but it’s his knack for making the right passes out of traffic that will get Thailand going.

He’s undoubtedly going to be the go-to guy from the start, but also look for him to play a facilitating role as well.

2. Arki WISNU (INA) 

Another star to look forward to watching is Arki Wisnu of Indonesia. Wisnu stands at 6’2” and is listed as a guard, but he plays much larger than his size and more like a power forward with his bruising style.

The 30-year-old is a veteran on the team and will also be their center point to get the offense going. He can do a little bit of everything and is willing to do so to get his team the win, making him an interesting player to witness. His recent showing in the SEABA Championship was limited, but he’s been a staple on the team in the SEA Games where he has proven to be a star.

3. Xaverius Prawiro (INA) 

Joining Wisnu as team veterans for Indonesia is Xaverius Prawiro. The 5’10” guard had recently come out of retirement and is making great progress at getting back to the top. After winning the MVP award of the Indonesia Basketball League (IBL) in this recent season, Prawiro has now returned to the National Team pool and is expected to play a large role.

The lead guard hole left by Mario Wuysang is not going to be easy to fill in, but Prawiro’s steadiness and experience should fill in the void well enough for the team.

4. Delvin GOH (SGN)

It wouldn’t be too far off a claim that Goh is stepping up as the face of Singapore basketball. He’s blossomed well from starting as a young post player and is now getting comfortable playing further away from the basket and attacking off the dribble.

The 23-year-old seems to show significant signs of improvement in every tournament he plays, recently averaging 11.0 points and 8.8 rebounds in the SEABA Championship. He’ll be expected to start putting up bigger numbers especially now that the team is shedding off some aging veterans, and it doesn’t seem like an absurd task for the 6’8” forward.

5. Ting Chun HONG (MAS)

 Malaysia’s Ting Chun Hong might not have the lengthy experience in FIBA competitions as Delvin Goh has, but he’s starting to gain recognition in the region as an up-and-coming star. The 22-year-old led Malaysia in scoring at the SEABA Championship 2017 with 12.7 points per game and looked even more impressive in his stint in the ABL. His sweet shooting stroke and upper body strength makes him a big threat on the perimeter, but it sometimes overshadows his steady defense as well.

 6. Chanatip Jakrawan (THA)

Jakrawan is already pegged as the future of Thailand basketball with his combination of size and athleticism. He averaged 6.6 points and 6.8 rebounds in the SEA Games without much of the offense running through him. The towering 21- year-old can leap over defenders to finish and gobble up rebounds and he is expected to do so in the set up of the Thailand National Team.  He’s been improving his low-post moves to add more dimension to his game and that’s something to look for him to display in this tournament.

Jakrawan’s been gaining much reputition as a thunderous dunker as of late, so expect him to drop a few hammers in these upcoming days.

FIBA