BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Window 1 of the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers featured some of the top talents in Asia and Oceania as they embarked through the first stage of the journey towards the FIBA Asia Cup. However, even after seeing those talents on display in the opening phase, there are still plenty of other interesting players waiting to make their first appearance in these Qualifiers.

Here are the players that fans might be hopeful to see in the upcoming Windows of the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers!

Kobe Paras (Philippines)

While the stars in the Philippines Basketball Association (PBA) currently situated in a “bubble” in Clark, it has been speculated that the Philippines could be tapping in to their collegiate talents for the upcoming window.

Among one of the players that fans might be looking forward to see is Kobe Paras, who is currently playing for the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons. Paras is a high-flying athlete who has shined for the Philippines in various competitions at the youth level and FIBA 3x3 events. He’s had opportunities to play for the senior national team, such as at the Southeast Asian Games in 2017, and has been looking for the chance to represent the flag once again.

Will that chance be at the Asia Cup Qualifiers for Kobe?

Mustafa Husein Ali Ahmad Rashed (Bahrain)

There’s a lot of optimism for Bahrain basketball’s future, especially after witnessing the promising performance of 18-year-old Muzamil Ameer Hamoda.

Moving forward into these upcoming windows, could there be another youngster ready to rise into the scene for Bahrain? Mustafa was another young talent that shined right alongside Muzamil during the U18 Asian Championship in 2018 and has been getting more opportunities to show his skills at the club level with Al Manama.

The young guard averaged 20.4 points for Bahrain at the U18 meet in Bangkok, good for 3^rd best in the competition. Can he still be a super scorer at the senior national team level?

Seijin Mathew (India)

India have been quietly pushing their young players into the senior level scene, as scene in Window 1 when they paraded teenagers like Amaan Sandhu (17) and Princepal Singh (19) onto the court.

Heading into the upcoming windows, is it possible that fans see India call up even more young talents to the roster?

One particular interesting prospect is Seijin Mathew, the long-armed forward that had his moments at the U18 Asian Championship in 2018. At the tournament in Bangkok, Mathew averaged 10.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game including a double-double against Chinese Taipei. 

Lester Prosper (Indonesia)

 There will be many eyes locked on to watch Indonesia play in this upcoming window. That's because they are expected to play Lester Prosper, who would then be making his national team debut.

Prosper is a seasoned veteran who has played all around the world from Venezuela to England and even the Philippines. He's spent most of the past year playing in Indonesia and is now shouldering their hopes of securing Asia Cup 2021 qualification.

While Prosper is not as young as the other prospects in this list at 32 years old, he's plays with a high level of energy that is tough to match.

Aaron Geramipoor (Iran)

This won't be the first time ever that Geramipoor plays for Iran - that was at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China - but it will be his first time playing in a FIBA Asia competition. 

Nonetheless, Team Melli fans will be excited to see their up-and-coming big man get the chance to show off his talents once again. Iran's opponents should be less enthusiastic about seeing Geramipoor on the court, as he will make it much harder to beat the Asia Cup 2017 finalists.

FIBA