BEIRUT (Lebanon) - The FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Pre-Qualifiers is an event that serves as the starting point for teams aiming to play at the Asia Cup itself in 2025.

The teams that will be competing are a mixed group with some returning from the previous Pre-Qualifiers, some looking to make it back to the Asia Cup, and some teams that are just looking to make a debut.

Which team will you be rooting for?

Group A

Oman

Oman played in the earlier stages of the Asia Cup 2022 Pre-Qualifiers, though they were unable to secure a win. In that process, they did go up against Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, two teams that made it all the way to the Asia Cup from the last cycle.

Oman will be aiming to make it to the Asia Cup as well, and should they succeed, it will be their very first time.

Qatar

Qatar were eliminated from the Asia Cup 2022 Qualifiers after being placed in a tough group with Iran, Syria, and Saudi Arabia. That resulted in the end of a streak of 9 consecutive Asia Cup appearances for Qatar.

Nonetheless, this is a team that has finished in Third-Place in the Asia Cup twice so fans can be sure that they’ll be hungry to make a return.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka made it through to the Qualifiers in the previous cycle and were able to give their young players some valuable playing time against some of Asia’s best.

The South Asian squad has played in 7 Asia Cups, though their last appearance was back in 2009.

Group B

Iraq

Even though Iraq were unable to qualify for Asia Cup 2022, they cannot be underestimated. This is a team that can always field athletic and talented players which is why they qualified for the Asia Cup back in 2017.

Iraq have collected plenty of quality wins in Asia in the recent years Getting a few more wins in the upcoming Pre-Qualifiers and inching closer to a return to the Asia Cup is now their mission.

Kuwait

Kuwait have had their Asia Cup moments with 12 appearances in total. However, in the last decade, they’ve only made it to the grand stage once.

Kuwait have been grooming some young talent in their talent pool and maybe this could be their chance to shine as they aim to make it to the Asia Cup.

Palestine

Palestine were one of the Asia Cup’s best stories in recent memory at Asia Cup 2013 when they upset the Philippines in their first game ever. They were so close to making a return to Asia Cup in 2022, with a narrow 2-point loss to India in the Qualifying Tournament for Third-Place Teams being the blow to their chances.

Still, Palestine have gotten the ball rolling in terms of building a program and should be hungry to once again compete against Asia Cup’s elite teams.

Group C

Guam

Another team to have barely missed out on qualifying for Asia Cup 2022 was Guam. It was unfortunate for Guam to lose to Chinese Taipei for that final spot from the Qualifying Tournament for Third-Place Teams, but that should only make them hungrier.

Fans have seen how much talent Guam can stack up for any given game, so expect them to continue doing that this cycle.

Singapore

Singapore failed to make it pass the Eastern Region Pre-Qualifiers last time and now they’re back to do better.

The Southeast Asian team have appeared in 17 Asia Cups in the past, but have played in only 2 since the turn of the millennium.

Group D

Malaysia

Malaysia made it to the Asia Cup 2022 Qualifiers with some gutsy performances to emerge as one of the top teams to made it out of the Eastern Region Pre-Qualifiers. They weren’t able to make it all the way through to the Asia Cup, but that’s something that is definitely on their minds.

The talent pool is filled with young, talented players, ready to be unleashed at this Asia Cup 2025 Pre-Qualifiers, aiming for a 25^th Asia Cup appearance.

Mongolia

Mongolia have never played in the Asia Cup and didn’t participate in the previous Asia Cup Pre-Qualifiers, but it would be foolish to count them out.

There are some underrated talents lurking in Mongolia’s talent pools, allowing to perform in international competitions such as the Asian Games where they finished at 8^th place in 2014.

Thailand

There was just not enough left in the tank for Thailand through the Asia Cup 2022 Qualifiers, as they finished last place in their group despite some encouraging performances.

The talent is there though, and the players have shown time and again that they have the potential to be a very, very good team. Thailand haven’t made it to the Asia Cup since 2013, but if they can succeed in qualifying this time, it will be their 20^th appearance.

Vietnam

The last time Vietnam played in the Asia Cup way back in 1965 and 1963, so you can say it’s been a while. However, there has been plenty of effort to build up the basketball program and one of the targets could be to make a memorable trip to the Asia Cup.

The signs have been quite clear that they are on the rise, most importantly a historic Bronze Medal from SEA Games 2019.

FIBA