BEIRUT (Lebanon) - Of the 24 teams that play in each FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, only 16 teams can qualify for the Asia Cup. This mean the competition can get quite fierce and that some teams, no matter how good they are, miss out on playing in Asia & Oceania’s premiere competition.

Here are the teams that were eliminated from the Asia Cup 2022 Qualifiers and will be playing for a spot at the next Asia Cup - in 2025. These teams will be featured throughout the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Pre-Qualifiers that starts on June 1.

Guam

Eliminated: Qualifying Tournament for Third-ranked Teams

Among all the teams that will be playing in the Asia Cup Pre-Qualifiers, Guam might have been the closest to booking a ticket to Indonesia.

They had destroyed the competition throughout the Pre-Qualifiers and made it to the Qualifying Tournament for Third-ranked Teams, but ran into an upbeat Chinese Taipei squad. The two teams fought and battled, but in the end, Guam fell to their opponents with an aggregated score of 157-154.

With it being only a one possession difference in two games that were both played on their homecourt, Guam most certainly will not forget this one soon. But at least their fans can be assured that the team has more than enough motivation to push for Asia Cup 2025 qualification this time around.

Palestine

Eliminated: Qualifying Tournament for Third-ranked Teams

Palestine were also potentially one possession away from qualifying for Asia Cup 2022. Like Guam, they had also advanced to the Qualifying Tournament for Third-ranked teams and had to battle for one of the two spots available between themselves, India, and Saudi Arabia.

They were officially eliminated in a 96-72 loss to Saudi Arabia on the final day of the competition, but what hurt the most likely would have been the two-point loss to India the day before.

It’s a shame that Asia Cup fans weren’t able to see one of the most exciting talents - Sani Sakakini - advance to the main competition, but now they can turn to root for the team again as they are about to start their Pre-Qualifiers campaign.

Thailand

Eliminated: First Round of FIBA Asia Cup 2022 Qualifiers

Thailand’s road to Asia Cup 2022 started with hope when they battled with Korea down to the wire in their first game to lose by only five points.

However, going up against the Philippines, Indonesia, and Korea (for a second time) is never easy. In the end, Thailand completed their Asia Cup Qualifiers campaign winless after six games.

There’s plenty of talent in Thailand’s potential roster so it will be fun to see how they run it back for Asia Cup 2025 Pre-Qualifiers.

Iraq

Eliminated: First Round of FIBA Asia Cup 2022 Qualifiers

Iraq were another team that went winless through all six games of the Qualifiers, but it wouldn’t be fair to not provide some context. Of Iraq’s six losses, three were decided by three points. One game was lost on a half-court buzzer-beating heave and another game was lost in overtime.

If you turn the clock back and the ball bounces a different way for a couple of plays, it might be a different story.

Nonetheless, Iraq were eliminated from the Qualifiers and are now starting to pave their way back to the Asia Cup starting at these Pre-Qualifiers ahead.

Qatar

Eliminated: First Round of FIBA Asia Cup 2022 Qualifiers

It’s not Qatar’s fault that they were drawn to arguably the most competitive group in the Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers. Though they did suffer some big losses, Qatar kept it close against Iraq and even claimed a win against Syria before bowing out.

Qatar have been a familiar face in the Asia Cup over the past decade and to not see them play this year in Jakarta might be a bit weird, but Asia Cup fans will still get to see them throughout the Pre-Qualifiers as they look to make their way back.

Malaysia

Eliminated: First Round of FIBA Asia Cup 2022 Qualifiers

Malaysia were a team with promising young players that shined during their run through the Asia Cup 2022 Pre-Qualifiers in 2018. The situation at the time didn’t allow us to see those talents blossom on their attempt to make it to the Asia Cup.

Now, we'll get the chance to see those young guns against at the upcoming Asia Cup Pre-Qualifiers.

FIBA