Santa's Choice: Top 10 Assists of the Asian Qualifiers in 2018
BEIRUT (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers) - While there is no joy quite like seeing the ball swish through the net, a great assist is a thing of perfection.
The festive season all about generosity and giving, and no basketball play captures that spirit of selflessness better than an assist!
"Acknowledge the assist" is a powerful playground lesson our high school basketball coaches taught us that has proved valuable not just on court but also in life.
As Santa goes about distributing his gifts, we dig into our own big red sack to pull out the top 10 'gifts' of the year from the Asian Qualifiers:
Honorable mention #4: Corey Webster (NZL) vs KOR (2/26/18)
If you ask any basketball coach what his/her ideal offensive play would be they'd say it's the one that ends with the layup or dunk. That's precisely what happens here as Corey Webster finds Isaac Fotu for the open jam. Webster would finish with 30 points and six assists in this impressive 93-84 away win.
Honorable mention #3: Jason Cadee (AUS) vs TPE (2/25/18)
The Boomers lead all Asian teams in assists per game (24.2 apg) during these World Cup Qualifiers. Here we have Jason Cadee finding Mitch Creek en route to an easy 88-68 home win.
Honorable mention #2: Amir Saoud (LBN) vs IND (2/26/18)
Amir Saoud and Ater Majok execute the textbook pick and roll at the top of the key, finishing with the powerful Majok dunk during the Cedars' 90-50 blowout victory.
Honorable mention #1: Sinan Eid (JOR) vs CHN (9/17/18)
Sinan Eid times his bounce pass perfectly for the Ahmad Dwairi slam dunk. Jordan would go down fighting in this Beijing battle.
#10 Rui Hachimura (JPN) vs IRN (9/17/18)
Rui Hachimura makes the flashy look away pass to Yuta Watanabe as the talented young duo put on a show in Tokyo. The Akatsuki Five would go on to beat the visiting Team Melli 70-56.
#9 Sunhyung Kim (KOR) vs SYR (9/17/18)
Sunhyung Kim drops it off to Ra Guna down in the paint for a three point play that has the Korea bench mimicking the move in approval!
#8 Joseph Chartouny (LBN) vs SYR (7/2/18)
Lebanon's Joseph Chartouny wraps the ball around 7ft 3'' Syrian center Abdulwahab Alhamwi for teammate Charles Tabet's easy deuce. The Cedars would win this West Asian tussle 87-50.
#7 Jiwei Zhao (CHN) vs NZL (7/1/18)
With the first quarter winding down, the Red Dragons can do no wrong as Jiwei Zhao finds the driving Changdong Yu for the transition bucket. China though, would fall short 57-67.
#6 Mitch Creek (AUS) vs TPE (2/25/18)
Up by 22 points early in the second half, the Boomers delight their Melbourne supporters with this beautiful no look dish from Mitch Creek to Daniel Kickert.
#5 Reuben Rangi (NZL) vs HKG (6/28/18)
The 9-1 Tall Blacks have had a nearly flawless World Cup Qualifying campaign and against the much weaker Hong Kong, could afford to mimic the Harlem Globetrotters. Here we have Shea Ili first stealing the ball, then throwing it ahead to Reuben Rangi who passes up an easy layup for an alley oop dunk to Jack Salt instead.
#4 Beau Belga (PHI) vs QAT (9/17/18)
The famed Gilas flair was on full display when Philippines faced off Qatar in Quezon. The bulky Beau Belga may rank low on the athleticism scale, but he comes up with this crowd pleasing assist to Stanley Wayne Pringle Jr.
#3 Malek Kanaan (JOR) vs IND (7/1/18)
Jordan's Malek Kanaan proves he has eyes at the back of his head with this sweetly timed behind the back pass to Mohammad Hussein. The Falcons would go on to win 114-70.
#2 Ryusei Shinoyama (JPN) vs PHI (2/25/18)
Falling out of bounds Japan's Ryusei Shinoyama saves the possession and finds Makoto Heijima for the easy layup. Philippines though would have the last laugh, winning this Manila home game 89-84.
#1 Makoto Heijima (JPN) vs AUS (6/29/18)
Late in Q4, up 73-72, Makoto Heijima comes up with this absolute gem of a ball fake that totally deceives Matthew Dellavedova, as Yudai Baba swoops in from the baseline for the beautiful reverse layup.
FIBA
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