On to the next one: Second Round groups confirmed for Asian Qualifiers
BEURUT (Lebanon) - The field for the Second Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers has been finalized with some more exciting clashes to anticipate in the upcoming windows.
Bahrain were the last team of the 12 teams to secure their seat in the next phase. They needed to not only beat Kazakhstan, who were undefeated heading into the last game, but also have Syria lose their game to Iran.
Bahrain started off by doing their part, pulling off their first World Cup Qualifiers victory over Kazakhstan on Monday, coming from behind by as much as 16 points to upset the Steppen Wolves. Shortly after, their spot in the Second Round was confirmed when Syria lost to Iran.
Four teams entered the final window with a perfect record, but after China’s losses to Australia and the aforementioned upset by Bahrain over Kazakhstan, only Australia and New Zealand remain as teams undefeated in the Second Round.
The two Second Round groups are as follows:
Group E: New Zealand, Lebanon, Jordan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, India
New Zealand head into the Second Round on top with a 4-0 record with Lebanon right behind at 3-1. The competition is quite stiff, however, with quality teams in Jordan and Philippines currently tied at 2-2. All four teams made it to the Second Round in the World Cup 2019 Qualifiers. Of course, there should be less pressure on the Philippines as they are already guaranteed for a spot at the World Cup as co-hosts of the competition.
India have made it through to the Second Round for the first time after dropping out of the first round last time, while Saudi Arabia are crashing the party in their first ever World Cup Qualifiers run.
Group E
All First Round results carry over to Second Round
| GAMES | GAME POINTS | POINTS | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Team | P | W | L | % | For | Agt | +/- | FA | AA | |
| 1 |  New Zealand |
4 | 4 | 0 | 100 | 390 | 229 | 161 | 97.5 | 57.2 | 8 |
| 2 |  Lebanon* |
4 | 3 | 1 | 75.0 | 323 | 272 | 51 | 80.8 | 68 | 7 |
| 3 |  Jordan* |
4 | 2 | 2 | 50.0 | 276 | 285 | -9 | 69 | 71.2 | 6 |
| 4 |  Philippines |
4 | 2 | 2 | 50.0 | 290 | 321 | -31 | 72.5 | 80.2 | 6 |
| 5 |  Saudi Arabia* |
4 | 1 | 3 | 25.0 | 261 | 303 | -42 | 65.2 | 75.8 | 5 |
| 6 |  India |
4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 233 | 363 | -130 | 58.2 | 90.8 | 4 |
Group F: Australia, Kazakhstan, China, Iran, Japan, Bahrain
Unlike the 2019 Qualifiers, Australia will be heading into the Second Round with an undefeated record.
Kazakhstan were close to being able to say the same until a massive upset in the final game put the at 5-1. Nonetheless, it’s a huge step up from the Steppen Wolves who were 3-3 at the end of the First Round in the 2019 Qualifiers.
Asia basketball powerhouses China ad Iran come in with identical 4-2 records, while Japan and Bahrain are both at 2-4. Similar to the Philippines as mentioned above, Japan are already guaranteed a spot at the World Cup as co-hosts.
The only team to be making their first trip to the Second Round of the World Cup Qualifiers are Bahrain, who are also playing in their first ever World Cup Qualifiers as well.
Group F
All First Round results carry over to Second Round
| GAMES | GAME POINTS | POINTS | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Team | P | W | L | % | For | Agt | +/- | FA | AA | |
| 1 |  Australia |
6 | 6 | 0 | 100 | 513 | 365 | 148 | 85.5 | 60.8 | 12 |
| 2 |  Kazakhstan |
6 | 5 | 1 | 83.3 | 452 | 384 | 68 | 75.3 | 64 | 11 |
| 3 |  China |
6 | 4 | 2 | 66.7 | 493 | 397 | 96 | 82.2 | 66.2 | 10 |
| 4 |  Iran |
6 | 4 | 2 | 66.7 | 482 | 395 | 87 | 80.3 | 65.8 | 10 |
| 5 |  Japan |
6 | 2 | 4 | 33.3 | 417 | 483 | -66 | 69.5 | 80.5 | 8 |
| 6 |  Bahrain |
6 | 2 | 4 | 33.3 | 380 | 475 | -95 | 63.3 | 79.2 | 8 |
FIBA
