BEIRUT (Lebanon) - The Philippines and Japan were already confirmed to be qualified for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 as co-hosts of the flagship event to be held later this year. Still, that didn’t stop them from putting on a show throughout the Second Round of the Asian Qualifiers.

Japan started off the window by knocking down a total of 17 three-pointers, tying the most amount of three-pointers made by a team in the World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers… and just over 24 hours later, the Philippines would make that same total in their win against Lebanon.

Both teams put up outstanding numbers across the board in their first games of the window, not only in three-point shooting, which resulted in impressive home wins.

Japan ended up winning both of their last home games at the World Cup Qualifiers before heading to the World Cup later this year where they are hosting a part of the Group Phase in Okinawa.

Meanwhile, even though the Philippines eventually lost to Jordan to close out their Qualifiers campaign, it was only a one-point loss to the World Cup-bound Jordan squad. There’s still a lot to be optimistic about this “Gilas” squad as they prepare to host the World Cup, all the way from the Group Phase games at Mall of Asia Arena and Smart Araneta Coliseum to the Final Phase at the Philippine Arena.

Which FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 co-host impressed you the most in the sixth and final window of the Asian Qualifiers?

FIBA