11 Kai Zachary Sotto (PHI)
28/06/2018
Enzo Flojo's Asia On My Mind
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FIBA Asia players to watch at FIBA U17 World Cup 2018

MANILA (Enzo Flojo's Asia on My Mind) - Some of the future stars of FIBA Asia hoops will be in the spotlight during the FIBA U17 World Cup 2018 in Argentina, and let's look at them here.

Wani Swaka Lo Buluk (Australia)

One of Australia's hallmarks in the FIBA U16 Asia Championship earlier this year was size at the wing positions, and nobody exemplified that more than Wani, who gave opposing point guards fits by shadowing them with his long arms. He also stepped up in the important stages of that competition, averaging 19.3 points per game in the Crocs' last three assignments. He should be one of their primary weapons in Argentina.

Tamuri Wigness (Australia)

The diminutive point guard had a bit of a slow start to his FIBA U16 Asia campaign, but he exploded in the Semi-Finals and Final, dropping 25 on New Zealand and scoring 20 on China. He was also a capable playmaker, handing out 7 assists in their title-clinching victory over the Chinese. He should, once again, be among the Crocs' vital cogs here in Argentina, where he is set to face some of the best young floor generals of his generation.

Campbell Green (Australia)


Green wasn't with the Crocs at the FIBA U16 Asia Championship, but he was called up for the U17 World Cup to shore up their interior and give Kobe Williamson more support in the middle. Green plays for the New South Wales Metro U18 team and for Knox Grammar School, where he averaged around 21 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocks this past season. At 6ft 8in (2.02m) and 220lbs, he adds a lot of size and heft to an Australian team already among the biggest in the entire field.

Kai Sotto (Philippines)

Speaking of size, hardly anyone will be as tall as Kai Zotto at the U17 World Cup. The 7ft 1in (2.16m) Filipino center will literally stand out among the crowds in Rosario, Argentina, and will be the lynchpin of the Philippines' play on both offense and defense. He was the most efficient player in the FIBA U16 Asia Championship earlier this year, averaging around 17 points, 14 rebounds and 3 blocks per contest, so he will be a marked man in their group, where he is set to tussle with the likes of France's Maxime Carene, Croatia's Vikto Saric and Argentina's Maximo Milovich.

Forthsky Padrigao (Philippines)

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Padrigao has been a busy man in-between the U16 Asian Championship and the U17 World Cup. The Filipino floor general was named Most Valuable Player of the Basketball Without Borders Asia Camp last month and was also among the best five players at the recent Nike All-Asia Camp in China. He showed flashes of brilliance earlier this year in Foshan, but he'll need to be more consistent and efficient if the Philippines plan on springing any upsets in Rosario. He was, however, among the finest playmakers in the U16 Asia joust, handing off more than 4 dimes per game.

Carl Tamayo (Philippines)

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Like Green, Tamayo didn't play in the U16 Asian Championship in Foshan, but he has long been considered among the finest U17 talents in the Philippines. Only he and Sotto, in fact, have been included in the Gilas Pilipinas Cadets team made up of more senior players, and that's a testament to the talent and potential the 6ft 7in (2.00m) Tamayo possesses. Aside from his size, he is well-known for his versatility as he is able to play the wing position against much smaller opponents. He can be the x-factor the Philippines need to spring some surprises in the U17 World Cup.

Mitchell Dance (New Zealand)

In contrast to Tamayo, Dance won't be surprising many people in Argentina given how he was among the top scorers in the U16 Asian Championship, scoring nearly 16 points per game for the Junior Tall Blacks. The burly 17-year-old forward may not be the tallest forward out there, but his ability to score almost at will and carve space around the basket is reminiscent of a young Charles Barkley. If he gets it going, New Zealand will be a challenge for anybody they face in Argentina.

Anzac Rissetto (New Zealand)


Teaming up with Dance in the paint is a new guy - Anzac Rissetto from Auckland. Rissetto didn't play in Foshan earlier this year, but the 6ft 10in (2.07m) man-mountain is built like a rock, has some smooth moves around the basket and can finish well even with contact. He joined Dance at the Nike All-Asia Camp earlier this month, and he impressed a lot fo coaches with his big man skills. New Zealand were in bad need of a solif slotman in Foshan, but Rissetto's presence should fill that void here in Argentina.

Sun Haoqin (China)

The second-leading scorer of the U16 Asian Championship is projected to make quite an impression in Argentina, though he'll have to be craftier than before as he tries to score against bigger and more athletic defenders here. I'm talking about guys like Mali's Alou Traore, Serbia's Dorde Pazin and USA's Jalen Green. Sun will need to bring nothing less than his A-game - and perhaps a new bag of tricks - to perform as prolifically as he did in Foshan. Otherwise, he and China may get buried too fast and too soon.

Lu Pengyu (China)

Another guy who needs to be rock-solid for the Chinese is 6ft 6in (1.97m) wingman Pengyu. He was among the top weapons for China in Foshan and was supposed to be one of their deadliest shooters, but he went 0-for-10 from beyond the arc in their last three games. That needs to change here in Argentina, as China are looking to finish at least among the top three in Group B for a better matchup in the Round of 16. If Pengyu can find his rhythm and get his game going, China can be among the dark horse teams in this competition.

Enzo Flojo

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Enzo Flojo

Enzo Flojo

Enzo Flojo, one of Manila’s top basketball bloggers, always has Asian basketball on his mind. His biggest basketball dream? To see an Asian team as a legitimate gold medal contender in world basketball. He believes it will happen in his lifetime. If you have big basketball dreams like he does, then you’re in the right place.