10 Rustam Murzagaliyev (KAZ)
08/07/2022
Enzo Flojo's Asia On My Mind
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FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Asia Qualifiers Tier List

MANILA (Enzo Flojo's Asia on My Mind) - The first round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers just finished a few weeks ago, and it's high time to place them on a tier list!

Now, this is going to be a little different from the usual power rankings. A tier list puts teams together in groups along with other teams of relatively similar caliber or performance. It's not as nuanced as individual rankings, but it should give us a good idea of where each team generally lies compared to the rest of the field. This Tier List uses labels similar to letter grading systems. The highest tier is what we call the S Tier, with S standing for "Super," while the lowest tier is the C Tier.

This particular list puts the spotlight on the performances of the teams in the first round of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers. A lot was at stake in this round, of course, and we've already completed the roster of teams qualifying to the second round. This is where we find out which teams will actually qualify for the FIBA Basketball World Cup next year.

S Tier

Australia

The Boomers have had a rotating door of players, but their results have been consistent. They finished the first round with a spotless 6-0 record, beating teams by an average of close to 25.0 points per game. No player has seen action in more than 3 games for Australia, and these Qualifiers feel more like an audition for who will make the second unit in next year's FIBA Basketball World Cup. Keep in mind that marquee players like Josh Giddey, Josh Green, Joe Ingles, Jock Landale, Ben Simmons, and Matisse Thybulle are all in the NBA and might be available next year.

 

New Zealand

The Tall Blacks have followed the footsteps of their neighbors from down under. The Kiwis swept Group A with an immaculate 4-0 slate. They beat the Philippines and India by an even bigger average than Australia did -- 40.3 points per victory. Unlike the Boomers, though, coach Pero Cameron has had a solid core of players carrying the New Zealand colors. Tom Vodanovich, Dion Prewster, and Ethan Rusbatch have been the main guys for the Tall Blacks, with youngsters like Taane Samuel and Takiula Fahrensohn also contributing solid minutes. They should be in good shape in the second round, though they need to look over their shoulders at the red-hot Lebanese.

A Tier

Lebanon

At 5 wins and just 1 loss, the Cedars have become one of the hottest teams in the Qualifiers. They rallied against West Asia rivals Jordan in the third window and finished strong against Saudi Arabia to bring a ton of momentum into the second round. As things stand, Lebanon may need to win as few as 4 games in the second round to qualify for the FIBA Basketball World Cup. Of course, head coach Jad El Hajj is not the type to take any chances, so expect them to continue being at full strength as they play the Philippines, India, and New Zealand.

 

Kazakhstan

The Steppen Wolves have been the darlings of the Asian Qualifiers. They won their first five games in the first round, including 2 wins against powerhouse Iran, before they were upset by Bahrain at home. I would not read too much into that loss, but it would be realistic to say that the Kazakhs will have their hands full in the second round as they face Australia, China, and Japan. If Kazakhstan are not in top form, they might eventually fall into a slump and miss the bus to the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

China

Team Dragon have been relatively quiet in the Asian Qualifiers, but at 4 wins and 2 losses, they have carried a respectable win-loss record into the second round. They beat the teams they were supposed to beat, and they are in a solid position to qualify for the FIBA Basketball World Cup. They are set to play Kazakhstan, Bahrain, and Iran in Group F, and the Chinese should be favored -- even slightly -- against all those squads. Of course, that's assuming they will always be at full strength, with Zhou Qi, Guo Ailun, and Wang Zhelin leading the way.

B Tier

Jordan

The Falcons were among the hottest teams in the Asian Qualifiers months ago, winning three of their first four games in Group C. All that changed, however, when they squandered a lead against Lebanon in the third window. All of a sudden, the Jordanians look more vulnerable than ever heading into the second round. They'll need wins over the Philippines and India and maybe an upset against New Zealand to be more sure-footed in their campaign to qualify for the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Iran

The three-time FIBA Asia Cup champions were overshadowed by Kazakhstan in Group D, but make no mistake, Team Melli are still a very dangerous team. They are capable of winning at least four games in Group F, and that might be enough to qualify for the FIBA Basketball World Cup. Having said that, the margin for error is quite small for Iran, and they'll need nothing less than the best from Mohammad Jamshidi, Behnam Yakhchali, and Arsalan Kazemi. If Hamed Haddadi also plays in every second round game, that would be a big boost for the Iranians.

Philippines

As one of the hosts for FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, Gilas Pilipinas are already assured of a spot in the quadrennial event. That might explain why the Filipinos seem to be treating the Asian Qualifiers as a dress rehearsal for the big dance next year. Only Dwight Ramos and William Navarro have played all four games for Gilas so far, with a host of other players going in and out of the pool depending on their availability. That might be a red flag, though, as the Filipinos certainly want to make a big splash on home soil next year. For them to do that, more consistency is needed.

Japan

Like the Philippines, Japan also have not looked consistently dangerous so far in the Asian Qualifiers. That's understandable, given how a number of their top players have not been available. Rui Hachimura, Yuta Watanabe, and Yudai Baba, in fact, haven't played in any Asian Qualifiers game yet. Still, there have been some standouts who might have a shot of making it to their FIBA Basketball World Cup next year. Among them are Yuki Togashi, Yudai Nishida, and Keisei Tominaga.

Bahrain

Bahrain were pretty much all but eliminated already after the second window, losing their first four games by an average of 28.8 points. They turned their fortunes around big time in the third window, though, after the entry of Devon Dwayne Chism. With the 6'8 forward leading the way, Bahrain beat both Syria and Kazakhstan in the last window, defying the odds and advancing to the second round. They will need a bigger miracle to qualify to the FIBA Basketball World Cup, but as they are, Bahrain are not to be easily overlooked.

 

C Tier

Saudi Arabia

The highlight for the Saudis so far has been a huge first window win over Jordan. Since then, however, they have lost 3 of their last 4 games, and the only game they won was a 2-point victory over hard-luck Indonesia. With just a 1-win, 3-loss record carrying over into the second round, Saudi Arabia have practically no room for error as they try to contend for a spot in the FIBA Basketball World Cup. It would also be a big help if star center Mohammed Alsuwailem can return to action in the next window.

India

As the only team carrying 0 wins to the second round, India are not carrying heavy expectations on their shoulders. Still, with very good size, length, and athleticism, India can be very competitive against any team. That doesn't mean they will go on a winning run in Group E, but with more experience gained in each game, this Indian squad could be one to watch in the future. As for the present, it's all about learning and building the culture for head coach Veselin Matic.

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.