KUALA LUMPUR (Mageshwaran's AsiaScope) – There are more than a few things that are common when it comes to China, Lebanon, Philippines in Asian basketball. For starters, these are undoubtedly three of the most vibrant, passionate and to a large extent more successful basketball communities. There are not many games – even at the lowest level of their domestic structure – that are not watched by less than thousands of fans.

Therefore it's only normal that I expect that the three show some vision and perspicacity when they choose the coaches for their National teams for the future. But it's also a matter of fact that it's not always that they show this long-term vision when making this choice.

China have the richest bullion in their cupboards in terms of medals in FIBA Asia competitions – cutting across age groups and genders. Yet China have shown a disappointing line of thinking when it comes to choosing a man to helm their National team program.

The tendency to just add a medal to the kitty – which given the FIBA Asia power structure is a given for China – rather than pick a man with a long-term vision is getting to be more annoying than not. A pleasant and refreshing surprise in this context is the manner in which China are handling the affairs of their women's team.

Aussie legend Tom Maher has been a real long rope to shape a team that has more than its share of transitional worries, but the perseverance of the coach and his staff is beginning to become obvious. A Quarter-Final entry, and a subsequent sixth place finish, at the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women in Turkey is a case in point.

It's probably time for China to adapt a similar path for the men's team as well.

Lebanon are yet to walk the talk they promised when they were reinstated from the FIBA suspension.

Ghassan Sarkis' name crops up often as the coach of the Cedars, but I'm not sure if the multi-titled coach is sure of what lies ahead of him or the team, if he eventually will coach it.

There is a school of credible thought within Lebanon, which believes that the National team should necessarily be coached by a foreign man, but dilly-dallying on this front only takes away the sheen to further any credibility for the fans.

My point is simple: If it's Ghassan, so be it. Tell him that, give him a free hand and let him start working. If it's not him, so be it. Get the 'foreigner' and start working. Get my drift?

Philippines fortunately are less tumultuous. At least, for right now.

Chot Reyes has declared his disinterest to continue as the coach of Gilas Pilipinas and the name of Tab Baldwin is doing the serious rounds. I only hope that the new coach is given more time than just till next year's FIBA Asia Championship.

True the FIBA Asia Championship will qualify a team for the 2016 Rio Olympics, but I'll be terribly disappointed if that is the only target that is given to the coach. And this applies to all three teams above.

For, once 2017 comes, the coach will be involved in a longer period of coaching in FIBA's new competition format. And in order to reap proper and healthy crop then, the seeds have to be sown now.

The line for all three is simple and straight: Get a man who will lead the National team's program than merely helm a team for one single tournament.

So long… 

S Mageshwaran

FIBA Asia

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