MANILA (Enzo Flojo's Asia on my Mind) - The West Asia Basketball Association (WABA) 2017 Championship is right around the corner, and the excitement in that part of the basketball world is reaching fever pitch.

Perennial powerhouse Iran will try to defend their title, while Lebanon, powered by the returning Fadi El Khatib, are sure to provide a stiff challenge. Jordan are also hoping to contend, while upstarts Iraq and Palestine are targeting an upset or two. Syria seem to be the lightest of the lot, but it would be folly to underestimate a team with so much youth and promise.

Let's go through each team and see where they stand and how they'll probably do in WABA 2017, which is the sub-zone's gateway to the FIBA Asia Cup 2017.

Jordan
I'll begin with the hosts, who finished second last year to rivals Iran despite having homecourt advantage. One of the guys to watch is undubtedly Mohammad Shaher Hussein, whose size and skill-set will be tough to counter for Jordan's foes. Hussein was pretty good last year in the FIBA Asia Challenge, averaging 13.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.0 block per game. With him at the middle, the home team will have a solid anchor who is automatic from five feet in, and will be a strong presence on the glass. Of course, having Sam Daghlas on the sidelines is always a plus, and his experience and savvy should rub off on Al Nashama as they strive to punch a ticket to the FIBA Asia Cup and try to snare their third WABA diadem.

Mohammad Shaher Hussein posterizes @JAPANBASKETBALL's Ota! 👊

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— FIBA (@FIBA) September 16, 2016

Iran
The defending champions will be without Hamed Haddadi, but that doesn't mean they'll have a big donut hole in the paint. Veteran center Rouzbeh Arghavan is projected to start, and he's certainly no pansy around the basket. Other burly bigs like Asghar Kardoust, Mohammad Hassanzadeh, Arsalan Kazemi and iconic Oshin Sahakian are also in tow, and their presence ensures a more than capable crew up front for coach Mehran Hatami. In the backcourt, Team Melli will be a bit more vulnerable, with the inconsistent Sajjad Mashayekhi probably manning the point, though explosive wingmen Mohammad Jamshidi and Behnam Yakhchali have the ability to take over games. Iran started tinkering with their previously veteran-laden crew last year, and it seems they are sticking to this formula as paragons Samad Nikkhah Bahrami, Hamed Afagh and Mahdi Kamrani are also out of the roster.

Iraq
The Iraqis were the surprise package of 2016, crashing the podium in WABA 2016 and making it to the top four of the FIBA Asia Challenge 2016. Naturalized player Kevin Galloway, who recorded 19.9 points, 9.0 rebounds and 5.1 assists per contest in 2016, should remain at the forefront of Iraq's campaign, while Mohammed Al-Khafaji and Dhulfiqar Al-Hchaimi are expected to be heavy contributors. The 2.06m Al-Khafaji, in particular, is one guy on whom we should keep tabs as he knows how to use his size well and can score in a variety of ways in the box. They just finished a two-week camp in Doha, Qatar, and are looking mighty competitive as they enter WABA 2017 in high spirits.

Lebanon
The biggest news for the Cedars this year was the return of the "Lebanese Tiger," Fadi El Khatib. The 38-year-old forward remains in great shape and can still score in bunches, and he has committed to help Lebanon regain lost glory not just in WABA but at the FIBA Asia level, too. Helping him along the way will be rising stars Wael Arakji, Amir Saoud, Ali Haidar and Bassel Bawji. Lebanon are assured of a spot at the FIBA Asia Cup 2017 by virtue of being hosts, but nobody should expect them to be pushovers in this tournament that they last won in 2015. With new coach Joe Moujaes calling the shots, Lebanon should be among the most fired up and competitive teams in WABA 2017.

Palestine
With Sani Sakakini at the spearhead, Palestine turned a lot of heads in the FIBA Asia Championship 2015. They didn't make nearly as much noise last year, but with four more FIBA Asia Cup 2017 slots up for grabs in WABA 2017, this crew will pull out all the stops. Unfortunately, Sani Sakakini won't be around as he is still tied up with his commitments in China, but he leaves a talented and hard working lot that should still be favored to advance to the year's most anticipated continental tournament. Experienced FIBA Asia players Jamal Abu Shamala, Ahmed Haroun and Salim Sakakini will be this team's de facto leaders, and they can more than hold their own against the other top tier talents of West Asia.

Syria
The Syrians will be the least heralded squad in this tournament, but that also means they're the most unpredictable. Remember that five WABA teams are set to take part in the FIBA Asia Cup, and with Lebanon automatically seeded as hosts, four more squads can make it. That means that if Syria can win just one game, they will potentially qualify for the continental competition. Much of the burden will be on someone like veteran wingman Micheal Madanly, while guys like Wael Jlilati and Abdulwahab Al-Hamwi - both of whom played in the FIBA Asia Championship 2011 - will also carry the load. It will definitely be an uphill climb for Syria, but that does not mean making it to the FIBA Asia Cup is an impossible dream.

Enzo Flojo

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