MANILA (Enzo Flojo's Asia on My Mind) -If there's any position that has really shone in the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers, it's definitely the point guard spot, and it's time to honor the most productive playmakers after the first window.

These are players who, for the most part, saw action as floor generals for their respective national teams. Some of them specialize as scorers, some dish a ton of dimes, and some also net a lot of steals. Without further ado, let's get down to it.

Shea Ili (New Zealand)

23.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 3.0 steals, 1.5 three-pointers.
Who needs Tai Webster when Shea Ili is getting the job done and then some for the Tall Blacks, eh? The 27-year-old national team veteran was on a tear for New Zealand in the first window, dropping 21 points in a famous upset of the Boomers and then scoring 25 points in a statement win over Guam. There's surely nothing ill about the way Ili has been leading the Tall Blacks in the Asia Cup Qualifiers.

Chen Ying-Chun (Chinese Taipei)

16.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.5 steals, 2.5 three-pointers, 72.2 FG%.
Chen is a great example of how converting a natural two-guard into a point guard can actually work. The 5ft 11in/1.81m perimeter player was rock-solid for Chinese Taipei in the first window, tallying a sublime 20-point effort against Malaysia laced with 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals and 4 triples. He then registered 13 points, 5 boards and 3 assists against Japan, though they did end up with the L.

Demario Mayfield (Iraq)

23.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.5 steals, 3.0 three-pointers. 
Naturalized point guard Demario Mayfield continued to bring the heat for the Iraqis, putting up twin 23-point performances in the team's first window assignments against Lebanon and India. He did a lot more than score, though, as he also collared more than few rebounds and handed out a handful of assists per game. Still, going 0-2 means Mayfield may need to raise his game even more in the next window.

Muin Bek Hafeez (India)

18.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 2.5 steals, 2.0 three-pointers.
This 24-year-old floor general never played at the youth level for India, but he has definitely outpaced most of his contemporaries. After his performance in the first window, Hafeez has emerged to become a potential star for India, especially in this time when stalwart Vishesh Bhriguvanshi seems to be nearing the twilight of his own international career and former mainstays Narender Grewal and Joginder Singh are no longer in the national team. The moment is ripe for Hafeez to take over.

Omar Krayem (Palestine)

19.5 points, 8.0 assists, 6.0 rebounds, 2.5 steals, 4.5 three-pointers.
I remember the time Krayem played as an Asian import in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), impressing more than a few people with his handles and scoring. He surely showcased those same traits in the first window, putting up 14 points and 7 assists against Kazakhstan before scoring 25 points and handing out 9 assists in a win over Syria. Yes, there's something to say about Krayem's shot selection, but there's no arguing his explosiveness.

Honorable Mention

Anthony Clemmons (Kazakhstan) - 17.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 1.0 steal.

Khalid M Abdel Gabar (Saudi Arabia) - 15.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.5 steals, 2.0 three-pointers.

Freddy Ibrahim (Jordan) - 19.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.0 steal, 2.5 three-pointers.

Enzo Flojo

FIBA

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