JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) - Group B appears to be one interesting cluster given the measure of unpredictability that the four teams could bring in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 that finally commences this Tuesday.
With contenders Iran and Japan, plus a West Asian force in Syria and the up-and-coming Guam in the mix, many are particularly curious as to how the standings would look once the dust settles.
For a quick refresher, the team that finishes no. 1 in the pool would head straight to the Quarter-Finals, while the second and third-ranked squads would have to go through the Qualification to Quarter-Finals.
Team Melli and AKATSUKI JAPAN, among observers, are coming in as the favorites in the group, given the rich track records these teams possess not only in this competition but in the global scene as well.
The Iranians, for one, have always been a revered competitor since winning three Asia Cup titles from 2007 to 2013. Add to that their pair of appearances in the Summer Olympic Games in 2008 and in 2021.
Their most recent medal in the continental conclave came in 2017, where they settled for silver behind the current reigning two-time titlists Australia before a Quarter-Final finish in the 2022 edition.
The Japanese, on the other hand, may have yet to win their first medal in the tilt since 1997 but have risen as a formidable unit given their progress in recent years, highlighted by successive trips in the last two Olympics.
Plus, their run to remember during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 at home, where they came from behind to beat Finland, 98-88, and give the country its first win in the said competition since 2006 which it hosted.
They fell short of reaching the Second Round but did just enough to hit a far bigger target, beating Venezuela and then Cape Verde in the Classification Round to finish with a 3-2 card and reach the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Thus, the excitement surrounding their August 8 meeting set at 14:10 local time as both Japan and Iran have built a basketball rivalry of sorts, for it would be the 11th time they'll face each other in the FIBA stage.
Who has the edge, you ask? It's Team Melli, as they've won six of their last 10 duels.
However, their most recent encounter came in favor of Team Japan - a convincing 96-61 home victory during the Second Round of the 2023 World Cup Asian Qualifiers at the Takasaki Arena in Gunma.
Much of the attention will be on these two specifically as to who ends up as the no. 1 team in Group B. But lest we forget that there are two other teams coming in with a lot to prove to the field - and to themselves.
There are the Syrians, a team that's bound for their eighth Asia Cup trip overall after a spirited run during the 2025 Asia Cup Qualifiers, where they punched a ticket following a major turnaround in Window 3.
After winning just once in their first four outings, Syria went on to beat UAE dominantly, 86-61, before escaping Bahrain, 89-87, to sweep the said window - and return to the Asia Cup for the third time in a row.
Another thing that fans and pundits are looking forward to in this team is the arrival of FIBA West Asia Super League standout Keron DeShields as he's bound for his first-ever stint in a national team setting.
Last but definitely not the least are Team Guam, who are making their Asia Cup debut after falling just short of reaching the 2022 contest no thanks to a heartbreaking defeat to Chinese Taipei in the Qualifiers.
These two have the potential to cause chaos in the Group B standings, thus making their game set on August 8 as well one to look out for as the result could be crucial on how the rankings would play out.
For the complete Group B schedule, click here.
FIBA