JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) – Two teams, two very different roads to the Quarter-Finals. However, only one will take the next step toward the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 podium.
New Zealand have been a model of consistency in Jeddah, sweeping Group D and winning by an average of 23.3 points per game. The Tall Blacks showcased their offensive depth and defensive discipline in victories over Iraq, the Philippines and Chinese Taipei, earning a direct ticket to the last eight.
Lebanon, by contrast, have had to take the long way. After edging Qatar in their opener, the Cedars absorbed back-to-back double-digit losses to Australia and Korea. On Day 8, though, they roared back with a stirring Qualification to Quarter-Finals win over Japan, keeping their medal hopes alive and reminding everyone why they were runners-up in 2022.
Key matchup: Backcourt Battle
The Tall Blacks’ engine runs through Taylor Britt and Flynn Cameron, who have been their two most efficient players in Jeddah. Together, they average 34.3 points and 11.3 assists per game, balancing playmaking and scoring with aplomb. Lebanon’s answer lies in Ali Mansour and Karim Zeinoun, who combine for 20.8 points, 8.5 assists and a disruptive 3.8 steals per contest. If Mansour and Zeinoun can neutralize Britt and Cameron’s production, the Cedars could see the game unfold in their favor.
X-Factor: Tall Blacks’ Bigs
Dedric Lawson is coming off his best game of the tournament, which was a 24-point, 10-rebound double-double that powered Lebanon past Japan. For New Zealand, stopping Lawson will require a collective effort from Tohi Smith-Milner, Ben Gold and Max Darling. The Tall Blacks have already shown they can shut down dominant bigs, as they did with Chinese Taipei’s Brandon Gilbeck, and repeating that feat could be decisive here.
Stats don’t lie
New Zealand are the top-scoring team in the tournament at 104.0 points per game, fueled by their three-point shooting. They rank third in both three-pointers made (12.3) and three-point accuracy (39.4%), with Mojave King, Smith-Milner and captain Jordan Ngatai each hitting at least two triples per outing. Lebanon have already proven they can stifle an elite shooting team, though. Note that the successfully held Japan below their norm. Now, the Cedars will need a similar defensive stand to slow down the Tall Blacks’ perimeter barrage.
Previous Asia Cup meetings
The series stands at one win apiece in terms of their FIBA Asia Cup encounters. New Zealand took their first meeting in 2017 (86-82), while Lebanon struck back in 2022 (86-72). Thursday’s clash will not only break the tie but also propel one side into the Semi-Finals.
New Zealand have been flawless so far, but Lebanon have shown they can rise when the stakes are highest. With contrasting styles, recent history and a place in the final four on the line, this Quarter-Finals affair has all the makings of a Jeddah classic.
FIBA