JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) - Saudi Arabia never had it easy.
Sure, they're the hosts and no longer had to worry about qualifying for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025, but thinking everything was handed to them on a silver platter whatsoever would be a big mistake.
They still had to work toward wherever they are now.
The August 5-17 showpiece actually marks their second successive appearance in the continental meet and that serves as a highlight for the work that the program has been putting in over the last 6-7 years.
Before these back-to-back trips, the Saudis missed the two editions prior, prompting the squad to lock in to ensure that the absence won't be prolonged when the opportunity knocks on their door.
So, they grabbed it, beginning in the GBA Pre-Qualifiers in 2018 where they secured a top two finish to reach the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Pre-Qualifiers, including a dramatic 88-85 win over UAE to formally advance.
They then went on to sweep the Western Region Pre-Qualifiers, winning all four of their games to qualify for the Qualifiers proper to eventually barge into the 2022 Asia Cup with a 5-3 overall record across two rounds.
Fast forward to now and Saudi Arabia are headed to FIBA's flagship event in Asia for the 10th time overall, bringing with them the experiences garnered over the past years - including what's been a promising 2025.
Since competing in the last Asia Cup in Indonesia, Saudi basketball has become even more recognized in the continent especially after competing in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers.
Add to that their commendable showing in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers. Even though they could've used it as part of their preparations, the hosts still made it a point to win as much as they could.
After the dust settled, Saudi finished as the second-best team in Group D with a 4-2 record.
The FIBA club competition circuit has also played a key role in their rise, particularly in the FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL) in which the country has sent representatives in each of its first three seasons.
But their most successful emissary by far are Ittihad Club of Jeddah, who made it all the way to the 2024-25 WASL-Gulf League Final to reach the FIBA WASL Final 8 as the Sub-Zone League's runners-up.
It was undeniably one of the league's best Cinderella stories. The team only went 2-4 in the Group Phase but went on to knock out then-defending two-time Gulf champions Kuwait Club in the Qualification to Semi-Finals.
Ittihad would go on to complete a reverse sweep in the best-of-3 Semi-Finals - the first time in WASL history that it happened - against Al Qadsia SC before ultimately settling for a bridesmaid finish behind Shabab Al Ahli.
Playing major roles in that success were a number of Saudi national team standouts like the Almarwani brothers in Mohammed and Mathna and they'd surely do the same should they get called up for duty once more.
Now, will all the strides they've hit lead to Asia Cup glory?
That remains to be seen, but they would definitely want that to happen. The last time that the men's team won a medal in the tourney was in 1999 in Japan, when they beat Chinese Taipei to take home the bronze.
Hosting the tilt again after 28 years, Saudi Arabia are situated in Group C together with 16-time champions China, 2022 Semi-Finalists Jordan, and India. To know more about their FIBA Asia Cup campaign, click here.
FIBA