MIES (Switzerland) - Winners of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers' Digital Awards have been confirmed as the best performers of the First Round have been recognized for the first time ever.
Most Valuable Player
Josh Hawkinson was crowned MVP as his consistency enabled Japan to clinch the top spot in Group B with a 5-1 record - the first time ever that the program started a World Cup Qualifiers this way.
The 31-year-old personified versatility, as evidenced by his solid per-game averages of 21.6 points on 54.9-percent shooting, 9.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.0 steal, and 1.2 blocks, all for an efficiency (EFF) of 28.0 per game.
In the five games he played, the Sun Rockers Shibuya star in the B.League netted three double-double outings, which began with a 14-12-8 stat line in their opening win against Chinese Taipei last November 28.
He'd go on to turn up his numbers in the succeeding windows, averaging 27.0 points and 8.0 rebounds in their last three games of the First Round which included a 30 & 12 outing albeit in a loss to Korea last Monday.
It was his best scoring performance in the ongoing World Cup Qualifiers thus far, eclipsing the 27 which he made in their game a prior: a 92-73 beatdown of long-time rivals China in the latter's own turf in Shenyang.
All-Star 5
As the First Round MVP, Hawkinson leads the All-Star 5, which also features Korea star Hyunjung Lee, Jordan's Jalen Harris, Nick Kay of Australia, and Saudi Arabia's Mohammed Alsuwailem.
Lee unfortunately missed his team's Window 3 campaign, but there's no denying the impact he had for the East Asian contender.
In four games, the 25-year-old normed 24.6 points on a 44.2-percent clip from deep and 9.8 rebounds per game, including a 33-point showing to help beat China in the first of a two-game sweep of their rivals in Window 1.
Harris, on the other hand, finished the First Round as its leading scorer with 27.0 points per game, highlighted by a 42-piece to complete their sweep of Syria in Window 1 as well that threatened all-time records.
The former BCL Asia-East standout with the New Taipei Kings played in all six games and also had 4.2 rebounds plus 2.7 assists per game, immediately proving himself as an integral piece of the Falcons moving forward.
Kay earned the nod after being one of the Boomers' all-around pieces with per-game figures of 11.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.3 blocks, thus tallying an efficiency of 18.8.
He's been a key cog of the Oceania powerhouse since the FIBA Asia Cup 2017 and his versatility on both ends has surely helped the Aussies head into the Second Round unbeaten with an immaculate 6-0 win-loss record.
Alsuwailem completes the selection after being Saudi Arabia's rock anew. He's one of only three players to finish the First Round with a double-double average, the others being Brandin Gilbeck and Dedric Lawson.
Himself a FIBA West Asia Super League pioneer, 'Big Mo' tallied 15.8 points on 77.8-percent shooting from the field - mostly from within the paint - and 11.2 rebounds, on top of 2.4 assists and 2.2 blocks for 27.8 EFF.
Rising Star
Jihad El Khatib emerged as the First Round's Rising Star after proving himself worthy of becoming an important part of Lebanon's future with a string of solid performances beginning in the second window.
His breakout performance came in a 94-64 conquest of Saudi Arabia last February, in which he poured 10 of his 12 points in the opening period to set the tone for the rout. He also had 5 rebounds and 2 steals.
As Window 3 came to a close, the second-generation hooper finished with averages of 11.6 points on 46.7-percent shooting from beyond the arc and 2.8 rebounds as he's starting to find his niche with the Cedars.
FIBA