MIES (Switzerland) - Another cycle of the FIBA Basketball World Cup is upon us and that, of course, means six windows filled with much action and emotions across all World Cup Qualifiers in the next 16 months.
What we are all keeping an eye on in particular are the outstanding records, curious to see if those could either stand the test of time or get broken, especially with new sets of games coming up.
Let's take a look at some interesting numbers from the Asian Qualifiers of the previous cycles as the Road to Qatar continues. Some of these Asian Qualifiers records have also become the World Cup Qualifiers records.
Disclaimer: World Cup Qualifiers Records are considered only from games played in the new qualification system which started in 2017.
133 - Most points by a team in a World Cup Qualifiers game
New Zealand set the mark for most points by any team in the World Cup Qualifiers following a 133-74 rout of Hong Kong, China during the 2019 World Cup Qualifiers' first window back in November 26, 2017 in Wan Chai.
It was in that same encounter where the Tall Blacks tallied the most field goals made (51), the most assists (38), and the highest efficiency by a team (184) in a single game. And no team to this day has topped these.
43 - Most points in a World Cup Qualifiers game
Ra GunA, or Ricardo Ratliffe, had retired from FIBA play during the first window of the Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers back in February of last year, but he, without a doubt, left a lasting legacy for Korea.
That includes setting the most points in a World Cup Qualifiers game, when he poured 43 points to star in their 104-91 win over Hong Kong, China back on July 1, 2018. He had 18 rebounds and 5 assists, too. Again, make note that this record is across the entire World Cup Qualifiers - not just the Asian Qualifiers.
Total domination.
So far, only seven players have scored at least 40 in the World Cup Qualifiers, the most recent of which was Justin Brownlee who dropped 41 albeit in a losing effort against Jordan, 91-90, back in February 27, 2023.
26 - Most rebounds in a World Cup Qualifiers game
Have we ever gotten close to seeing a 30-rebound game? Well, yes. Arsalan Kazemi hauled down 26 in their 82-66 victory over Bahrain during the 2023 World Cup Qualifiers' opening window back in November 26, 2021.
It was also in that very game, held in their own stomping grounds in Tehran, where the Persian Prince recorded a statistical feat so rare that it deserves another mention later below of it's own.
17 - Most three-pointers made in a game in the 2023 Asian Qualifiers
The Philippines made it rain inside the Philippine Arena in Bulacan back in February 24, 2023 as they knocked down a total of 17 three-pointers on the way to beating the visiting Lebanon by way of a 107-96 result.
That amount of long-distance shots they nailed ultimately enabled the 2023 World Cup co-hosts to create a tie for most in a single World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers game together with Japan, Australia, and Kazakhstan.
The all-time record is 21, set by the Boomers during the first cycle.
14 - Most assists in an Asian Qualifiers game
Freddy Ibrahim has risen as one of Asia's top point guards and further proof of that was him dropping 14 dimes when Jordan beat New Zealand, 92-75, during Round 2 of the 2023 World Cup Qualifiers back in November 21, 2022.
It remains as the record for most assists in an Asian Qualifiers game and is also tied for most in the World Cup Qualifiers, together with Justus Hollatz of Germany, Sweden's Ludvig Hakans, and Mexico's own Paul Stoll.
There have only been 11 times that a double-digit assist output has been tallied within the Asian Qualifiers and four of those were made by Ibrahim himself. It would be intriguing to see if he'd have more ahead - or if he can even finally break the all-time record.
8 - Most steals in a World Cup Qualifiers game
Maxim Marchuk made history back in February 27, 2022 when he tallied 8 steals in Kazakhstan's 95-48 win over Bahrain in the latter's own turf in Manama, the most by any player in a World Cup Qualifiers game.
It was, all in all, a night to remember for Marchuk as he also finished with 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists to help the Steppenwolves reach the Second Round of the 2023 World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
7 - Most blocks in a World Cup Qualifiers game
Abdulwahab Alhamwi provided a solid inside presence for Syria and that was evident in their 74-57 win over India during the opening window of the 2019 World Cup Asian Qualifiers on November 26, 2017.
There, he collected 7 blocks to set the record for most in a World Cup Qualifiers game, highlighting what was also a solid outing overall for the towering 7-foot big man as he also finished with 7 points and 13 rebounds.
The second-most is 6 shared by 11 other players, including a player you might recognize in France's Victor Wembanyama.
3 - Amount of triple-doubles recorded in the Asian Qualifiers
On that very same night he hauled down 26 rebounds, Kazemi made history by tallying one of only three triple-double performances of the Asian Qualifiers so far, as he also finished with 10 points and 12 assists.
To be precise, it's actually the second trip-dub of the Asian Qualifiers after Demario Mayfield registered 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists albeit in a losing effort when his Iraq faced Qatar back in July 2, 2018.
Triple-double no. 3, meanwhile, was courtesy of Nick Kay after the veteran internationalist finished with a 14-11-10 stat line to lead Australia to a convincing 90-71 win over Chinese Taipei back in February 28, 2022.
Will we see another in the coming windows? Exciting times ahead, that's for sure.
FIBA