ULAANBAATAR (Mongolia) - The FIBA U16 Asia Cup 2018 in Foshan was a landmark edition. Not only was it the tournament’s fifth staging, it was also the first time Australia and New Zealand joined the field, raising the stakes and widening the talent pool. With Ulaanbaatar now ready to host the 2025 edition, it’s the perfect moment to revisit the breakout stars from Foshan who still shape Asian basketball today.
That week-long tilt from April 2 to 8 featured 13 teams, including Macau’s lone appearance at this level. China, Australia, Iran and Japan swept their groups before Lebanon, the Philippines, Korea and New Zealand advanced through the Qualification to Quarter-Finals. The knockout stage was full of surprises: the Philippines stunned Japan while New Zealand shocked Iran. In the end, China, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand all clinched FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup berths. Australia then stormed past China in the Final, 91-67, with Luke Travers’ 22-point, 8-rebound effort sealing their first-ever U16 Asia crown.
Japan’s golden backcourt
Two names who would later define Japanese basketball began their continental journeys here. Keisei Tominaga introduced himself with a sharpshooting display, averaging 17.5 points and 3.2 triples per game, a prelude to his US NCAA success and current B.League stardom. Yuki Kawamura was less heralded at the time, posting 5.3 points and 4.3 assists, but he has since blossomed into Japan’s premier point guard. From the FIBA Asia Cup 2022 to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, Kawamura has established himself as a bona fide elite playmaking talent.
Korea’s dual threats
Korea found two key figures in Yang JunSeok and Moon JeongHyeon. Yang was their primary playmaker in Foshan with 5.4 assists per game, a role he reprised as one of the floor generals at the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 in Jeddah. Moon provided the inside punch, averaging 15.9 points and 8.9 rebounds despite being undersized, and remains a fixture for Korea’s senior program.
Iran’s future leaders
Iran leaned heavily on Matin Aghajanpour, one of the tournament’s leading scorers at 23.2 points, who paired his size with an outside stroke. Alongside him, Sina Vahedi orchestrated the offense with 12.2 points and 5.2 assists per outing. Both were central again in Jeddah, with Vahedi even finishing among the All-Star Five, showing how far this class has come.
Lebanon and Chinese Taipei shine
Lebanon’s Youssef Khayat, then only 15, proved fearless against older competition, posting 8.6 points and 7.3 rebounds. He has since grown into one of the Cedars’ future cornerstones. For Chinese Taipei, Ma Chien-Hao impressed with his versatility, averaging 9.0 points and 6.0 rebounds. Since then, both players have been fixtures for their respective senior teams and were also on the Asia Cup stage in Jeddah.
India’s rising giant
Princepal Singh turned heads in Foshan with dominant averages of 22.7 points and 13.0 rebounds per game. He has since appeared in multiple senior Qualifiers and was part of India's squad in Jeddah, cementing his place as one of the nation’s most dependable inside operators.
The Philippines’ big breakthrough
No player captured more attention for the Philippines than Kai Sotto. Just 15 years old, he averaged 16.8 points, 13.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks, a performance that launched him into the spotlight. Since then, he has represented Gilas at the U17 and U19 World Cups and multiple senior tournaments, while carving out a professional career in Australia and Japan. His teammate Shaun Geoffrey Chiu played sparingly in Foshan but eventually made it to the senior pool, suiting up at the FIBA Asia Cup 2022.
The Class of 2018 embodied the shift to a broader, more competitive era of U16 Asia basketball. From Oceania’s arrival to the rise of future global talents, Foshan proved to be a watershed moment. In Mongolia, the next wave will aim to leave a mark just as lasting.
FIBA