ULAANBAATAR (Mongolia) - The FIBA U16 Asia Cup 2013 in Tehran was the tournament’s third staging, and by then it had already established itself as a showcase of Asia’s future greats. With Ulaanbaatar now preparing to host the 2025 edition, it’s worth looking back at a class that launched some of the continent’s most recognizable names.
The Tehran meet ran from September 25 to October 4, with China, Korea, Japan and Chinese Taipei all sweeping through the group phase. By the time the Quarter-Finals arrived, Bahrain, Iran, the Philippines and Kazakhstan joined the mix, but it was still China who stood alone as the only unbeaten squad. The knockout rounds produced a familiar cast of contenders, with China, Japan, the Philippines and Chinese Taipei advancing to the Final Four. China bested Japan once more, while the Philippines toppled Taipei to set up a gritty championship clash.
In the Final, an undersized Filipino U16 squad pushed China to the limit, but the combo of Fu Hao and Hu Jinqiu combined for 34 points and 33 rebounds to seal an 85-78 win. China, the Philippines, and Japan went on to qualify for the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2014 in Dubai.
Hu Jinqiu rises to the top
Even as a teenager, Hu Jinqiu stood out for his dominance inside. He averaged 20.6 points, 12.9 rebounds and 4.2 blocks per game in Tehran, a preview of the player who would later anchor China’s senior squad. Fast forward to the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and Hu was once again front and center, earning All-Star Five honors for his commanding two-way presence.
Team Melli’s next wave
Iran leaned on its next generation in 2013, with Salar Monji and Mobin Sheikhi beginning their national team journeys. Monji, who played limited minutes as a teen, has since grown into a bigger role for the seniors, while Sheikhi showed early flashes with averages of 6.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals. Both remain examples of Iran’s steady pipeline of hardcourt talent.
Jordan’s anchor
Khaled Abuaboud gave Jordan an interior force in Tehran, averaging 11.6 points, 13.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game. His mix of size and hustle made him a standout then, and his presence in Jeddah more than a decade later was a testament to his staying power.
The Rui Hachimura breakout
Of course, no recap of 2013 is complete without mentioning Rui Hachimura. The 15-year-old forward took the tournament by storm, averaging 22.8 points, 12.6 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game. He is now Japan’s lone active NBA player and one of Asia’s most high-profile stars, a living reminder of how the U16 stage can launch global careers.
Other notable names
Fu Hao and Zhao Yanhao, Hu’s teammates in Tehran, both went on to earn senior team minutes in later years. Korea’s Yang Jaemin debuted as a seldom-used 14-year-old but returned in 2015 to lead his country to their first and only U16 Asia gold. Bahrain’s Mohamed Juma carried his nation as top scorer in Tehran and went on to feature for the senior team across multiple tournaments. This edition also saw the debut of Chanatip Jakrawan, who would eventually become the primary inside presence for Thailand at the senior level.
The Class of 2013 showed how quickly U16 talent can grow into senior stardom. As the lights turn to Mongolia in 2025, fans will be eager to see which names carve out a legacy that lasts just as long.
FIBA