ULAANBAATAR (Mongolia) - It has been a long while since Kazakhstan went deep into the FIBA U16 Asia Cup and another opportunity to do so lies ahead as they're bound for the 2025 competitions.
The young Steppen Wolves earned as much following a two-game sweep of the CABA Qualifiers last May in Navoi, Uzbekistan to once again become the sub-zone's lone representative in the biennial youth contest.
It's going to be the program's third straight appearance in the tilt and fifth overall, coming in with their fingers crossed that a breakthrough of sorts would happen after disappointing finishes in their previous runs.
The last time that the Kazakhs got past the Group Phase was in 2013 where they reached the Quarter-Finals, ultimately finishing at seventh in the tilt ruled by China - the same team that beat them in the last eight.
It took them nine years, though, to make it back to the U16 Asia Cup and they've struggled replicating, at least, that campaign in Iran since returning, finishing 10th in 2022 and then a team-worst 13th in 2023.
But there could be hope for this year's edition, looking at how they performed in the CABA Qualifiers.
Kazakhstan kicked things off with a 73-51 beatdown of Kyrgyzstan, before following it up with a 61-54 victory against the host nation in a character-testing outing to complete the sweep of the quick tournament.
Aman Tlembay emerged as one of the squad's most consistent players, first dropping a solid 25 points and 15 rebounds in their opening match before delivering 16 points and 6 rebounds against Uzbekistan.
The same goes with Alexey Stepanov, who averaged 15.5 points and 5.5 rebounds. Chingiz Bissengaliyev came through with significant contributions as well after collecting 36 rebounds in the two games they played.
Kazakhstan are slotted in Group D with three-time medalists Japan, inaugural bronze winners Iran, and Saudi Arabia. To know more about their FIBA U16 Asia Cup 2025 campaign, click here.
FIBA