SEREMBAN (Malaysia) - Eyes will be on Australia if they can accomplish a feat that's never been done in the FIBA U16 Women's Asia Cup as the 2025 Division A competitions commence on Monday at the Karisma Arena.
The Sapphires are gunning for an unprecedented fourth straight tiara, which if they do would also enable the program to break a tie with China for the most number of championships in this biennial youth competition.
So far, both the esteemed squads are knotted at three gold medals apiece, with the Aussies forging the tie after winning the three previous editions to become the first-ever team to accomplish a 'three-peat.'
It is worth noting as well that the squad from Down Under have swept their way into each of those gold medals, and are coming into this year's tournament carrying an unscathed 18-game winning streak.
No doubt that they would want to keep their record intact, especially when they start their bid against the debuting Philippines in the very first game of the competitions, set for an 11:30 local time tip-off.
Team Australia will be taking on a Southeast Asian crew that's eager to prove that they belong in this stage after earning the promotion to Division A by way of a mighty five-game sweep of Division B back in 2023.
The said game begins what should be a busy Group Phase ahead, which will feature four games each day from September 22-24, with teams emerging no. 1 in their respective groups going straight to the Semi-Finals.
Definitely, the rest of the field would want to take that quicker route to the Final Phase, especially the likes of traditional contenders China and Japan - teams that have been truly aching to return atop the podium.
As mentioned above, the young Team Dragon have won the crown thrice, including a back-to-back feat in 2013 and 2015. But then came the Sapphires and they've been struggling to succeed since.
After salvaging a bronze finish in 2017, when Australia began their reign, the Chinese have yet to bring home a medal. They ended at sixth in 2023 after losing to Korea by a big margin in the battle for fifth.
The Japanese took the silver medal in that same year and there should be no denying how bent the team is in getting the ultimate prize, as they've been settling for runner-up finishes in six of the last seven editions.
They did become champions in 2011 after beating Korea, though, but have not been able to repeat. Team Japan would lose to China in the two events that followed, before bowing to Australia for three successive times.
The trio should be among the more watched sides in the games ahead but never to be forgotten are the other squads looking to shake up the competition, which is now entering its eighth offering.
Korea are among those, for sure, as they've been hoping to return to the Final after doing so in 2011 before bagging three bronze medals, the last of which they won in 2022 after beating New Zealand.
New Zealand, though, have rebounded since after winning the bronze in 2023 by escaping Chinese Taipei, another team that's been aiming for their first medal since taking a bronze as well in the 2009 inaugurals.
Completing the eight-team cast are Syria, who are keen to improve on their 2023 showing where they won just once in the five games they played - just enough to keep themselves competing in Division A.
The FIBA U16 Women's Asia Cup 2025-Division A will run from September 22-28. To see the complete schedule, click here.
FIBA