MIES (Switzerland) - The recent Window 4 lived up to the hype as plenty of big moments from players and teams alike highlighted the start of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers' Second Round.
Not only did the competitors shake up social media but their performances have also caused major changes to our Power Rankings, presented by SMART.
Check on below and see if you agree with the movements.
12. Syria ⬇️2️⃣
After that triumphant end to their First Round campaign at Iraq's expense, Syria struggled against tougher competition to start the Second Round, losing to the still-unbeaten Australia and New Zealand by an average margin of 55.5 points while giving up 124.5 points. It's quite hard to find a silver lining in such a tough window but if there's any, that has to be new guy James Justice, Jr., who posted numbers of 21.5 points on 40.0-percent shooting, 3.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 3.5 steals.
It was his first-ever taste of FIBA national team play after a standout stint in the club level with Al Wahda SC in WASL, and it would be interesting to see how he'd fare in the upcoming windows - provided Syria sticks with him - now that he has gained experience in Manila.
11. Qatar ⬇️5️⃣
There's nothing too alarming over at the side of Qatar since they are already assured of a World Cup slot by virtue of being the hosts, although Window 4 proved to be another reality check for the squad of Coach Hakan Demir. They faced East Asian powerhouses in China and Japan, and lost in both of those games - first an 83-57 beating at the hands of Team Dragon at the Al Janoub Arena, and then a 123-70 rout to the uber-stacked Japanese unit in Tokyo, marking the first time in this ongoing World Cup Qualifiers that they went winless in a window.
But there's nowhere to go but up for Qatar, and we're looking forward to how those lessons would toughen up the crew, especially now that we've just passed the One Year to Go milestone to the World Cup.
10. Saudi Arabia ⬆️2️⃣
Like Qatar, Saudi Arabia went winless in this window. But we have to give it to the Gulf contenders for putting up a fight. After getting handled by Japan in Jeddah, the Saudis absorbed an 85-73 defeat to Lee Hyunjung and Korea - but not before threatening their East Asian counterparts early in the bout. And a big reason behind their gallant stand was Mohammed Alsuwailem, who finished with 31 points (11-13 FG, 1-1 3PT, 8-9 FT) and 13 rebounds for an efficiency of 42, as if reminding Asia that he's still one of the continent's premier big men.
Let's see how this stupendous performance will carry over to Window 5, especially with the margin of error getting smaller and smaller for a crew hoping to reach the World Cup for the first time ever.
9. Jordan ↔️
In perhaps a part of their growing pains under new leadership, Jordan got blanked in this window, giving Coach Luis Guil a rough start to his FIBA journey with the Falcons.
Brought in to replace Wesam Al-Sous, the Spanish mentor got foiled right in his debut after they bowed to an 82-81 decision to the Philippines, and then got blown out by Australia. It's been a rough ride so far for the West Asian side after finishing the First Round with a 5-1 record, as they also struggled during their preparation games prior to the window. With Window 5 set in November, will the time between now and then be enough for Team Jordan to straighten its act?
8. Korea ⬆️2️⃣
Since that blazing 2-0 start into the World Cup Qualifiers last November, Korea have yet to pull off a similar window, an indication that they're still in the process of perfecting the kind of basketball Coach Nikolajs Mazurs would want to see from the East Asian competitors. But at least, they're no longer getting swept like in Window 2, having split their assignments in the last two, including the recent one by beating a hard-fighting Saudi Arabia.
That's also their second win in the last 3 games, which should be a sign of better things to come for a team that's hoping to send the country back to the World Cup after missing the festivities in 2023.
7. Iran ⬇️2️⃣
Much of the anticipation surrounding Iran entering Window 4 was about Mohammad Amini, who last played in FIBA in the Asia Cup last year. Fans and observers were excited to see him for the first time since he suited up for the Boston Celtics in the NBA Summer League. Although he posted 11.5 points in 2 games, he made just 20.7-percent of his shots, and went 0-for-12 from deep.
Iran suffered a narrow 91-93 overtime loss to New Zealand - a team they beat in the 2025 Asia Cup for the bronze - and then bowed to a Philippines side by way of a 68-56 decision. There should be no denying how much this team misses Sina Vahedi, who's still recovering from an ACL injury, as well as Behnam Yakhchali.
6. Lebanon ⬇️2️⃣
Lebanon came in as one of the Asian Qualifiers' hottest teams and they stretched their winning streak to 5 following that convincing win against the Koreans at the Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex. Of course, they would have wanted to make it 6 in a row but fell short of that goal after losing a close away game against China.
Nonetheless, going 1-1 to open the Second Round isn't bad at all, considering that they did so without Wael Arakji, who's out due to an ACL injury he suffered last July. It's a whole different ball game whenever he plays, yes, but his absence has only made the remaining Cedars all the more motivated to keep on pushing until they hit their one true goal: booking a ticket to Qatar, that is.
5. China ⬆️2️⃣
For the first time since Window 2, China swept a window by perfecting their Window 4 assignments, capped by a thrilling 89-87 escape from the Lebanese thanks to Yang Hansen's game-winning layup against DJ Funderburk with 2.2 seconds left.
But really, there's more to that shot allowing them to get past the visitors. It also signaled the arrival of the 'Chinese Jokic,' having created his very own moment in the global stage to cap what was easily his best window with Team Dragon, in which he posted per-game averages of 17.0 points and 9.0 rebounds, together with 2.0 assists and 1.5 blocked shots. Is the incoming NBA sophomore with the Portland Trail Blazers finally getting his footing in FIBA play? If he is, then scary hours could be coming.
4. Philippines ⬆️4️⃣
This was easily the biggest jump in our latest SMART Power Rankings and it's truly justified. After losing all of their 4 games in Windows 2 and 3 that left them with a very little margin of error, the Philippines turned things around. They pulled off victories against familiar opponents Jordan and Iran to revive their World Cup hopes, thanks hugely - literally and figuratively - to the return of Kai Sotto.
The towering big man's comeback surely offset the absence of resident reinforcement Justin Brownlee, who continues to recover from his leg injuries that worsened during the previous window. It should be exciting to see how this truly successful Window 4 campaign, where they won both games, will influence their play in the next two windows as they aim for a spot in Qatar.
3. Japan ⬇️1️⃣
Once again, we ask: Is this the best team Japan have ever assembled for the World Cup Qualifiers?
If we take a look at Window 4 alone, that should offer an easy answer. They beat both Saudi Arabia and the 2027 World Cup hosts in Qatar to hike their card to 6-2 behind balanced attacks spearheaded by no less than Rui Hachimura. Playing for the AKATSUKI JAPAN for the first time since 1the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Los Angeles Clipper starred in this whole window behind an excellent 75.-percent clip from beyond the arc alongside 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 3.0 steals, and 2 blocks, showing how better an already-elite Japanese team could get whenever he plays.
2. New Zealand ⬆️1️⃣
The streak continues for New Zealand. After going 0-2 in Window 1, the Tall Blacks have gotten into a groove, so much so that they were able to stretch their winning run to 6 games now - first by escaping Iran before following it up with a more comfortable victory over Syria.
Similar to the previous windows, Coach Judd Flavell once again received a balanced attack from his men, with the trio of Sam Mennenga, Shea Ili, and Flynn Cameron showing the way. It is indeed a solid turnaround after getting blanked by Australia last November, and now it's about trying to sustain this fiery form as they try to get closer in booking a ticket en route to Qatar.
1. Australia
Australia are not budging from this spot.
There are only three undefeated teams left in the entire World Cup Qualifiers. And one of those teams are the Boomers (along with Türkiye and Canada). After surviving scared against New Zealand in Window 1, they've been steamrolling opponents left and right.
Can anyone take them down?
DISCLAIMER: The Power Rankings are completely subjective and in no way represent an official or precise ranking system. All comments reflect the author’s opinions.
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