AMMAN (Jordan) - The FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2024 is just around the corner.
And so, it's high time to take a look at some of the games you must watch during the September 2-9 competitions, set to be held in the Jordanian capital.
Australia versus Mongolia
Group A September 2, 11:30 local time Arena Complex
Mongolia will finally compete in their first U18 in 12 years or since the 2012 edition at home, and there's no better way to test their mettle against another comebacking side in Australia as they both open the tournament at 11:30 local time.
The Emus are hungry as well, as they are out to reclaim the championship they won in the 2018 meet in easily one of the mast watched FIBA youth events ever.
Philippines versus Indonesia
Group D September 2, 16:30 local time Arena Complex
Another chapter of this famed Southeast Asian rivalry will be written when the Philippines and Indonesia lock horns right on the very first day.
Game time is at 16:30 local time, with both squads figuring in a rematch of the virtual gold medal game of the SEABA Qualifiers last July in Malaysia that saw Gilas come out on top, 87-64, to sweep their way to the tournament proper.
Will the Indonesians earn the payback they've been wanting? Or will the Filipino dribblers reassert their dominance once again?
China versus Japan
Group C September 4, 11:30 local time Prince Hamza Hall
After 16 long years, the long-time continental rivals will duke it out in the U18 Asia Cup arena as China and Japan slug it out on September 4 at 11:30 local time.
The Chinese are of course looking to bring back the gold it last won in 2014, but serving as an early test will be the Japanese, the 2022 runners-up to Korea.
Team China have the head-to-head advantage. They won their last three meetings, the last of which was a 119-59 in 2008 in a preliminary round encounter.
Iran versus Korea
Group B September 4, 16:30 local time Prince Hamza Hall
One of the teams Korea beat on the way to the gold in 2022 were Iran and that came in dramatic fashion. They rallied back from 19 down, with Lee Chae Hyung finding Lee Juyeong for the go-ahead bucket in the dying seconds to complete the rally.
That crushed the Iranians. Aside from the fact that it happened on their very own home floor, that loss dashed their hopes of not just reaching the tournament Semi-Finals but qualifying for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup as well.
Now, the two will face each other again in neutral grounds. Will Iran avenge their predecessors, or will the defending champions continue to have their number?
Philippines versus New Zealand
Group D September 4, 16:30 local time Arena Complex
Their senior team have faced each other multiple times and now, it's the boys' turn to do so as the Philippines and New Zealand meet on September 4.
Set at 16:30 local time, it will mark the very first time in the U18 Asia Cup scene that the two programs will play one another. Surely, we're bound to witness a classic between the Junior Tall Blacks and the Gilas Youth in this encounter.
FIBA