ULAANBAATAR (Mongolia) – Mongolia and Thailand, two teams that missed the bus to the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 by the proverbial whisker both a good account of themselves and without raising a sweat at that breezing through their openers as Group D action tipped off at the M Bank Arena on Friday.
Playing in front of a vocal home crowd, Mongolia proved more than a handful for Vietnam in their 98-64 win after Thailand had put paid to Fiji’s hopes in their 94-59 verdict.
Coming as the wins did in a four-team group with three slots available for advancement to the Second Round, they surely must have come as a big relief for the two programs to keep their focus.
Enkhiin-Od Sharavjamts, a 2019 Class Basketball Without Borders alumnus gave a good account of his prowess with an 8/15 in field attempts in his game-high 20 points to lead Mongolia’s win.
Azbayar Altangerel produced another performance to further cement his position in Mongolian fans’ hearts with a double-double of 10 points and as many rebounds.
Huy Vo’s dozen was the highest for Vietnam.
Thailand left nothing to doubt from the word go hitting back twice almost every time Fiji found success.
Talismanic guard Freddie Lish was yet again the darling of Thai basketball followers with a sublime 23-point game with support coming from Emmanuel Ejesu’s double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Tyrone McLennan served Fiji’s cause with 25 points.
Mongolia play Fiji and Thailand face Vietnam on Sunday.
FIBA