ULAANBAATAR (Mongolia) – Fiji ensured continued representation for FIBA Oceania in the FIBA Asia Cup Pre-Qualifiers after beating Vietnam 69-57 to clinch the third available spot from Group D on the concluding day of the FIBA Asia Cup 2029 Pre-Qualifiers First Round at M Bank Arena on Monday.
Thailand followed suit, surviving hosts Mongolia’s late surge to bring the curtains down at the venue with their 69-66 win and remain unbeaten in the group, carrying forward a crucial advantage into the Second Round.
Mongolia, Thailand and Fiji now join Hong Kong, China, Malaysia and Indonesia in Group E of the FIBA Asia Cup 2029 Pre-Qualifiers Second Round, scheduled to be played during the International Window in November-December.
Thailand, who led by as many as 12 points towards the end of the third quarter, seemed headed to another win against Mongolia – whom they had beaten 109-105 at exactly the same stage at the same venue in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Pre-Qualifiers – before both teams, like here again, eventually advanced to the Second Round.
Memories of that game, when Mongolia squandered a handsome lead, surely would have rushed through the minds of all – from coaches to fans – associated with both sides when the hosts seemed to come to grips with the proceedings.
Bayasgalan Delgerchuluun and Enkhiin-Od Sharavjamts fired back-to-back three-pointers, interspersed by Ibrahim Diaby’s solitary conversion from the foul stripe for Thailand, to bring Mongolia within two points.
But with Thailand holding possession and the resultant end-game fouling, Ejesu was steady in maintaining a three-point cushion. Sharavjamts would attempt a long-ranger, but that was more ambitious than accurate.
Ejesu finished with a double-double of 24 points and 13 rebounds.
Sharavjamts too shone in both departments with 21 points and 17 rebounds.
In a game where fortunes swung like the proverbial pendulum, Fiji made the decisive move midway through the third quarter, closing the period with a 17-4 blitz and carrying the momentum to the final buzzer.
An all-round attack saw FIBA Oceania turn a 34-37 deficit into a 51-41 lead at the end of the penultimate period, leaving the SEABA side gasping.
Filimone Waqabaca fouled out of the game with about five minutes left but had done enough to lead Fiji with 16 points, missing a double-double by one rebound.
Joshua Fox, a catalyst during Fiji’s seizure of control, scored four of his six points for the game during that period, but more importantly was a towering figure under the boards, pulling down 20 rebounds, 17 of them off the defensive glass.
Dinh Thanh Tam and Le Khac Dang Khoa each scored a dozen points for Vietnam, who bowed out of the FIBA Asia Cup Pre-Qualifiers First Round for the second time in a row.
FIBA