MIES (Switzerland) - Window 4 action wraps up on Monday with three intriguing Group F games, as Korea host Saudi Arabia, Japan welcome Qatar and China take on Lebanon.
With Lebanon, Japan and China currently occupying the top three spots, there is still plenty of room for the standings to shift. Korea and Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, sit level on three wins and four losses, meaning their head-to-head clash could have major implications further down the line.
Korea will look to put some distance between themselves and Saudi Arabia when the two meet at West Suwon Chilbo Gymnasium. Both teams enter the game with identical 3-4 records, although Korea's depth, experience and homecourt should give them a slight edge on paper.
The Taeguk Warriors will need another big contribution from Lee Seounghyun, while Saudi Arabia can turn to Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman, whose 18.9 efficiency rating has been a hallmark of his impact. The Saudis have also been getting plenty of production inside, with Mohammad Alsuwailem averaging 10.5 rebounds in the Qualifiers.
This could come down to which team can impose their preferred style. Saudi Arabia have averaged 32.6 points in the paint per game compared to Korea's 27.1, while Korea have generated considerably more points off turnovers.
Japan return home looking to maintain their grip on second place, while Qatar will attempt to bounce back after opening the Second Round with a loss to China.
AKATSUKI JAPAN boast the superior shooting numbers across the board, including 59.8 percent from two-point range and 79.1 percent from the free-throw line. Qatar, however, have shown they can be efficient from deep, shooting 35.3 percent from beyond the arc.
Japan also bring a formidable frontcourt pairing featuring Joshua Hawkinson and Rui Hachimura. Hawkinson has averaged 21.0 points and 9.7 rebounds while hitting at least one three-pointer in every Qualifiers appearance. Hachimura, meanwhile, made a triumphant return to national team duty, pouring in 29 points in a dominant 106-78 win over Saudi Arabia a few days ago.
That said, Qatar have already shown significant improvement in this campaign, winning four of their last five Qualifiers before the China defeat. Can next year's World Cup hosts pull off another big win here?
The window's final Asian Qualifiers matchup may be the most intriguing of the three. Lebanon sit atop Group F at 6-1, while China are third at 4-3 after opening the Second Round with a convincing 83-57 victory over Qatar.
China will once again lean on big man Hu Jinqiu, who has scored in double-figures in each of his last seven Qualifiers appearances and is averaging 14.4 points during that stretch. Lebanon, though, arrive in Zhuji in superb form, having won their last five Qualifiers games.
The statistical contrast is fascinating: Lebanon average 90 points per game to China's 83.9, while the Cedars also hold the edge in assists, rebounds and fast-break scoring. China, however, have been better at protecting the ball, averaging just 10.4 turnovers per game compared to Lebanon's 13.4.
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Korea have won five of their most recent six games at home in the World Cup Qualifiers, with their most recent two such games ending with 2-point differential: 80-82 v Chinese Taipei & 81-79 v Japan, both in July this year.
Korea have averaged 35.3 points in the paint in their last three World Cup Qualifiers games after averaging 21.0 points from that area in their first four games in the current campaign.
Mohammed Alsuwailem is averaging 18.5 points and 13.5 rebounds per game in his last four games for Saudi Arabia in the World Cup Qualifiers; he has had seven double doubles, while only two players in the Asian region have tallied more than him in the history of the Qualifiers.
Japan have won their two games against Qatar at the World Cup Qualifiers, with two of their four biggest victories in the competition being precisely against Qatar: +38 at home in November 2018 (85-47) and +48 on the road in February 2019 (96-48).
Rui Hachimura has scored 24+ points in four of his five games played for Japan in the World Cup Qualifiers, including against Saudi Arabia this past Thursday, dropping 29 points in 27:42min of action; he has made multiple steals in each of his last three games in the Qualifiers.
Moutafa Fouda has combined 10+ points and 5+ assists in each of his last two games with Qatar in the World Cup Qualifiers, after not being able to put those numbers in any of his previous nine games in the competition.
Lebanon are on a five-game winning streak at the World Cup Qualifiers and only once before have they won more straight games (W7 between February– November 2022); they have also won their three road games in the current campaign.
Yang Hansen is averaging 11.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in his three appearances in the World Cup Qualifiers; he has made 2+ “stocks” (steals + blocks) in each of his three games with China in the competition.
Sergio El Darwich has scored 17+ points in each of his last three games in the World Cup Qualifiers, his longest scoring sequence in the competition; he is four points away from becoming the fourth Lebanese player with 200+ points scored in the Qualifiers: Amir Saoud (307) Wael Arakji (290) and Ali Haidar (261).
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