The 2012 FIBA Asia A-Z - Part 2

KUALA LUMPUR (Mageshwaran’s AsiaScope) - Continuing from where I left off last week, let’s look at the remaining letters in the alphabet.

L for…Lee Jonghyun
There’s no way we could have left out our first player for this week. For, he is one of the very few players in our list who also played in the senior ranks, and with commendable results at that.

Lee’s entry into the All-Stars line-up at the 22nd FIBA Asia U18 Championship in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia with one of the rare double-double averages of 18.9 points and 10.9 rebounds per game backing him was only stating the obvious.

Different matter altogether that Lee had already cut his teeth at the senior level donning the Korean colors at the 2012 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament at Caracas, Venezuela.

M for…Miyuki Kawamura
Dominating. One word to describe this 1.80m center from Japan. Statistically speaking she had 14.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per game in Japan’s silver medal at the 21st FIBA Asia U18 Championship for Women in Johor Bahru, Malaysia but her value is certainly more intrinsic as Japan set about bringing a revolution in their women’s national team’s future.

N for…Yunika Nakamura
If Kawamura is dominating, Nakamura is delightful. The Shibata GHS forward finished second in the scoring chart at the 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship for Women in Amsterdam, moreover because she played only for five minutes in one game. Averages of 17.8 points and 6.5 rebounds along with her pivotal contribution in helping Japan reach the Semi-Finals saw her selected to the All-Tournament Team alongside team-mate Evelyn Mawuli – a very rare occurrence to have two Japanese girls in the All Stars.

And more importantly, about a month later, Nakamura was back on court this time leading Japan to the silver medal at the 21st FIBA Asia U18 Championship for Women with an average of 11.4 points per game.

P for…Palpreet Singh Brar
Last year, we were wondering if Satnam Singh Bhamara will be left ploughing a lonely furrow in India’s basketball future. Palpreet’s advent has answered all those questions.

With a skill set that is completely a pleasant surprise, Palpreet’s position at No 4 will be the ideal foil for Satnam’s position at the center in molding India’s fortunes. An average of 21.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game at the 22nd FIBA Asia U18 Championship was only proving this Punjab lad’s potential.

S for…Saleh Foroutan
Here’s another chip off the old Iranian block, set in the traditional mould as a power forward. The 2.03m youngster averaged 11.3 points and 8 rebounds per game in Iran’s bronze medal at the 22nd FIBA Asia U18 Championship, won the acknowledgment of Iran's national team coach Memi Becirovic for the 4th FIBA Asia Cup and now is a part of the starting five for Azad University in the Iran Super League.

There are not many things Foroutan will be left wanting in after his stint with coach Mehran Shahintab at Azad.

V for…Vahid Dalirzahan
Another youngster with immense potential, who is a teammate of Foroutan’s at Azad. There were not many who doubted his making the All-Stars at the 22nd FIBA Asia U18 Championship with his figures of 14.8 points per game scored at an impressive rate of 43.9% in the field.

Wonder how long Becirovic will need to take this youngster into the senior ranks.

W for…Wang Zhelin
Now, not having this name will not complete any list of top basketballers of the year from FIBA Asia. The 2.15m forward made news throughout the year – from first being a part of China’s Olympic team for the 2012 London Olympics, then being left out of it through leading China to their 10th gold medal at the 22nd FIBA Asia U18 Championship with tournament leading average of 22.3 points per game to returning figures of 13.4 PPG and 10.4 RPG at the 4th FIBA Asia Cup and then making waves in his maiden CBA year with Fujian.

Playing under Tab Baldwin at Fujian is sure to make Wang Zhelin a force to reckon with in the future. Not that he isn’t already!

Y for…Yang Liwei
The 21st FIBA Asia U18 Championship for Women brought to the fore how mature a player Yang Liwei has become, or is becoming. There never was any doubt about her gifted skills as a playmaker or shooting, but throughout the tournament Yang went through patches of dip in form. Till she hit the right note in the Final with a game-high 20 points.

Last heard, Yang Liwei was well on her way to the next level playing for Guangdong Dolphins in the WCBA rubbing shoulders with none other than 2012 WNBA Finals MVP Tamika Catchings.

Z for…Zhou Qi
So what exactly did Zhou Qi do the whole year in 2012? Apart from playing the vital support role to Wang Zhelin at the 22nd FIBA Asia U18 Championship you mean? He went through a whole year learning the tricks of moving ahead to the next level. We did see him on court and importantly Zhou showed signs of progress every time he entered the court.

Like last year, I have deliberately left out some letters. For, I was not compelled nor under any obligation to find a player for each letter. Therefore, if a letter didn’t find a player, I leave it to say it’s the letter’s loss. We’ll wait another year to make up for this.

So long…And Happy New Year!

S Mageshwaran

FIBA Asia

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