Saudi Arabia aims for a deep run in FIBA Asia Cup on home soil; China looks to bounce back

Arab Times

5 hours ago

BEIJING, Aug 4 (Xinhua): With new faces in the lineup, China's men's basketball team hopes to rebound from recent below-par performances in international competitions at the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup.
The most decorated team in the tournament's history, with 16 titles, most recently in 2015 on home soil, China has fallen short in the past two editions, exiting at the quarterfinal stage both times.
Drawn in Group C, China will face host Saudi Arabia, India, and Jordan - the group's main threat. The meeting with Jordan recalls the 2011 Asia Cup final, when China edged the visitors 70-69 at home."The rematch is a long time coming, but the memory still stings," read a preview on the FIBA website.
Saudi Arabia will look to its home-court advantage to spring an upset. Under the format, the top team in each group advances directly to the quarterfinals, while the second- and third-placed teams play for the remaining spots. Given the group dynamics, China will target the Jordan match to secure first place and a better knockout position. That could set up a potential quarterfinal against Lebanon, which eliminated China at the same stage in 2022.
Adding to the struggles were 24th- and 29th-place finishes out of 32 teams at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2019 and 2023, respectively, along with missing the past two Olympic Games.
After what appeared to be a low point, the team is aiming for redemption at the continental tournament in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from Aug. 5 to 17.
Under head coach Guo Shiqiang, appointed in July last year, China has embarked on a rebuilding phase with its sights set on the 2027 World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
In the 14-man roster for Jeddah, newcomer Wang Junjie, who plays for the University of San Francisco in NCAA Division I, has drawn attention for his athleticism and explosiveness.
Selected for the training camp in April, Wang earned his spot with strong warm-up performances. The 20-year-old forward averaged 8.3 points and 2.5 rebounds as China won twice each against Venezuela and Bosnia and Herzegovina ahead of its departure.
Speaking about his international debut, Wang said, "I felt nervous before the game, and even almost burst into tears when singing the national anthem. Fortunately, I turned my nervousness into motivation."
With Zeng Fanbo still recovering from injury, Wang is seen as a boost on the forward line.
The Chinese Basketball Association has allowed Yang Hansen, drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2025, to skip the Asia Cup to focus on his development. Zhou Qi also withdrew due to a recurring waist injury. That leaves China's inside game to rely heavily on Hu Jinqiu, MVP of the 2024-25 CBA regular season.
Bound for his second Asia Cup after debuting in 2017, Hu helped lead the Zhejiang Lions to their first CBA championship last season. He averaged a team-high 11.5 points in four recent warm-up games.
"He'd be taking on an even more significant duty, manning the fort for the continental contest's most successful team," read an article about Hu on the FIBA website. "There should be no doubt that he's more than ready to do so."
Hu will partner with Yu Jiahao, who recently signed with Spanish club Bilbao Basket and will join them after the Asia Cup. At 7-foot-3, Yu is the tallest player on the squad and led China with 6.3 rebounds per game in warm-ups.
Veteran guards Hu Mingxuan and Zhao Rui will lead the backcourt, with Liao Sanning and Cheng Shuaipeng expected to contribute. With no dominant edge in the paint, rebounding and 3-point shooting will be key to China's chances.
Looking ahead, Guo said, "We will go all out in every game for the best result as we can."Two-time defending champion Australia remains the favorite in Jeddah. Ranked seventh in the world, the Boomers boast balance, experience, and size, and top the tournament's power rankings. Japan's fast-paced game and New Zealand's toughness also make them strong medal contenders.