The top 4 teams from the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship were seeded according to their rankings. Iran (champion) was seeded into Group A, Philippines in Group B, Korea in Group C, and Taiwan in Group D.
It was an “open draw” for the next two rounds and then China, as host country, chose its group in the last round. China chose Group C. The last three spots were then drawn.
Group B: Philippines, Palestine, Kuwait, one East Asian country (either Hong Kong or Mongolia).
Group C: Korea, Jordan, Singapore, China (host).
Group D: Taiwan, Lebanon, Qatar, Kazakhstan.
Right off the bat, two things are clear:
1) Group B is the lightest group, with tournament newcomer Palestine having a golden chance to really make an impact and a clear path to the quarterfinals
2) Group D is the GROUP OF DEATH!!! All four teams in that group are legitimate podium contenders, and all have been in the tournament’s top four in the past decade. It will be the toughest group from which to advance.
Gilas Pilipinas will probably play against Omar Krayem, a current PBA import who holds Palestinian nationality, and former Ateneo and UAAP star big man Rabeh Al-Hussaini, who will reportedly play for his father’s homeland of Kuwait. If Mongolia completes Group B, Gilas will also play against former Ginebra import Sanchir Tungalag, who may have something to prove against the Filipinos.
Here is the tournament format:
Preliminary round: The sixteen teams are grouped into four groups of four. Each team will play all of the teams from its group once. The top three teams with the best record advance to the second round.
Second round: The qualifying teams from Groups A and B shall form Group E, while those from Groups C and D shall form Group F. The results against the teams that had also qualified would carry over. The teams shall play the teams from the group they had not faced before. The top four teams from each group would proceed to the final round.
Classification round: Teams eliminated in the preliminary round will figure in a single elimination tournament with consolation games to play for 13th place.
Teams eliminated in the second round will figure in a single elimination tournament with consolation games to play for 9th place.
Final round: The remaining teams shall figure in a single elimination tournament with consolation games. The champion qualifies to the 2016 Summer Olympics. The runner-up and third place qualify to the Final Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
See you all in Changsha, China for the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship, where ONE team will automatically qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil!
#LabanPilipinas #Puso
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