The 2018 FIBA U18 Asia Championship is set to tip off in Thailand this coming Sunday, August 5, where sixteen teams will vie for four berths to the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup.
This is the first ever FIBA U18 Asia tourney with both Australia and New Zealand joining, and their entry raises the level of competition quite significantly.
2016 champion Iran returns to the fray ready to defend its title, while 11-time champion China hopes to regain its place among the elite after finishing outside of the top 4 for the first time since 2008. Both the Boomers and Tall Blacks, of course, will contend for the World Cup berths, while traditional Asian powerhouses Korea, Japan, Chinese Taipei, and the Philippines are also expected to impress.
Let's continue our coverage with a preview of Group B.
CHINA
FIBA Boys Rank: 12thPrevious U18 Asia: 5th place
Size: Average height is 6'6; Tallest players are Wang Yanzhi, Jiang Haoran, and Sun Yansong (all 6'9), and Michael Wang Quanze (6'10)
Experience: One player with experience in the 2015 FIBA U16 Asian Championship and 2016 FIBA U17 World Cup, One player with experience at the 2017 EABA Championship
Projected top players:
Xu Jie (G)
Guo Haowen (F)
Michael Wang (F)
Outlook:
- 1st or 2nd place in Group B; makes it at least to the Semi-Finals
- among the favorites to qualify for 2019 U19 World Cup
China is a team on a mission. This the winningest team in U18 Asia hoops, and their failure to even finish on the podium in 2016 will certainly fuel their drive to the top here in Nonthaburi. The entry of both Australia and New Zealand to the FIBA Asia sphere also threatens China's stranglehold at the top, so they're out to make an emphatic statement. As always, China won't have any problems with size as they have a bevy of bigs who can make life hell for opposing frontlines. Leading the way will be US NCAA-bound Michael Wang along with senior national team call-up Guo Haowen and and playmaking wonder Xu Jie. With a lot of size and depth, China are heavy favorites to make it to the top 4.
PHILIPPINES
FIBA Boys Rank: 34thPrevious U18 Asia: 7th
Size: Average height is 6'4; Tallest players are Kai Sotto (7'1), AJ Edu (6'11), and Geo Chiu (6'8)
Experience: Five players with experience at the 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup, Three players with experience at the 2017/2018 FIBA U16 Asia Championship, One player with experience at the 2015 FIBA U16 Asia Championship
Projected top players:
Kai Sotto (C)
AJ Edu (C)
Dalph Panopio (G)
Outlook:
- 1st or 2nd place in Group B; makes it at least to the Semi-Finals
- among the favorites to qualify for 2019 U19 World Cup
Unlike previous editions of the Philippine U18 team, this year's Batang Gilas U18 will not have any issues with size. Bannered by 7'1 Kai Sotto, 6'11 AJ Edu, 6'8 Geo Chiu, and 6'7 Raven Cortez, this squad's frontline can match up with the best and biggest out there. As sizeable and talented as this team's frontliners are, however, it's their guards and wingmen that will be the ultimate x-factors. Stellazzurra Basketball Academy product Dalph Panopio, in particular, will be a vital cog in how things are run for the Filipinos, with U17 World Cup veteran Gerry Abadiano also expected to provide some offensive punch in the backcourt. If the Filipinos play true to their potential, then they can be among the elite teams in this competition.
LEBANON
FIBA Boys Rank: 43rdPrevious U18 Asia: 4th place
Size: Average height is 6'4; Tallest players are Gebrael Samaha (6'8) and Ameer Kasab, Mohamad Htait, and Andrew Kopaly (all 6'7)
Experience: Five players with experience in the 2017/2018 FIBA U16 Asia Championship
Projected top players:
Gebrael Samaha (C)
Ameer Kasab (C)
Paolo Bedikian (SG)
Outlook:
- 3rd place team in Group B; makes it to Qualification to Quarter-Finals
- not expected to qualify for 2019 U19 World Cup
There plenty of interesting players on this roster who have a ton of upside, but that's mainly because this is the youngest team in the entire tournament. With an average age of just 16 years old, this squad boasts of many members who will still be eligible for the 2020 FIBA U18 Asia. That's not to say the Lebanese will not be competitive. On the contrary, they should be able to hang with China and the Philippines in their group, but actually beating either team will be a tall order. Still, if the stars align and this team peaks at the right time, anything can happen. Much of it, though, will depend on the production of prolific guard Paolo Bedikian and the frontcourt pairing of Gebrael Samaha and Ameer Kasab.
UAE
FIBA Boys Rank: 82ndPrevious U18 Asia: n/a
Size: Average height is 6'4; Tallest players are Mohamed Al Maeeni and Shaher Al Hammadi (both 6'8), and Mahmoud Al Sawan (6'7)
Experience: No players with prior experience in any continental level tournament
Projected top players:
Mahmoud Al Sawan (PF)
Mohamed Al Maeeni (C)
Hassan Hussein (F)
Outlook:
- 4th place team in Group B; eliminated after group stage
- not expected to qualify for 2019 U19 World Cup
The second-place team in the GBA U18 Qualifiers won't be a pushover. They have great size with an average height of 6'4 and with Mohamed Al Maeeni and Shaher Al Hammadi, and double-double machine Mahmoud Al Sawan manning the interior, while Hassan Hussein takes care of business at the wings. Despite that, UAE's inexperience against top level competition and the high quality opponents they have in this group will be their undoing, unless, of course, they wax hot on offense and play way beyond their ceiling.
Check out all our #FIBAU18Asia Group Previews by clicking on the following!
Group A Preview
Group C Preview
Group D Preview
Images from FIBA.basketball.
Check out the official coverage of the FIBA U18 Asia Championship from the tournament's official website HERE.
FOR MORE 2018 FIBA U18 ASIA CHAMPIONSHIP COVERAGE, CHECK OUT THIS LINK!
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