2016 #FIBAAsiaChallenge and #FIBAAsiaChampionsCup Review (and explanation) Part 1

Iran were crowned champions in the 2016 FIBA Asia Challenge.
(image from FIBA)

For the past month or so, I haven’t been able to update this blog as much and as often as I want to, and there’s one reason for that — work. It’s not that I haven’t been writing. On the contrary, I’ve been writing a whole lot, but my writing just hasn’t been appearing on this blog. You see, for the better part of the past two years, I’ve been fortunate enough to have been given the opportunity to write for FIBA.com (first as a columnist and, eventually, in a more significant editorial capacity). It’s all legit and certainly feels awesome, but the tradeoff, so to speak, is that my time to personally update this blog has been diminished. It’s not necessarily a bad thing (far from it!), since I have the freedom to re-post my stuff from FIBA (and other sites) onto this blog. It’s accurate to say, however, that, given everything else that’s to be juggled, things have “leveled up” and, consequently, maintaining the balancing act has been more challenging than ever before. 

#FIBAAsiaChallenge 2016 Quarter-Finals Breakdown

Mohammad Jamshidi (IRI)
(image from FIBA)

*This first appeared on FIBA.com.

Four teams have been given the boot, and only eight remain in contention for the prestigious championship and the all-important top five spots in the FIBA Asia Challenge 2016 in Tehran, Iran. Four Quarter-Finals matches are in store on Friday, 16 September, with four winners advancing to the Semi-Finals and four relegated to the 5th to 6th place classification games.

Let’s look at each team that has made it this far.

The #FIBAAsiaChallenge 2016 Magnificent Seven

Mohammad Shaher Hussein (JOR)
(image from FIBA)

*This first appeared on my weekly column on FIBA.com.

For the better part of this past week, the FIBA Asia Challenge 2016 being held in Tehran, Iran has enthralled basketball fans all over the continent. With a healthy mix of tried-and-tested veterans and young, up-and-coming talents, the tournament has given hoop nuts from the Middle East and Far East great hardcourt action.

Some players have stepped up, some have surprised, and some have delivered on their potential. Today, I’ll talk about what I call the Magnificent Seven — the seven best players of the FIBA Asia Challenge 2016 as of this moment.

#FIBAAsiaChallenge: Gilas 5.0 roster finalized!

(Image from Onvisa Thewphaingarm)

*This first appeared on FIBA.com.

The Philippines’ 12-man roster for the FIBA Asia Challenge that will be played in Tehran Iran from 9-18 September has been released.

Longtime teammates Mark Belo and Kevin Ferrer, who both saw action in the SEABA Stankovic Cup in May, headline Josh Reyes’ all amateur standouts.

They are joined on the list by 2016 SEABA Stankovic Cup teammates Mike Tolomia, Von Pessumal, RR Pogoy and Russell Escoto.

#FIBAAsiaChallenge: Reyes - 'The most important thing is the experience'

Gilas Pilipinas
(Image from FIBA)

*This first appeared on FIBA.com.

Philippines coach Josh Reyes admits that the FIBA Asia Challenge will be the perfect tournament for Gilas’ news players to gain experience and learn playing at a high level.

The new look Gilas squad will travel to Tehran with a roster almost entirely made up of amateur level standouts, but they will be without two key players in Kiefer Ravena and Bobby Ray Parks. 

#FIBAAsiaChallenge: Jordan preparing hard despite many trials

Sam Daghlas (JOR)
(Image from FIBA)

*This first appeared on FIBA.com.

Sam Daghles is perhaps Jordan’s most iconic basketball player, having led the country to numerous podium finishes and even a stint in the 2010 FIBA World Cup that was held in Turkey. Nowadays, Daghles is still very much a part of Al Nashama’s national side, but no longer as their top playmaker. Instead, the 1.98m former starting point guard is now calling the shots from the sidelines as Jordan’s head coach and will steer the team in the 2016 FIBA Asia Challenge.