The Inaugural Baller Awards: The FIBA Asia Breakthrough Player, FIBA Asia Young Gun, and FIBA Asia Player of the Year for 2013

It was a banner year for FIBA Asia, but, in lieu of an Asian hoops year-ender, I felt it would be better to go position-by-position and look at the best FIBA Asia players of 2013. These are the guys who did really well in the Asian hoops circuit, in particular in the 2013 FIBA Asia Champions Cup, the 2013 Jones Cup, the 2013 FIBA Asia Men’s Championships, and the subsequent qualifying tournaments. One thing I will also factor in is the players’ performances in their respective pro leagues. Were they able to lead their teams to the title in one, or some, or all of these tournaments? What kind of mark did they leave on FIBA Asia as a whole this year?

In this post, we will look at the FIBA Asia players who surprised us, those who showed prowess beyond their years, and those who dominated all year. We will give Baller Awards to the FIBA Asia Breakthrough Player, FIBA Asia Young Gun, and FIBA Asia Player of the Year for 2013.

Quincy Davis had a banner year for Taiwan.

The Inaugural Baller Awards: The Best FIBA Asia Coach and Best FIBA Asia Naturalized Player of 2013

It was a banner year for FIBA Asia, but, in lieu of an Asian hoops year-ender, I felt it would be better to go position-by-position and look at the best FIBA Asia players of 2013. These are the guys who did really well in the Asian hoops circuit, in particular in the 2013 FIBA Asia Champions Cup, the 2013 Jones Cup, the 2013 FIBA Asia Men’s Championships, and the subsequent qualifying tournaments. One thing I will also factor in is the players’ performances in their respective pro leagues. Were they able to lead their teams to the title in one, or some, or all of these tournaments? What kind of mark did they leave on FIBA Asia as a whole this year?

In this post, we will look at the FIBA Asia Coach and FIBA Asia Naturalized Player who made the most impact in 2013. We will give Baller Awards to the Best FIBA Asia Coach and FIBA Asia Breakthrough Player of 2013.

Jerry Johnson was a mighty impressive naturalized
player in 2013.

The Inaugural Baller Awards: The Best FIBA Asia Small Forward, Power Forward, and Center of 2013

It was a banner year for FIBA Asia, but, in lieu of an Asian hoops year-ender, I felt it would be better to go position-by-position and look at the best FIBA Asia players of 2013. These are the guys who did really well in the Asian hoops circuit, in particular in the 2013 FIBA Asia Champions Cup, the 2013 Jones Cup, the 2013 FIBA Asia Men’s Championships, and the subsequent qualifying tournaments. One thing I will also factor in is the players’ performances in their respective pro leagues. Were they able to lead their teams to the title in one, or some, or all of these tournaments? What kind of mark did they leave on FIBA Asia as a whole this year?

In this post, we will look at the top FIBA Asia frontcourts of the year and award Baller Awards to the Best FIBA Asia Small Forward, the Best FIBA Asia Power Forward, and the Best FIBA Asia Center of 2013.

Will Marcus Douthit be awarded as the Best FIBA Asia Center
of 2013?

The Inaugural Baller Awards: The Best FIBA Asia Point Guard & Shooting Guard of 2013

It was a banner year for FIBA Asia, but, in lieu of an Asian hoops year-ender, I felt it would be better to go position-by-position and look at the best FIBA Asia players of 2013. These are the guys who did really well in the Asian hoops circuit, in particular in the 2013 FIBA Asia Champions Cup, the 2013 Jones Cup, the 2013 FIBA Asia Men’s Championships, and the subsequent qualifying tournaments. One thing I will also factor in is the players’ performances in their respective pro leagues. Were they able to lead their teams to the title in one, or some, or all of these tournaments? What kind of mark did they leave on FIBA Asia as a whole this year?

In this post, we will look at the top FIBA Asia backcourts of the year and award Baller Awards to the Best FIBA Asia Point Guard and Best FIBA Asia Shooting Guard of 2013.

Jayson Castro rose to stardom in 2013.
(image from FIBAAsia.net)

2013 FIBA Asia High -- Some YouTube Clips

Still on a FIBA Asia high like me? Still dreaming about that super finish against Korea? Still pining about the possibilities had Marcus Douthit been able to play against Iran?

Here are some awesome clips on YouTube that will help you relive the excitement and joy of Gilas Pilipinas's triumphant campaign in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship!

Relive Japeth Aguilar's highlights and some other
great moments from the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship.
(image from FIBAAsia.net)

2013 FIBA Asia: Team Hayabusa and Gaijin

(This was first written August 10, 2013)

Having a Japanese-American on the roster of the Japanese national basketball team, nicknamed Team Hayabusa (roughly translated as Peregrine Falcons), isn't new. In the '90s, Japan had one of its most iconic players patrol the shaded lane -- 6'7 Michael Takahashi from California State University-Northridge. 

Kosuka Takeuchi and the Japs fell into hard times
during the 2013 FIBA Asia Tournament.
(image from FIBAAsia.net)

At that time, Takahashi was an anachronism simply because naturalized players, or even players of mixed descent, weren't the norm. It was a sight to behold -- a guy looking every bit an African-American donning the jersey of the Rising Sun. On the court, however, it was his game that really caught everybody's attention. Takahashi was a dynamo. He mostly played the power forward position and, though he was a little undersized compared to the Chinese and Koreans, he could definitely hold his own. He was known as a high-leaper and great finisher around the basket. I can still remember him flushing an alley-oop pass courtesy of Makoto Hasegawa in one match from the 1997 (or was it 1995?) ABC (Asian Basketball Confederation -- the precursor to FIBA Asia) Tournament.