BEIRUT (FIBA Asia Cup 2017) - In several hours, the biggest basketball tournament in Asia will kick off, and we will see many of the continent's best and brightest slug it out to be Asian basketball kings.
What are the most interesting storylines to follow in first ever FIBA Asia Cup of its kind? FIBA.com gives you 10 reasons to follow all the amazing action in Beirut.
1 - The Boomers and Tall Blacks!
Maybe the biggest change of all is the inclusion of Oceania powerhouse teams Australia and New Zealand into the fold. Despite not having some of their biggest names, both the Boomers and Tall Blacks remain heavy favorites to finish on the podium in their Asia Cup debut. Needless to say, their collective size and depth increase the level of competition at the Asia Cup quite considerably.
2 - Satnam Singh returns!
NBA Draftee Satnam Singh Bhamara finally returns to the Indian national team to see action at the highest level of Asian basketball. The hulking 2.18m center last played for the Young Cagers in the 2013 edition, and his presence here will surely make the SABA champions a lot more imposing.
3 - Rising stars to watch!
With many iconic players already hanging up their international kits, a new wave of rising stars is expected to take over our highlight reels. Iraqi big man Mohammed Al-Khafaji is one such star-in-the-making along with two-time SBL MVP Chou Yi-Hsiang of Chinese Taipei. Japanese collegiate superstar Yudai Baba will certainly turn some heads, and the same can be said of Australia's 24-year-old wingman Mitch Norton.
4 - Iraq and Syria are back!
West Asia is well-represented at the Asia Cup, and that adds more value to the fact that this is the first time such a high level tournament will be held in this part of the continent. Having both Iraq and Syria back at the top level after years of absence underscores the resurgence of West Asia basketball, and we should see both sides provide memorable moments in these games.
5 - New naturalized players!
No FIBA Asia Cup will be complete without some marquee naturalized players making an impact, and this year's edition has more than a few names to watch out for. Perhaps foremost among them is Qatar's international journeyman Sammy Monroe, who looks to lead Al Annabi back to glory. US NCAA products Kevin Ware (Jordan) and Christian Standhardinger (Philippines) are also seeing action along with NBA Summer League veteran, Norvel Pelle and Macedonia-born Ivan Todorovic, who will man the middle for Lebanon and Syria
6 - Last hurrah?
Yes, we will see a lot of new faces this year, but the flipside is we will also probably bid farewell to a good number of our hardcourt idols, too. Seasoned campaigners like David Andersen (Australia), Gabe Norwood (Philippines), Mohd Yousuf Mohammed (Qatar), Micheal Madanly (Syria) and Fadi El Khatib (Lebanon) are all in their mid—to-late thirties, and they will most certainly be left out of the national squad the next time the Asia Cup comes along, which will be in 2021. Let's take this chance to see these icons one last time!
7 - Han Dejun arrives!
For quite some time, the gargantuan Han Dejun has been one of China's best centers, but he was always one of the final cuts of past national teams due either to injury or the country's having just so many quality big men. Now, however, he has a chance to shine, especially with resident centers like Yi Jianlian, Zhou Qi and Wang Zhelin not around. We could be seeing the dawn of the Han dynasty for China this year.
8 - Oh SeKeun's comeback!
The last time we saw Oh SeKeun at this level was way back in 2011. He missed the 2013 and 2015 editions because of injury, but he seems to be at the pink of health this year. His size, skill-set and experience will be integral to Korea's mission of regaining lost glory, and if he can put up solid numbers, Korea may just crack the top 4 after missing out in Changsha-Hunan two years ago.
9 - Terrific Teens!
We mentioned some Asian icons who are in the homestretch of their international careers, but we also have a handful of terrific teenagers who are just starting on their own journeys. A trio of 19-year-olds - Hu Jinqiu of China, Isaac Letoa of New Zealand and Khalel Khori of Syria - are debuting here in Beirut, but the youngest player we will see is India's very own Baladhaneshwar Poiyamozhi, who was a scoring machine at the last Asian U16 and U18 competitions.
10 - First of its kind!
The name may be familiar to Asian hoop nuts, but don't let that fool you - this is the first ever Asia Cup of its kind! The addition of Australia and New Zealand, the change in tournament format, the fact that this will happen every four years (instead of two) and the reputation of hosts Lebanon as a basketball hotbed make the Asia Cup 2017 an historic and memorable affair. There is no doubt that this is the biggest and deepest field ever assembled, and the champions will reign undisputed until 202
