Saudi’s Got Game (And the Whole Tournament)
So this is how it is – Jeddah is completely lit today with the FIBA Asia Cup 2025, and boy? It’s gotten out of control. We’re talking about this being the first time the nasty dude tournament is on its normal four-year rotation, and it feels different. From August 5-17, everything is happening at King Abdullah Sports City, which is cool considering Saudi Arabia last held this thing all the way back in ’97
FIBA Basketball
This year we’ve got 16 teams throwing down, and the lineup’s insane – you’ve got your usual suspects like China, Australia, Japan, and Korea bringing that heat, but then there’s fresh blood like Guam stepping into their first-ever Asia Cup
FIBA Basket
Essential
+1
It’s the biggest basketball party in Asia-Oceania, where national pride meets serious hoops.
Day One Was Completely Crazy
Opening day? Pure chaos (the good kind). Saudi Arabia went toe-to-toe with China – those five-time champs – and came so close it hurt. Final score: 88-93 to China, but damn if the hosts didn’t make it interesting
Daily Times
At the same time, Australia rolled up like champs defending their title and dominated Lebanon without any effort, demonstrating to all that they remain the team to beat
FIBA Basket
India Tried, But China’s Just Built Different
See, India (ranked 76th in the world) got everyone all amped up after almost registering a huge upset against Jordan in their opener. But August 8th gave ’em a reality check big time – China completely obliterated them 100-69. That 31-point thrashing was just nasty to watch
The Tribune
The Times of India
Coach Scott Flaming was aware that three-pointers were going to be key approaching this tournament, and this was exactly why he was worried about it
The Times of India
Sahaij Sekhon dropped 14 for India, which was solid, but China’s Mingxuan Hu and Jiayi Zhao both went off for 17 each. Game over
The Tribune
China’s Steamrolling Everyone, Guam’s Making History
Fast forward a couple of days, and China’s just rolling – just dominated Jordan 90-68 in punching their ticket to the quarters, and they look like the team that everybody’s going to have to beat
FIBA Basket
Here’s the good news: Guam, playing its first-ever Asia Cup, clamped down on defense and defeated Syria for its first-ever tournament victory
FIBA Basket
Antho
Small island, big dreams, you love to see it.
Philippines Had Everyone on an Emotional Rollercoaster
Gilas Pilipinas and their crazy passionate fanbase went through all the emotions this tournament
GMA Network
+1
- Lost close matches to Chinese Taipei (87-95) and New Zealand (86-94)
- Bounced back to defeat Iraq (66-57) and capture third in Group D
- Came through just against Saudi Arabia in the qualifiers to reach the quarters
- Got their dreams crushed by Australia (84-60) when the Boomers just had too much firepower
GMA Network
Why This Tournament Matters So Much
This isn’t just some random hoops competition – the FIBA Asia Cup is THE tournament for this part of the world, basically their version of EuroBasket. Happens every four years, so whoever wins this thing gets bragging rights until 2029
FIBA Basket
For sides like Guam and India, just being there matters a lot. For big boys like China and Australia? It’s all about who rules the region.
The Real Stories Behind the Scores
This entire tournament reveals some very interesting narratives:
Guam, competing for the first time, reveals how basketball is expanding globally – even small islands are being afforded a place on the big stage.
India’s struggles with shooting? That’s the real discussion regarding how much needs to be rebuilt from scratch – improved youth development, additional international exposure, all that.
China and Australia staying on top? That’s what you do when you have good systems in place and you just develop your program year after year after year.
As someone who follows this stuff closely, this tournament’s like a perfect mix of showcase and reality check for everyone involved.
Bottom Line
Now that quarters are set, it’s not about who takes all the hardware, but about who is planning for the future. Is China still in charge? Will Guam pull off another upset? Is there any flaw in the powerhouse defense?
This FIBA Asia Cup 2025 is not only a tournament, but it’s actually deciding basketball’s future in Asia.
