Wikipedia - FIBA Asia Cup

The FIBA Asia Cup (formerly the FIBA Asia Championship and ABC Championship) is an international basketball tournament which takes place every four years between the men's national teams of Asia and Oceania.

Through the 2015 edition, the tournament took place every two years and was also a qualifying tournament for the FIBA World Cup and the Olympic basketball tournament. However, since 2017, the tournament was renamed the FIBA Asia Cup and now includes teams from FIBA Oceania. Also, it was the first to be played on a new four-year cycle, and is no longer a part of the qualifying process for the World Cup or the Olympics.

History

Beginnings: Philippines/Japan dominance

The Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) Championship was inaugurated in Manila in 1960. The championship was held to find Asia's best team and for qualification to the World Championship and the Olympics. On the next four tournaments, the Philippines won 3 with the Japanese beating the Filipinos in 1965. Korea, Japan and the Philippines split the next 3 championships until China debuted in 1975 at Bangkok with the championship, where they have dominated for 40 years.

Chinese dominance

Right after the Philippines had started sending amateur players when the Philippine Basketball Association was established in 1975 as the first professional basketball league in Asia and therefore not allowed to lend the country's best players,[] China emerged as the new dominant country in Asian basketball.

From 1975 to 2007, there were only two instances where China did not win the championship. In 1985, the Philippines defeated a full-strength Chinese team, which were by then five-time defending champions, in the championship round. The Chinese then won every game in the championship until 1997, where they to lost to South Korea in the semi-finals where they complained about the climate in Riyadh.[] The Koreans beat the Japanese in the final, but the Chinese would then start a championship streak of four tournaments, led by Yao Ming.

Renaming

By 2005, the tournament had been renamed as the FIBA Asia Championship; in that year's tournament in Doha, the Chinese easily won against the Lebanese in the final. During the 2007 championship, the Chinese did not send their "A" team since they had already qualified to the Olympics by virtue of hosting it. In this championship, West Asian teams started to compete with the traditional East Asian powers, as evidenced of an all-West Asian final when Iran defeated Lebanon. In 2009, Iran defeated the Chinese team A in the 2009 final to become only the 3rd team to successfully defend the championship. The 2009 championship started a streak of finals contested between a team from the Middle East and a team from the Far East; in 2011, Iran was eliminated by Jordan in the quarterfinals, which would then lose to hosts China by one point in the final. The 2013 championship would be the first to be hosted outside East Asia since 2005 in the Philippines, the hosts, emerged as finalists; China had been eliminated by Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals, which were then defeated by the Iranians, who then beat the Filipinos in the Final.

Removal of qualification status

As FIBA implemented a new cycle and tournament format, the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship held in Manila and the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship held in Changsha were the last Asian Championships to serve as qualification to either the FIBA Basketball World Cup and the Olympic Games, respectively. The 2017 FIBA Asia Championship marked firsts and lasts for the Asian Championship, as it was the first Asian Championship as a standalone tournament, meaning it did not serve as the qualifier for either the Basketball World Cup or the Olympic Games. The 2017 tournament was the last Asian Championships to be ever held under a 2-year cycle. After 2017, the Asian Championships and the FIBA Oceania Championship merged into a tournament to be known as the FIBA Asia Cup. It was held every 4 years like the EuroBasket, AfroBasket and AmeriCup, which are held 2 years before/after the FIBA World Cup.

The FIBA Asia Cup is a prestigious basketball tournament that brings together the top national teams from across the Asian continent. Organized by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), this tournament showcases the immense talent and passion for basketball in Asia.

The FIBA Asia Cup features teams from various countries in Asia, including traditional powerhouses such as China, Iran, and the Philippines, as well as emerging basketball nations like Japan, South Korea, and Lebanon. These teams compete against each other in a thrilling display of skill, athleticism, and teamwork.

The tournament is held every four years and serves as a platform for teams to qualify for the FIBA Basketball World Cup. It provides an opportunity for players to represent their countries on an international stage and compete for regional supremacy.

The FIBA Asia Cup is known for its high level of competition and intense matches. The games are characterized by fast-paced action, strategic plays, and incredible displays of individual talent. The tournament showcases the diversity of playing styles and basketball cultures in Asia, making it a truly unique and exciting event.

Fans from all over Asia and beyond eagerly follow the FIBA Asia Cup, supporting their favorite teams and players. The tournament attracts a large audience, both in-person and through television broadcasts, as basketball enthusiasts witness the best of Asian basketball.

The FIBA Asia Cup not only promotes the sport of basketball but also fosters cultural exchange and unity among nations. It serves as a platform for athletes to showcase their skills, inspire future generations, and strengthen the bond between countries through the universal language of basketball.

Overall, the FIBA Asia Cup is a highly anticipated basketball tournament that celebrates the talent, passion, and unity of Asian basketball. It is a showcase of the region's basketball prowess and a testament to the growing influence of Asian basketball on the global stage.