FIBA basketball

A reported five-hour meeting one day last week between the NBA owners and the players’ union to iron out differences still resulted in wrinkled and crumpled feelings. There was no solution in sight with both camps insisting on their greed. So chances are, NBA stars will be seen strutting their wares in unfamiliar uniforms and territories in the months to come.

The uncertainty of the world’s most lucrative and popular professional basketball league has taken a backseat to another popular tournament involving national teams – FIBA Basketball.

Just a few days ago, FIBA Americas crowned Argentina as champion with a win over an equally strong Brazil. Both have NBA regulars as in other teams and they dominate games. EuroBasket is on its final stages and looks like defending champions Spain, with at least five NBA players will have their hands full with Russia, Greece and France who also have their respective NBA contributions.

FIBA Asia began the biennial hostilities yesterday In Wuhan, China with games starting at 9 in the morning until early evening. This is the 5th time China has hosted the Asian Championships. 16 nations are entered in this tournament fighting for the lone Asian slot for the 2012 London Olympics.

FIBA Asia had its maiden tournament in 1960 which was held in Manila. There were seven nations entered and Team Philippines won the inaugural edition. The tournament was then called the Asian Basketball Conference (ABC Championships). It was baptized and renamed as FIBA Asia in 2003. This year’s edition is the 26th.

The Philippines, aside from winning the inaugural tournament, also won the title in 1963, 1967, 1973 and 1985. The last title squad was made up of Allan Caidic, Hector Calma, Samboy Lim, Jerry Codinera, Yves Dignadice, Franz Pumaren and Cebuano Alfie Almario.

FIBA suspended the Philippines in 1963 for failing to host the FIBA Worlds because of then Pres. Diosdado Macapagal’s refusal to allow entry of players from communist countries. Another suspension came in 2001 because of the power struggle within the BAP’s hierarchy. Well, controversy and other related maladies come in threes, so again in 2005, we were awarded another suspension, this time caused by the rift between the POC and BAP.

China joined the tournament in the 1975 Bangkok edition and won the title in its debut. They dominated and won the next four stagings before Team PH broke their streak in 1985. They had another 5-title streak beginning in 1987 to 1995 when Korea decided to join the title column in 1997.

A very young Yao Ming, Wang Zhizhi and Menke Bateer led the Chinese domination from 1999 to 2005. In 2007, Iran got fed up seeing China always at the podium and rightfully claimed supremacy up to the moment. They are the defending champions and if they make it this time, it will be Iran’s third straight FIBA Asia crown.

China has the most number of FIBA Asia championships with 14 followed by the Philippines with 5, Japan (1965, 1971), Korea (1969, 1997) and Iran (2007, 2009) with two titles each. 

The Philippines is in Group D with China, Bahrain and UAE. They played UAE yesterday, will play China tonight at 8pm and go up against Bahrain tomorrow at 11am.

The 16 teams in this tournament are grouped into four groups of four. The top 3 teams from each group advances to the second round where they will be divided into two groups of six. The top four from each group advances to the third round (the elite eight) where every game is a must-win.

Bahrain, Malaysia and Syria are back in the tournament this year after missing previous editions. Except Bahrain and Indonesia, all the other participating nations have FIBA rankings with China having the highest rank at 10. Iran follows at #20, Lebanon #24, Qatar #29, Korea #31, Jordan #32, Japan #33, Chinese Taipei #41, Uzbekistan and India at #50, Philippines #53, Syria #58, UAE #67 and Malaysia at #70.

Since the Arab nations joined the tournament, it has become an uphill battle for Team PH and this year will be no different, even with additional PBA reinforcements. But playing for flag and country brings another kind high and no matter how massive the odds, somehow we always find solutions. Go Pilipinas!

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