MANILA (Enzo Flojo's Asia on My Mind) - The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers begin next week, and it will be a grand platform for the region's brightest stars to make a lot of noise.
In this week's column, I will look at one key player for each team and see how significant he will be in shaping the fortunes of his country at the first Asian Qualifiers window.
Mitch Creek (Australia)
Creek is not a traditional big name for the Boomers, but his performance at the recent FIBA Asia Cup 2017 made a helluva lot of heads turn. The 1.98m wingman scored double-digits in every game, spearheading the Aussies to a tournament sweep and to the top place on the podium. There is no doubt he will remain as one of Australia's leaders at the Asian Qualifiers, and he may have a bone to pick as well after missing out on the All-Star Five at the Asia Cup.
Ding Yanyuhang (China)
The Asian Qualifiers next week will test just how well China's framework of having two national teams will work, and at the forefront will be Ding, an explosive guard who was named CBA Most Valuable Player in the 2016-2017 season. He was not around for China at the Asia Cup, but he will be the main driving force for Team Dragon as they take on Hong Kong and bitter rivals Korea.
Quincy Davis (Chinese Taipei)
Another guy who missed the Asia Cup was Davis, the 2.03m naturalized center of Chinese Taipei. He was sidelined by an injury a few months back, but he is reportedly healthy enough to anchor the Taipei quintet's cause next week. Surrounding him will be a bevy of the country's rising stars who are expected to fill the void left by the likes of Lin Chih-Chieh and Chen Shih-Chieh. Still, much of Taipei's chances are hinged on how dominant Davis will be in the middle.
Duncan Reid (Hong Kong)
Speaking of men in the middle, Hong Kong will have their own key center in Duncan Reid, who is currently seeing action in the CBA for the Zhejiang Golden Bulls. The 2.05m big man was solid for Hong Kong with 11.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists per contest, and for sure they are hoping he can be at least as effective when they face the mighty Chinese and Tall Blacks at the Asian Qualifiers. The worrisome fact right now, however, is that he has yet to join even one of the national team's practices.
Vishesh Bhriguvanshi (India)
A knee injury severely limited the star Indian guard at the Asia Cup, where he played just one game. He has been the Young Cagers' most consistent performer for the past handful of years, and with the inclusion of do-it-all forward Amjyot Singh in doubt, there will be even more pressure on Bhriguvanshi to carry the load for India. If his recovery is on track and he can muster his old effectiveness, then we should not be shocked if he puts up big numbers next week.
Mohammad Jamshidi (Iran)
Everyone associates Iran with the gigantic Hamed Haddadi, but one guy nobody can look past is Jamshidi, who joined Haddadi in the Asia Cup 2017 All-Star Five. The 1.98m wingman was absolutely brilliant for Team Melli at the continental tournament, averaging 16.0 points, 4.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He will surely be their best perimeter option when they take on Iraq and Qatar, and his production should be a barometer of how well they will do.
Demario Mayfield (Iraq)
One of the players who will definitely be tasked to stop Jamshidi is Iraq's naturalized player Demario Mayfield. The 1.96m swingman was supposed to debut for the Iraqis at the Asia Cup, but veteran Kevin Galloway took his place. This time around, however, it looks like the 26-year-old will get his chance to play at the highest level of Asian hoops. He starred for local club team Al Nift Baghdad in the 2016-2017 season of Iraq's pro circuit, notching 29.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game, so he may just leave a profound impact at next week's games.
Yuki Togashi (JPN)
Togashi only started to play at the FIBA Asia level this year, but he has left quite the impression. He wowed the crowds at the Asia Cup with his quickness and shooting, and both should be among his main weapons when the Akatsuki Five tussle with the Philippines and Australia at the first window. His expected matchups with the likes of Jayson Castro, Terrence Romeo and Jason Cadee can easily turn into track meets and shoot-outs, and those should be very fun to watch.
Mahmoud Abdeen (Jordan)
Abdeen is the next in a long line of star guards for Jordan. Following the likes of Sam Daghlas, Rasheim Wright and Wesam Al Sous is no mean feat, and that is exactly what Abdeen is expected to do when Al Nashama take on West Asia rivals Syria and Lebanon. Abdeen gave a very good account of himself at the Asia Cup this year, leading Jordan in scoring and waxing hot from long range, but he will need to pull out something extra if they are to sweep both their assignments at the first window.
Anatoliy Kolesnikov (Kazakhstan)
The 2.00m Kolesnikov was the second-best scorer for Kazakhstan at the FIBA Asia Cup 2015, and his return to the national team for the Asian Qualifiers is both urgent and much awaited. His size and skill-set make him a potential matchup nightmare for opposing teams, and it will be interesting to see what kind of impact he will make when the Kazakhs face off with the Qataris and Iraqis. They should come out with at least one win after the first window, but a lot of it will depend on how well Kolesnikov plays.
Oh SeKeun (Korea)
After missing out on the 2013 and 2015 editions of the FIBA Asia Cup, the 2.00m forward-center reminded everyone of his potency in Beirut this past August, leading Korea with 16.0 points per game to go along with 5.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals per contest. With star center Kim JongKyu reportedly hampered by injury, the onus will be on SeKeun to continue being the national team's main man on both ends of the floor. He will be tested, though, by the deep frontlines of both New Zealand and China.
Ali Haidar (Lebanon)
The 2.01m big man has made a big impact for Lebanon ever since debuting for Cedars in the 2015 FIBA Asia Cup. He was both an offensive spark and a defensive dynamo for the national team in their impressive showing at the Asia Cup this year, and there is no doubt that he remains one of their vital cogs heading into their important fixtures against India and Jordan next week. Haidar's rebounding, shot-blocking and inside scoring will be crucial as the Lebanese shoot for a 2-0 slate after the first window.
Shea Ili (New Zealand)
The 25-year-old Tall Black playmaker doesn't make many headlines unlike some of the bigger names in Asia, but what he lacks in hype, he more than makes up for in production. The 1.83m floor general was New Zealand's leading scorer at the Asia Cup in Beirut this past August, and he should still be among their best weapons in the Asian Qualifiers, where they will collide with dangerous Korea and upstarts Hong Kong. Ili has the talent to dominate in both contests, and if he plays true to form, then the Tall Blacks should be in great shape to bring in two Ws.
June Mar Fajardo (Philippines)
The 2.05m Fajardo is perhaps the most decorated player who will see action at the Asian Qualifiers next week, having won four straight PBA Most Valuable Player plums from 2014 to 2017, but the Cebu-born center has yet to make a splash in the international scene. He is set to do that when Gilas Pilipinas play Japan and Chinese Taipei next week, though he will have to be in nothing less than his most stellar form against marquee frontcourt players like Kosuke Takeuchi, Quincy Davis and Tseng Wen-Ting.
Abdulrahman Saad (Qatar)
Do not be fooled by Saad's youth. Despite being just 21 years of age, the 1.85m guard has already become Qatar's brightest star. He led the national team with 20.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game at the Asia Cup, and he has been among the most exciting young players in the continent since exploding onto the scene in the FIBA U18 Asia Championship 2014. Nobody should be surprised if he unloads on both Kazakhstan and Iran when Al Annabi go up against them next week.
Tarek Al-Jabi (SYR)
Micheal Madanly has long been the face of Syrian basketball, but 27-year-old Al-Jabi may just take that mantle sooner rather than later. The 1.84m guard was Syria's second-best scorer at the Asia Cup 2017, dropping 17.8 points per game while shooting a scorching 60.0% from the field. He will most certainly be a marked man at Syria's Asian Qualifiers games against Jordan and India next week, but if he can find a way to be productive again, then they have a shot at notching a win or two.
Enzo Flojo
FIBA
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