Ex-champs China, Iran face uphill climb

China and Iran are expected to have a tough time regaining their elite status when they see action in the 33rd FIBA Asia Cup that started on Tuesday night (Manila time) at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah.

After dominating Asia and splitting the titles from 1999 to 2015, the Chinese and the Iranians appear to have completely lost their cloak of invincibility as they parade a crew of developing players in this prestigious continental showpiece.

In fact, the Chinese and the Iranians were the top dogs in Asia before Australia won the last two titles.

China, for one, will be seeing action without Yang Hansen and Zeng Fanbo, who both opted to stay in the United States in preparation for the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Taken by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 16th overall pick of the previous NBA Draft, the 7-foot-1 Yang was told to stay in Portland to further develop and get integrated to American basketball ahead of his NBA debut with the Trail Blazers.

On the same note, the 6-foot-11 Zeng will also not be around for China after signing an Exhibit 10 contract with the Brooklyn Nets.

Aside from Yang and Zeng, other quality players missing in the Chinese roster are Zhou Qi of the Houston Rockets and Cui Yongxi of the Brooklyn Nets as well as playmaker Zhao Jiwei and Zhang Zhenlin, who are both nursing injuries.

Chinese head coach Guo Shiqiang admitted that times have changed but they need to make do with the available personnel in their roster.

“The Asia Cup will be a difficult challenge for us with a lot of key players absent due to injuries,” said Guo, whose side has lifted the Asian title a record of 16 times.

“The biggest challenge is that we are shorthanded in the post position. It forced us to pick more younger players, though, which will provide them with more opportunities to be tested.”

Still, China is expected to put up a good fight with two-time Chinese Basketball Association Most Valuable Player Hu Jinqiu bannering the 12-man squad together with seasoned international bidders Zhao Rui, Hu Mingxuan and Xu Jie.

On the same note, the Iranians will be entering the Asia Cup without their powerhouse status.

Members of Iran’s golden generation like Hamed Haddadi, Samad Nikkhah Bahrami, Oshin Sahakian, Hamed Afagh and Mehdi Kamrani are all gone after winning three Asia Cup titles in 2007, 2009 and 2013, and were replaced by a group of young players that are still on their way to the top.

It’s going to be the first time for Team Melli to play without the 7-foot-4 Haddadi so it’s going to be interesting how its Greek coach, Sotiris Manolopoulos, will plug the giant hole in the middle.

Tasked to carry the Iranian hopes is 20-year-old Mohammad Amini, who plays for SLUC Nancy Basket in France, as well as veteran Arsalan Kazemi, who bridges the golden generation to this new crop of stars.

Also in the roster are Sina Vahedi, Navid Rezaeifar, and Matin Aghajanpour, who will be returning after leading Iran in the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Manila in 2023.

“We have to give our young players a chance,” Manolopoulos said.