2018 International Basketball Thread

[awhom111]

Qualifying started in Asia again today. Australia is the first team to officially qualify as they beat Iran 76-47 led by former collegians as Daniel Johnson had 12 points and Mitch McCarron had 11 points. Japan's surge up the standings continued with an 85-47 win over Qatar with 19 points and 10 rebounds from naturalized player Nick Fazekas. Kazakhstan kept themselves from falling too far behind and prevented teams from the eastern half from a home sweep as they beat the Philippines 92-88. The infamous Stanley Pringle, who is technically occupying the naturalized player spot due to rules I despise, had 29 points and Marcio Lassiter, who also has American ties, had 13 points.
http://www.fiba.basketball/basketbal...n#tab=boxscore
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http://www.fiba.basketball/basketbal...n#tab=boxscore
Standings: Australia 8-1, Iran 6-3, Philippines 5-4, Japan 5-4, Kazakhstan 4-5, Qatar 2-7

Group L play in Europe started early since Israel was hosting as they prevented Serbia from pulling away from the bottom half of the group by winning 83-74 with 14 points from former collegian Jake Cohen. In the loss, ex-NBA player Miroslav Raduljica had 12 points and 9 rebounds. The two undefeated teams had already qualified, but still played a good game with Greece beating Germany 92-84. Georgia eliminated Estonia 80-73 as naturalized player Thad McFadden had 19 points.
http://www.fiba.basketball/basketbal...a#tab=boxscore
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http://www.fiba.basketball/basketbal...a#tab=boxscore
Standings: Greece 9-0, Germany 8-1, Serbia 5-4, Georgia 4-5, Israel 4-5, Estonia 2-7

In Group K, France got a test from the already-qualified Czech Republic, but got 18 points from former collegian Amath M'Baye and secured their own place with a 79-65 win. The winner of Finland-Russia would end the day in the last qualifying spot and it took overtime for Russia to win 77-75. Alex Murphy was not in the squad, but his brother Erik was while Shawn Huff had 24 points and Jamar Wilson, who is naturalized by marriage, had 14 points. Bulgaria lurks behind those two teams after beating Bosnia and Herzegovina 89-82.
http://www.fiba.basketball/basketbal...e#tab=boxscore
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http://www.fiba.basketball/basketbal...a#tab=boxscore
Standings: France 8-1, Czech Republic 7-2, Russia 5-4, Finland 4-5, Bulgaria 4-5, Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-7

Only one of the groups in Africa is playing at this time to minimize costs for the federations involved as the teams of Group E will play the rest of their games this weekend in Angola. Tunisia did not slow down even as qualified undefeated teams, beating Morocco 89-51. Egypt eliminated Chad 85-58 to improve their chances as former collegian Omar Oraby had 10 points. Angola needed all the help in Luanda to beat Cameroon 77-73 and remain in a qualification place as players who spent time in the United States led the way with 22 points from Carlos Morais and 13 points and 9 rebounds from Yanick Moreira. Players with American ties also figured in the loss as Kenny Kadji had 14 points and Arnaud William Adala Moto had 13 points and 7 rebounds.
http://www.fiba.basketball/basketbal...o#tab=boxscore
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Standings: Tunisia 10-0, Angola 7-3, Egypt 6-4, Cameroon 5-5, Chad 3-7, Morocco 3-7

The day ended with Americas Group F as Brazil beat the Dominican Republic 100-82. The hosts are still relying on some of their old former NBA players as Leandro Barbosa had 20 points, Marcus Vinicius had 13 points, and Anderson Varejao had 12 points and 9 rebounds while former collegian Gerardo Suero had 12 points in the loss. Venezuela beat Canada 84-76 as both teams knew that a win would virtually secure qualification even if not officially. The hosts have a number of former collegians as Dwight Lewis had 14 points, Greg Echenique had 10 points and 12 rebounds, and Nestor Colmenares had 10 points and 7 rebounds. Even without their NBA players and R.J. Barrett, the visitors had a number of players with experience in the United States as Kyle Wiltjer had 21 points, Brady Heslip had 14 points, and Joel Anthony had 11 points and 10 rebounds. Two teams should be eliminated now as Chile got 17 points from recent college grad Manny Suarez to beat the US Virgin Islands 81-63 and complete a sweep for the teams from the southern half. As always, the visitors had trouble fielding a full roster, but did get all of their big stars, all of whom have spent time on the mainland as Ivan Aska had 22 points and 7 rebounds, Georgio Milligan had 19 points, and Walter Hodge had 11 points.
http://www.fiba.basketball/basketbal...s#tab=boxscore
http://www.fiba.basketball/basketbal...a#tab=boxscore
http://www.fiba.basketball/basketbal...c#tab=boxscore
Standings: Venezuela 8-1, Canada 7-2, Brazil 7-2, Dominican Republic 5-4, Chile 2-7, US Virgin Islands 2-7

There is still one more day of games to be played on Saturday, but the four teams advancing from Eastern Asia pre-qualifying are set. The first game of the day was the one that was likely to be the most important as Indonesia beat Singapore 67-57 with 13 points from American-born Arki Wisnu and 12 points and 10 rebounds from naturalized player Jamarr Johnson and later found out that they had secured a place. Moses Morgan had 25 points and 12 rebounds for hosts Thailand as they qualified by beating Malaysia 79-75. Undefeated Guam kept Macau winless 97-64 to end the day. Earnest Ross had 17 points, Mekeli, the oldest Wesley brother on the roster, had 15 points and 9 rebounds, and Tai Wesley had 12 points and 12 rebounds.
http://www.fiba.basketball/asiacup/2...a#tab=boxscore
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Standings: Guam 4-0, Thailand 3-1, Malaysia 3-1, Indonesia 2-2, Singapore 0-4, Macau 0-4

[awhom111]

The United States will try to officially clinch a spot again on Sunday when they visit Uruguay.

The only place with qualifiers today was Africa Group E in Angola. Egypt got 16 points and 13 rebounds from former collegian Omar Oraby to come back and hand Tunisia their first loss 73-64 in overtime to greatly improve their chances. Cameroon had to battle, but beat Morocco 63-57 with 20 points and 7 rebounds from former collegian Arnaud William Adala Moto to set up a big final game against Egypt that could determine the last team to qualify from the continent. The hosts beat Chad 90-50 to officially qualify as Carlos Morais had 14 points, Yanick Moreira had 13 points and 10 rebounds, and naturalized player Reggie Moore had 11 points.
http://www.fiba.basketball/basketbal...1#tab=boxscore
http://www.fiba.basketball/basketbal...n#tab=boxscore
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Standings: Tunisia 10-1, Angola 8-3, Egypt 7-4, Cameroon 6-5, Chad 3-8, Morocco 3-8

Eastern Asia pre-qualifiers finished with no games having further bearing on the process after the previous day's games. Guam did finish unbeaten, which makes them an interesting story in the next round as they beat Malaysia 101-78. Earnest Ross had 33 points, Daren Hechanova had 11 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists, and Russell Wesley had 10 points and 12 rebounds. Indonesia beat hosts Thailand 71-65 to form a tie between three Southeast Asia teams as Arki Wisnu had 17 points and 6 rebounds and naturalized player Jamarr Johnson had 11 points and 8 rebounds. Moses Morgan had 35 points in the loss. Singapore kept Macau winless to end the tournament, coming back to win 96-93.
http://www.fiba.basketball/asiacup/2...a#tab=boxscore
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Standings: Guam 5-0, Malaysia 3-2, Thailand 3-2, Indonesia 3-2, Singapore 1-4, Macau 0-5

[awhom111]

The United States found themselves with another tough battle in Uruguay, but won 78-70 to officially qualify. Ex-NBA player Esteban Batista had 10 points and 7 rebounds in the loss.
http://www.fiba.basketball/basketbal...A#tab=boxscore

Elsewhere in Group E, Puerto Rico rallied in the second half to beat Panama 71-70. A number of players who played collegiately on the mainland featured as Alex Franklin had 14 points and 6 rebounds, Jorge Bryan Diaz had 11 points and 8 rebounds, Gary Browne had 11 points, and David Huertas had 10 points. The hosts also had players with American ties as Michael Hicks had 12 points and Javier Carter had 11 points and 6 assists. Argentina qualified by beating Mexico 85-71, relying on their ex-NBA players again as Luis Scola had 22 points and 9 rebounds, Nico Laprovittola had 13 points, and Nico Brussino had 12 points.
http://www.fiba.basketball/basketbal...o#tab=boxscore
http://www.fiba.basketball/basketbal...o#tab=boxscore
Standings: Argentina 9-1, United States 8-2, Uruguay 6-4, Puerto Rico 6-4, Panama 4-6, Mexico 3-7

Qualifying started in Asia with Group E playing late Saturday night United States time. New Zealand clinched first, beating Syria 97-74 with a number of former collegians contributing as Tom Abercrombie had 15 points and Alex Pledger and Ethan Rusbatch had 11 points each. South Korea got 13 points and 16 rebounds from naturalized player Ricardo Ratliffe to win 88-67 and secure qualification. Jordan got 20 points from naturalized player Dar Tucker as they still remain outside the qualification places. Ex-NBA player Yi Jianlian had 15 points and 8 rebounds as China beat Lebanon 72-52, which got 14 points from former collegian Ahmad Ibrahim.
http://www.fiba.basketball/basketbal...a#tab=boxscore
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http://www.fiba.basketball/basketbal...n#tab=boxscore
Standings: New Zealand 9-1, South Korea 8-2, China 6-4, Lebanon 6-4, Jordan 5-5, Syria 2-8

Africa Group E wrapped up in Angola. Cameroon needed to beat Egypt and flip the tiebreaker to keep their hopes alive, which they did with an 80-60 win as former collegian Arnaud William Adala Moto had 10 points and 8 rebounds. If Central African Republic and Ivory Coast each lose a game in Group F play in February, then Cameroon will not need any tiebreakers to secure the continent's last spot. Morocco beat Chad 62-45 in a meaningless game. Angola and Tunisia also played with nothing on the line, but the hosts did give the home fans a 69-63 win as former Georgia prepster Carlos Morais had 17 points and naturalized player Reggie Moore had 11 points.
http://www.fiba.basketball/basketbal...n#tab=boxscore
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http://www.fiba.basketball/basketbal...a#tab=boxscore
Standings: Tunisia 10-2, Angola 9-3, Cameroon 7-5, Egypt 7-5, Morocco 4-8, Chad 3-9

In Europe Group I, Slovenia had Latvia on the ropes, but the visitors came back to win 82-77. Spain officially clinched their place, beating Ukraine 72-68 as former collegian Sebas Saiz had 12 points. In the loss, former collegian Volodymyr Gerun and ex-NBA player Slava Kravtsov had 10 points each as they still have a reasonable schedule for taking the last spot in the group. Montenegro still controls its destiny as 17 points and 12 rebounds from former draft pick Bojan Dubljevic got them a 71-66 win over Turkey with, which qualified after securing all the tiebreakers in case they also lose their last two games. In the loss, ex-NBA player Semih Erden had 14 points and 6 rebounds, former collegian Dogus Balbay had 14 points, and naturalized player Scottie Wilbekin had 13 points.
http://www.fiba.basketball/basketbal...a#tab=boxscore
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Standings: Spain 8-2, Turkey 7-3, Montenegro 6-4, Latvia 6-4, Ukraine 5-5, Slovenia 2-8

In Group F, Hungary prevailed 91-86 in overtime to eliminate the Netherlands and keep their own chances alive as naturalized player Darrin Govins had 15 points. Former collegians figured in the loss, as Thomas van der Mars had 19 points and 11 rebounds, Charlon Kloof had 14 points and 7 assists, and Shane Hammink had 10 points. Lithuania stopped their generosity, beating Croatia 79-62 with 15 points from former draft pick Renaldas Seibutis while former draft pick Tomislav Zubcic had 11 points in the loss. Poland sits in the last spot after beating Italy 94-78 as former NBA player Maciej Lampe had 22 points and 8 rebounds and naturalized player A.J. Slaughter had 10 points and 11 assists. In the loss, Christian Burns, who is naturalized by marriage, and former draft pick Alessandro Gentile had 10 points each.
http://www.fiba.basketball/basketbal...s#tab=boxscore
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Standings: Lithuania 9-1, Italy 7-3, Poland 6-4, Hungary 5-5, Croatia 4-6, Netherlands 3-7

EuroBasket pre-qualification also continued as Austria is in solid position in Group D after an 81-71 win over Cyprus with 20 points and 8 rebounds from naturalized player Sylven Landesberg. In the loss, former collegian Nikolaos Stylianou had 19 points and naturalized Tyrell Biggs had 14 points and 6 rebounds. Macedonia is the clear leader in Group B after beating Kosovo 78-68 as naturalized player Shane Whittington had 15 points and 6 rebounds while former collegian Lis Shoshi had 18 points and 15 rebounds in the loss. In Group C, Belgium is in control after a 70-60 win in Portugal. Group A is much more convoluted as Belarus picked up their first win and handed Denmark its first loss 84-79. In the win, former collegian Artsioum Parakhouski had 18 points and 10 rebounds and naturalized player Devon Saddler had 11 points and 8 rebounds while former collegian Jonathan Gilling had 22 points and 6 rebounds.
http://www.fiba.basketball/eurobaske...a#tab=boxscore
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[awhom111]

The final day of qualifying of the year started in Asia Group F with Australia beating Qatar 110-59 as former collegians were involved with Cam Gliddon providing 17 points and David Barlow adding 12 points. Japan then beat Kazakhstan 86-70 with 41 points from naturalized player Nick Fazekas. The Philippines was again the only team from the Eastern half to lose, falling 78-70 to Iran, which should feel safe now. Christian Stanhardinger, who is technically occupying the naturalized player spot, had 17 points and 8 rebounds and Marcio Lassiter, a former collegian who was allowed back into the national team by his club in an effort to create unity in the country after fallout from the brawl, had 12 points and 7 assists.
http://www.fiba.basketball/basketbal...r#tab=boxscore
http://www.fiba.basketball/basketbal...n#tab=boxscore
http://www.fiba.basketball/basketbal...n#tab=boxscore
Standings: Australia 9-1, Iran 7-3, Japan 6-4, Philippines 5-5, Kazakhstan 4-6, Qatar 2-8

In Europe Group K, Russia beat the Czech Republic 81-61 to retain control of the last spot and just as importantly won a battle with Ukraine for the services of Joel Bolomboy, who had 15 points and 6 rebounds after picking the country of his mother of the country of his birth. In a meaningless game, France beat Bulgaria 77-53 with 17 points from former G League player Yakuba Ouattara and 10 points and 6 rebounds from former draft pick Mathias Lessort. Finland was staring at likely elimination, but then stormed back late to beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 81-77 as former draft pick Petteri Koponen had 18 points, Jamar Wilson, who is naturalized by marriage, had 15 points, and former collegian Shawn Huff had 11 points.
http://www.fiba.basketball/basketbal...c#tab=boxscore
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Standings: France 9-1, Czech Republic 7-3, Russia 6-4, Finland 5-5, Bulgaria 4-6, Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-8

In Group L, Georgia edged Israel 71-69 in overtime to have the best chance at sneaking into the last spot as former collegian Jake Cohen had 22 points and 8 rebounds in the loss. Germany beat Estonia 87-70 with 13 points from former collegian Niels Giffey in a meaningless game. Serbia is still in the last position after handing Greece their first loss 84-61 as ex-NBA player Miroslav Raduljica and former draft pick Vasilije Micic had 13 points and 6 assists each.
http://www.fiba.basketball/basketbal...l#tab=boxscore
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Standings: Greece 9-1, Germany 9-1, Serbia 6-4, Georgia 5-5, Israel 4-6, Estonia 2-8

One game in Europe's pre-qualifying was played as Cyprus hosted Great Britain in a makeup game for before it was known that Cyprus would replace Armenia in this group. The visitors got 14 points from Ovie Soko and 12 points and 7 rebounds from Gabe Olaseni among their contingent of former collegians to win 75-61 while naturalized player Tyrell Biggs had 16 points in the loss.
http://www.fiba.basketball/eurobaske...n#tab=boxscore

In the Americas Group F, Canada was the latest team to qualify after an impressive 94-67 win in Brazil. Players with American experience were key as Kyle Wiltjer had 25 points and 7 rebounds, Kyle Landry had 10 points and 7 rebounds, and Duane Notice had 10 points. The US Virgin Islands were finally able to able to host a home game after the hurricane and they played well before losing to Venezuela 77-76. As usual, they relied on players with time spent on the mainland as Georgio Milligan had 22 points and 13 rebounds, Walter Hodge had 20 points, Jamaal Samuel had 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Ivan Aska had 14 points and 8 rebounds while former message board recruiting adventure Greg Echenique had 14 points and 15 rebounds. The Dominican Republic took care of business to still be in the running as they beat Chile 74-65, although former collegian Manny Suarez did have 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 blocks.
http://www.fiba.basketball/basketbal...a#tab=boxscore
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http://www.fiba.basketball/basketbal...c#tab=boxscore
Standings: Venezuela 9-1, Canada 8-2, Brazil 7-3, Dominican Republic 6-4, Chile 2-8, US Virgin Islands 2-8

[JasonEvans]

In the Americas Group F, Canada was the latest team to qualify after an impressive 94-67 win in Brazil. Players with American experience were key as Kyle Wiltjer had 25 points and 7 rebounds, Kyle Landry had 10 points and 7 rebounds, and Duane Notice had 10 points.

I would expect the real Team Canada to prominently feature RJ when it suits up at the World Cup in August of 2019. That team will be one of the strongest challengers to the US squad. I would expect Team Canada to feature Jamal Murray, RJ Barrett, Andrew Wiggins, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tristan Thompson, Kelly Olynyk, and a few other legit NBA players. The backcourt will be fine, but I suspect they will struggle to match up with the US big men.

[awhom111]

National team play continued around the world before the end of the year. Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea hosted both Oceania U15 tournaments as we are hopefully moving away from these formats in the near future. Tonga withdrew before the events, which finished on Saturday. The two finalists in each tournament qualify for next year's U16 Asia Championship.

On the boys' side, Australia avenged a loss to New Zealand and edged the final 61-58.
Final Standings:
Australia
New Zealand
Samoa
Guam
Papua New Guinea
Fiji

On the girls' side, Australia dominated beating New Zealand 110-30.
Final Standings:
Australia
New Zealand
Samoa
Fiji
Papua New Guinea

[awhom111]

National team play wrapped up for the year over the weekend in Hermosillo, Mexico with the U15 Boys' Centrobasket. Three spots were on the line for next year's Americas-wide tournament and there were no surprises, but the order is always interesting even though the teams are likely to be supplemented by players currently busy with school. With only five teams entered, the teams played a full round robin without any knockout games and the Dominican Republic won with a perfect record, followed by the hosts and then Puerto Rico.
Final Standings:
Dominican Republic
Mexico
Puerto Rico
Panama
Costa Rica