Asian Teams Struggle at 2023 FIBA World Cup: Philippines, China, Japan Crash Out at Group Stage

• Host nation Philippines crashed out of the FIBA World Cup after losing their three group games
• Japan were the only Asian team to record a win in the group stage, beating Finland by 10 points
• China, Iran, Jordan, and Lebanon also were eliminated after going winless in the group stage

Many expected Asian countries to put up a fight in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, with the quadrennial event being staged in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia.

That didn’t happen with all Asian nations eliminated at the group stage.

Sports Brief looks at the performances of these countries in the biggest basketball event of the year.

Philippines

The host nation entered the tournament with high expectations. They assembled arguably the strongest lineup in the country’s history, with NBA star Jordan Clarkson included in the squad as the Philippines’ naturalized player.

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They went toe-to-toe with the Dominican Republic in their group opener, even taking a three-point lead in the fourth quarter against the Karl-Anthony Towns-led team.

Unfortunately for the Filipinos, they collapsed down the stretch. They found it difficult to generate some offense after Clarkson fouled out late in the fourth quarter.

The Philippines ended up losing 87-81 to drop to 0-1 after Matchday 1.

They looked for a much better showing against Angola in Matchday 2. They started out strongly, grabbing a 28-17 lead over the African nation.

They failed to hold on to that advantage, with Angola taking a 36-33 lead at the end of the first half, per Olympics.com.

Angola stretched that lead to 16 points in the fourth quarter. They staved off a furious comeback by the Philippines late in the contest to record an 80-70 win.

The Philippines dropped to 0-2 after the loss.

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They needed a miracle in their group finale against Italy to advance to the Second Round.

The Philippines needed to beat Italy by 12 points to avoid elimination. That didn’t happen, with the Filipinos suffering a 90-83 loss.

They became the first host team since Colombia in the 1982 World Championships to lose their first three games in the tournament.

Japan

The host nation opened their World Cup campaign with an 81-63 loss to Germany. They had no answer for Mo Wagner, who scored 25 points and grabbed nine rebounds.

Japan bounced back strongly in their next group game, recording a stunning 98-88 win over Finland.

They battled back from 16 points down in the third quarter to record their first World Cup win since 2006.

Japan scored 35 points in the fourth quarter to shock Finland and improve their record to 1-1.

Unfortunately for Japan, they weren’t able to replicate that feat in their final group match against Australia.

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They lost 109-89 to the Boomers to crash out of the tournament.

China

China opened their World Cup campaign with a humiliating 105-63 loss to European powerhouse, Serbia.

Naturalized player, Kyle Anderson failed to score in his first World Cup game for the Chinese, who dropped to 0-1 after Matchday 1.

Things went from bad to worse for China in Matchday 2 as they suffered an 89-69 loss to South Sudan, a country that was only formed in 2011.

Former national team player, Sun Yue blasted China's performance after the game, per South China Morning Post.

China ended the group stage without a win as they absorbed a 107-89 loss to Puerto Rico on Wednesday.

Lebanon

Lebanon also finished the group stage without a win, losing to Latvia, Canada, and France by a combined 100 points.

Lebanon opened their World Cup campaign with a heavy 109-70 defeat against Latvia. They then suffered an embarrassing 128-73 loss to Canada in Matchday 2.

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They put up a fight against France in their group finale, but still ended up losing 85-79.

Iran

Iran also finished the group stage without a victory, absorbing defeats against Brazil, Ivory Coast, and Spain.

The Iranians started their World Cup campaign with a humiliating 100-59 loss to Brazil.

They nearly recorded a win in their next group game against Ivory Coast, losing by just two points, 71-69, after a controversial finish.

Iran suffered another defeat in their final group game against Spain, losing 85-65 to the European powerhouse.

Jordan

Jordan's campaign in the group stage ended without a win. They lost their opening game against Greece, 92-71.

They nearly recorded a victory in their next match against New Zealand, with Jordan losing 95-87 in overtime.

Jordan got crushed in their final game against Team USA, losing 110-62 to the tournament favorites.

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Sports Brief recently reported on the countries with the most FIBA World Cup wins.

TheUSA and the former Yugoslavia are tied at the top with five championships apiece.

The Soviet Union are in third with three titles won at the global basketball tourney.