This summer, Jeddah will captivate visitors not only with its delicious cuisine and crystal-clear waters but also with thrilling basketball battles. From August 5 to 17, Saudi Arabia’s seaside capital will host the 31st edition of the FIBA Asia Cup.
The global betting company 1xBet, an official FIBA partner, has prepared a preview highlighting the tournament’s main storylines, top favorites, and dark horses of the regional championship.
2025 FIBA Asia Cup format
The participants are divided into 4 groups of 4. The top 2 teams from each group will move on to the playoffs. Every win is crucial—just one small mistake could cost a team a spot in the quarterfinals.
Top favorites
Despite its key players being tired after the NBA playoffs, Australia remains the top favorite for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup. A deep bench gives the Boomers plenty of rotation options. Australia won the last two Asia Cups and is determined to make a hat-trick.
A nice bonus for Australian fans is the return of Ben Simmons to the team. The Clippers’ point guard, along with Giddey, Daniels, Dellavedova, and Ingles, will put on an unforgettable basketball show in Jeddah.
Neutral fans will definitely root for the Philippines—the most charismatic team with a strong spirit and will to win. If they manage to include Jordan Clarkson in the tournament, their aggressive tactics with lightning-fast attacks and intense pressing will gain new energy. This controlled chaos on the court could lead the Philippines to their first FIBA Asia Cup win since 1985.
In the last competition’s final, Lebanon fought hard against unstoppable Australia and lost by only 2 points (75–73). At the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup, the team proved that no opponent is too big for them and they can compete equally even with NBA stars.
Lebanon’s coaching staff is betting on team-based play and dazzling ball movement. Point guard Wael Arakji stands out as the main creative force who runs the team’s offense. Strong defensive discipline could be the X-factor that leads Lebanon to victory. However, the team lacks bench depth for rotation.
Who could be the biggest surprise of 2025 FIBA Asia Cup
China is a 16-time FIBA Asia Cup champion and the most decorated team in the tournament’s history. However, Team Dragon is going through a tough period and, after a poor showing at the Olympics, decided to part ways with famous Serbian coach Aleksandar Đorđević.
The Chinese Basketball Association is betting on Guo Shiqiang, who played for China in the 2000s. He faces a tough challenge: leading a generational change while still meeting serious goals in the competition.
Jordan is another dark horse in the contest. The team is known for its powerful style of play and talented shooters who can hit accurate three-pointers from long range.
At the last FIBA Asia Cup, New Zealand won bronze and is determined to fight for the title in Jeddah. The biggest loss for the Tall Blacks is center Stephen Adams of the Houston Rockets, who will miss the contest. However, New Zealand’s team includes many other players with plenty of high-level experience. For example, point guard Corey Webster, who entered the NBA draft in 2010 but was never selected. Still, that didn’t stop him from building a successful career with top clubs in New Zealand, Greece, Israel, and Egypt.
Saudi Arabia: tournament hosts’ ambitions
The Kingdom is steadily moving toward becoming the region’s sports center. Saudi Arabia hosted the Formula 1 Grand Prix, and its local football league outshone European giants with big transfers like Cristiano Ronaldo, a 5-time Ballon d’Or winner, coming to Al-Nassr. Now, after 28 years, the Kingdom will host Asia’s top basketball competition.
Saudi Arabia has little chance of reaching the playoffs, but with home crowd support, the team could pull off a miracle and become the tournament’s biggest surprise.
The 2025 FIBA Asia Cup will have a big impact on basketball development in the region. Many teams’ projects will be tested: China’s rebuild, the Philippines’ dream, Australia’s talent pipeline, and Saudi Arabia’s ambitions. Every game in the tournament is an important piece in the puzzle of Asia’s sports growth.
The global betting company 1xBet focuses on the Asian market and closely follows its trends. In recent years, interest in basketball has surged in the region. That’s why the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup is a great chance to earn with 1xPartners.
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