Latest news with #FibaAsiaCup
South China Morning Post
24-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong basketball chiefs remain hopeful despite dismal Fiba Asia qualifying campaign
Hong Kong basketball bosses insisted they were still on the right track despite the men's team racking up a sixth straight defeat to end a miserable Fiba Asia Cup qualifying campaign. Advertisement A 99-83 loss to Chinese Taipei at Tsuen Wan Sports Centre on Sunday marked the end of the road for Hong Kong, after they scraped through the pre-qualifiers with wins over Singapore and Malaysia. The result means Hong Kong not only miss out on the main event again – after failing to advance in 2022 – but they seem doomed to start at the pre-qualifying stage once more for the next regional tournament. Indonesia, Guam and Mongolia are expected to be among Hong Kong's potential opponents after also being knocked out in the same stage. Still, Benny Chau Chi-yan, vice-president of the Basketball Association of Hong Kong, China, said it would be a 'tough' route to battle through. 'Mongolia are actively developing regular basketball [after previously working on the 3x3 version], they have the players and resources available,' he said. 'There is little or no chance against Indonesia after they recruited a few naturalised players – basically Americans. Hong Kong's Vancouver-born Glen Yang holds off New Zealand's Reuben Te Rangi. Photo: Elson Li 'For now, I think Mongolia are the exception [in the region] when it comes to naturalising players.'
South China Morning Post
20-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Philippines' shock loss adds to Hong Kong woe as city's Fiba Asia Cup hopes end
Even the small-scale Tsuen Wan Sports Centre proved on the large side for Hong Kong's men's basketball team on Thursday as they suffered a 92-51 defeat by New Zealand. The 41-point pounding by the Tall Blacks in Group B left the Hongkongers still winless after their first five Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers, with a match against Chinese Taipei still to come on Sunday. Playing in front of some empty seats at the 700-capacity arena, the home team took up the challenge of the visitors' pre-game haka by making a spirited start, scoring on their first six possessions to take a brief 12-11 lead. The New Zealanders responded with a 15-9 run to set the tone. Shooting almost 65 per cent from behind the arc in the opening half, they led 52-33 by the break. Hong Kong's Tsang Cham-yuen tries to shoot despite the efforts of Taylor Britt. Photo: Elson Li Ranked No 3 in the region, the away team, who had already qualified, stayed in control even if the pace slowed. Hong Kong, ranked 23 places below them, were limited to four points in the final quarter.
South China Morning Post
06-02-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
NBA prospect Muoka cannot play for Hong Kong until he gives up UK passport
David Muoka, the first Hongkonger to win an NBA contract, cannot currently represent the city after he was told to give up his British passport to acquire one in his hometown. It means that the Hong Kong team will have to contest this month's Fiba Asia Cup qualifying matches without their long-anticipated addition. Sources with information on the development confirmed to the Post that Muoka, who plays for the Windy City Bulls, an affiliate of the Chicago Bulls, would not be eligible for this month's matches against New Zealand and Chinese Taipei. They said he would continue playing in the NBA's development competition, the G League. 'He needs to renounce his British passport first, but with the G League season going on, he won't be able to do that,' a source said, before explaining that changing passport would invalidate his US visa. David Muoka cannot join Hong Kong's squad for the time being. Photo: Handout 'Muoka first entered the United States on a British passport. If he renounced it and re-entered the US with a Hong Kong passport, he might not be able to continue playing straight away.
