Asian Games | Men's Basketball Preview: New Guards, Interior Pressure as China Face Tough Title Challenge

BEIJING, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Before the opening of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, the men's basketball competition will tip off first on Sept. 10. China's goal of competing for the title while using the event as preparation for the World Cup qualifiers remains unchanged. With veteran players leaving and newcomers joining, the backcourt has been refreshed while the interior faces significant pressure, and the road to the top remains full of strong challengers.

Yang Hansen and Zhao Jiwei, who previously played in the World Cup qualifiers, are absent and have been replaced by Yu Jiahao and Li Yuezhu. Forward Cui Yongxi replaced guard He Xining. China's final 12-man roster is: Cui Yongxi, Hu Jinqiu, Jiao Boqiao, Li Hongquan, Zhu Junlong, Zhao Jiayi, Liao Sanning, Hu Mingxuan, Li Yuezhu, Pang Zhenglin, Wang Junjie and Yu Jiahao.

Although the Asian Games men's basketball results do not affect World Cup qualification allocation and are not linked to Olympic qualification, China's goal remains to compete for every win while balancing current tournament results with long-term player development and optimizing personnel arrangements.

Overall, China's core lineup has not changed significantly. Most players competed in the Asian qualifiers for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup, where they defeated Qatar and Lebanon in the second stage. Their confidence is high, but returning to the top of Asia will not be easy.

On Aug. 31, China's player Liao Sanning (top) drives for a layup during the second stage of the Asian qualifiers for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Photo by Xinhua News Agency (Zhou Shengrong)

For China itself, pressure in the interior has increased. Yang Hansen is one of the team's most important tactical anchors, and his absence will test China's interior rim protection, playmaking and scoring abilities. Yu Jiahao recently underwent foot surgery and has remained in recovery, so whether he can quickly return to Asian Games form remains to be seen. Jiao Boqiao has limited international tournament experience, meaning the interior will rely more heavily on Hu Jinqiu's performance.

The backcourt for this Asian Games no longer includes Zhao Jiwei and Zhao Rui. Zhao Jiwei has been a stable and reliable on-court organizer for China's men's basketball team in recent years, while Zhao Rui provides the team with the ability to solve difficult moments through individual plays. Their absence presents challenges for tactical organization and controlling the pace at key moments, responsibilities that now fall on Hu Mingxuan, Liao Sanning, Pang Zhenglin and Li Yuezhu.

On Aug. 27, China's player Hu Mingxuan (front) drives during the second stage of the Asian qualifiers for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Photo by Xinhua News Agency (Niku)

With Cui Yongxi joining the team, China's wing rotation has been strengthened. He is also the only player on this roster with official NBA game experience, and his defensive mobility can further expand the team's tactical options.

In the group stage, the Philippines will undoubtedly be China's toughest opponent. In the Hangzhou Asian Games semifinal, China led by 18 points in the first half but suffered a comeback loss, falling 76-77 to miss the final. Although Clarkson, who had previously dominated games, cannot participate, the Philippines still has a roster featuring stars from the Philippine Basketball Association. Its aggressive offensive and defensive tempo, along with the speed and attacking ability of its guards, could still cause significant problems for China.

Host Japan will focus on developing young players at this Asian Games. Key players including Rui Hachimura, Yuta Watanabe, Yuki Kawamura, Josh Hawkinson, Yudai Baba, Keisei Tominaga and Makoto Hiejima are all absent. The first team is focusing on the World Cup and Olympic qualification tournaments, while the Asian Games roster mainly consists of B.League rotation players and university athletes. South Korea has become China's biggest rival for the gold medal. South Korea has retained a World Cup qualifier-level lineup, with key players including Lee Hyun-jung, Yeo Jun-seok and Lee Jung-hyun all participating, providing strong outside shooting. In two recent warm-up games against the Philippines, South Korea won 81-55 and 69-42, respectively, showing strong form. However, its interior strength is relatively limited, and if the teams meet in the knockout stage, the result could remain uncertain.

According to the schedule, the men's basketball competition will begin on Sept. 10. China is in Group C with the Philippines, Bahrain and Kazakhstan. China will play Kazakhstan in its opening game on Sept. 11, followed by matches against Bahrain and the Philippines on Sept. 12 and Sept. 14, respectively.