10 reasons to follow the SEABA Championship 2017
MANILA (SEABA Championship 2017) - The most high stakes SEABA Championship is about to begin, and seven teams will compete for the sub-zone's lone ticket to the FIBA Asia Cup 2017.
The action tips off on Friday at the storied Araneta Coliseum with six of the seven squads seeing action. Depleted Indonesia take on fancied Singapore in the opener before ballyhooed Thailand faces traditional heavyweights Malaysia. Defending champions and hosts Philippines end the day when they face off with mysterious Myanmar.
What are the most interesting storylines to follow in SEABA Championship 2017? We give you 10 reasons to follow the action in Metro Manila.
1. Fajardo's time to shine!
June Mar Fajardo has long lorded over the local pro league in the Phlippines, but he has yet to really make waves in the international scene. With no Hamed Haddadi, Zhou Qi and Kim JongKyu around, however, the three-time PBA Most Valuable Player has nobody standing in his way to absolutely decimating the competition. Many are expecting him to put up huge numbers as one Gilas Pilipinas's main weapons, and it seems like the time for him to shine is upon us.
2. Wuysang's last ride?
At 38 years old, Mario Wuysang of Indonesia is no longer as speedy and spry as he used to be, but despite losing a step or two, he certainly has the capacity to contribute in many other departments. He remains as Indonesia's top playmaker, and one of Timnas Basket's deadliest shooters. The big question for Wuysand and Indonesia, though, is this — is this tournament the last ride for Wuysang, especially if Indonesia fall short of the championship, or will we see him again maybe in the Southeast Asian Games this August?
3. Thais targeting an upset!
Thailand have come close to pulling the rug from under the Filipinos multiple times in the past couple of years, and maybe, just maybe, this time around they'll be able to achieve what was once unthinkable. Even without some big names like Tyler Lamb or Moses Morgan, Thailand are a dangerous bunch. Many of the elite players from their pro ranks fill up the national team's roster, and they are all but confident that they can hang with the Filipinos. Sure, all things considered, the Philippines should still be head and shoulders ahead of Thailand, but on a good day, if the Thai shooters heat up, who knows, right?
4. Goh's coming out party!
Delvin Goh has long been a "project" for Singapore, but it seems like he is finally reaping the rewards of constant exposure to high levels of international play. Goh's play, especially in the most recent ASEAN Basketball League, has turned a lot of heads, and it is apparent that he is more confident now than he ever was. He will be Singapore's rock in the middle, and it'll be fascinating to watch him really break out of his shell. Don't be surprised if he registers more than a couple double-doubles!
5. Malaysia's youth movement!
It's a little disappointing that Malaysia did not bring along a good number of their big guns, but they have to be given credit for putting forth a youthful side that will, hopefully, gain invaluable experience for their future development. Veteran coach Goh Cheng Huat is surely aware of how difficult it will be for his team to notch more than a couple of wins in this tournament, but that will probably secondary to the growth of his wards in terms of skill and competitiveness.
6. Vietnam rising!
Basketball is rapidly creating a strong following in Vietnam, and if their national team performs well in this competition, it will definitely ignite a firestorm of hype back home. That will be easier said than done, however, especially with so many of their marquee players opting out of the SEABA joust. Still, for the first time in their history, Vietnam is sending an all-pro national team to this competition, and that alone is a truly historic step in the right direction!
7. Myanmar returns!
2017 SEABA Championship Preview: Mysterious Myanmar is our first opponent by @NoelZarate https://t.co/PoAHBtLw6u
— Sid Ventura (@Sid_Ventura) May 8, 2017
Myanmar have not played at the SEABA Championship since the early 1990s, and their re-introduction this year will most certainly be fraught with stumbles and tough lessons. These first steps, though, are necessary for basketball to have a deep and solid foundation in their country, and even if they end up at the bottom of the league table, Myanmar must look at this with positivity and use that to nourish the game's growth back home.
8. Ananti's antics!
This is going to be the first time a lot Filipinos will see Chitchai Ananti play, and, boy, are they going to be in for a treat. Ananti is energy personified for Thailand, and he will be a ball of lightning on the hardwood. His motor, length, and unorthodox style will surely make him one of the most memorable players in this tournament, and it will be supremely entertaining to see him play against some of the best wingmen in the ASEAN region.
9. Johnson's debut!
Jamarr Johnson is not really the first naturalized player for Indonesia (that honor belongs to half-Filipino Biboy Enguio), but the impact he can make in this tournament is potentially one for the books. He is not the tallest guy on the Indons' roster, but he is easily their most athletic player, and he will be a prime matchup consideration even for the Philippines. In many ways, Indonesia will go as far as Jamarr Johnson can take them.
10. Rejigged Gilas ready to dominate!
Coach Chot Reyes is back at the helm for Gilas Pilipinas, but this time around many of the old reliables are no longer in tow. The bemedalled bench tactician will have to make do with a rejigged roster combining the best of the old (e.g. Andray Blatche, Jayson Castro, Japeth Aguilar) with some of the most promising rising stars in Philippine basketball (e.g. Troy Rosario, Jio Jalalon, Matthew Wright). It's a little risky considering what is at stale, but it is also a forward-looking move that can pay highly beneficial dividends years down the road. The only question left to answer is this - with the level of competition in the SEABA sub-zone rising, can they still dominate like they used to?
The SEABA Championship 2017 will be played from 12-18 May at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Metro Manila. The champion will earn SEABA's lone ticket to the FIBA Asia Cup 2017 and will represent the sub-zone in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualifiers.
FIBA
