TAIPEI CITY (2015 FIBA Asia Championship) - It's been nearly two years, but Doug Creighton talks about Chinese Taipei's victory over China at the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship in Manila as it were played only yesterday.

Trailing 41-24 four minutes into the second quarter, Chinese Taipei came back.

Down 50-40 at half-time, they returned to the court breathing fire and outscored the Far East giants 31-12 in the third quarter and pulled away for a famous 96-78 triumph.

"That was probably one of the most memorable games I have ever been a part of," Creighton said to FIBA.com.

I would consider that win [over China] to be the biggest win in the team's recent history. - Creighton

"It meant a ton for all the people back home as we were huge underdogs.

"We never felt as though we were out of the game or going to lose, although we were down at the half.

"We showed resilience and poise in the second half.

"The coaching staff did a great job making adjustments and our players made the big plays."

Chinese Taipei finished fourth at the event and missed out on the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

The win over China put everyone on notice, however, that Chinese Taipei was capable of trading blows with anyone in the region.

So what can be expected from them this year when the competition is staged in Changsha, China, from 23 September to 3 October?

"I think that Chinese Taipei will definitely be in the running this year, barring any injuries," Creighton said.

"We have a team full of veterans who have been playing together for close to a decade now.

"They are also helping to bring up the young kids so we have a future to look forward to.

"I think Chinese Taipei must play our style of ball which brought us success in 2013."

The FIBA Asia Championship will have a lot of good teams this year.

Chinese Taipei will compete in Group D against Lebanon, Kazakhstan and Qatar.

All three are expected to be difficult opponents.

I think there's one team at top and that is Iran. - Creighton

The teams that finish in the top three of Group D will cross over and take on the top three sides from a Group C which includes Korea, China, Jordan and Singapore.

Chinese Taipei should have just as good a chance as any of the teams to reach the Quarter-Finals and challenge for a spot on the podium, although Creighton says one team is definitely the favorite heading into the competition.

That team is Iran, the side that has won three of the last four FIBA Asia Championship titles.

"[But] I don't want to say they can't be beat by the likes of Korea, China, Philippines or us, for that matter," Creighton said.

"But until someone does, they are the team to beat.

"There are a lot of teams getting better, as well like Kazakhstan, Mongolia or Qatar even.

"So I feel as though there are a lot of teams in the hunt to challenge the Iranian team."

Creighton is not confident that he will be able to play this year because of an injury that he picked up in March while competing for Chinese Taipei outfit Pure Youth in the playoffs.

"I would love to be able to make it back in time to help the team but it isn't looking so promising," he said.

"If anything, I would love to be part of the team to send us to the Olympics one day."

FIBA