5th FIBA Asia Cup: Indian Men’s Basketball Team stuns field with historic performance

Led by CoachScott Flemming, India’s Senior Men returned to India this week following a historic run at the 5^th FIBA Asian Cup. Pitting 9 of Asia’s top basketball playing nations against each other, the 5th FIBA Asia Cup was heldin the city of Wuhan in China from July 11^th to July 19^th, 2014.

India, who finished 7^th in the tournament, qualified for this year’s tournament after winning the South Asian Basketball Association Championship in May 2014. India is ranked 61^st in the FIBA World Rankings for Men and 11^th in Asia.

The highlight of this year’s tournament was a historic victory over China in the first round of the tournament. The 65-58 victory over the FIBA world number 12 ranked team was the nation’s first ever triumph over China in the normal 5 on 5 format. Barring their initial loss to Japan, India was competitive in every match, holding a halftime lead against eventual Champion Iran and losing by 4 to FIBA World Cup participants Philippines. 

India’s top scorers at the tournament were Amjyot Singh (14.7 points per game – good for 4^th best during the tournament), VisheshBhriguvanshi (10.6 points per game) and Amrit Pal Singh (10.3 points per page).  Amjyot and Amrip Pal also led the team in rebounds with and 6.9 and 6.7 rebounds per game, respectively.  Captain VisheshBhriguvanshi led the competition with an average of 4.1 assists per game. 

This tournament’s success is just one in a serious of positive results for the Indian cagers. In addition to their SABA victory, the team also took home the gold medal in January at the Lusofonia Games in Goa.

This championship was the biggest challenge so far for India’s American basketball coach Scott Flemming, formerly a coach in the National Basketball Association (NBA)’s D League and in the NCAA. Flemming said “This a significant milestone for the Indian National Team and for the country. I am grateful to those that have come before me and we will do our best to build for the future. This victory over China shows that we are no longer just a team with potential but we can compete and win against the best teams in Asia. I am very proud of the strides our players have made.”

MrsRoopamHarish Sharma, the CEO of the Basketball Federation of India (BFI), expressed her enthusiasm for the team’s results. “The FIBA Asia Cup is one of the biggest international challenges in the calendar for India’s senior side. We are happy to see the team perform at their best on the international stage and know that this result is just one of many more to come”

India’s next challenge with be at the 27^th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea from September 19 – October 4, 2014 where they will once again take on the region’s best teams.

The Indian contingent also consisted of a coach, a trainer, one FIBA Referee Supervisor, and two FIBA referees for the tournament.

This is the roster that represented India at the 5^th FIBA Asian Cup:

• Head Coach: Scott Flemming
• Coach: GRL Prasad
• Physiotherapist: Naved Hameed
• FIBA Referee Supervisor; NareshAneja
• FIBA Referee: Michael Vino
• FIBA Referee: Snehal Bendke