FIBA Asia Championship for Men
From Hoopedia
The FIBA Asia Championship for Men (formerly Asian Basketball Confederation Championship) is a tournament which takes place every two years between teams of the Asian continent. It is the Asian qualifying tournament for the FIBA World Championship and the Olympic basketball tournament and is organized by FIBA Asia. The tournament is also known as the Asian Championships.
History
The Asian Basketball Confederation Championship was inaugurated at Manila on 1960. The championship was held to find Asia's best team and for qualification for the World Championship and the Olympics. At the first four tournaments, the Philippines won three championships; Japan beat the Philippines in 1965. South Korea, Japan and the Philippines split the next three championships until China debuted at the 1975 Championship in Bangkok. China won that title and they have dominated Asian basketball ever since.
There were only three instances that China did not win the championship since then. In 1986 the Philippines won with the presence of two naturalized Americans on the team. In 1997, South Korea won and the Chinese complained about Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's climate. In 2007 the Chinese sent their "B team," since they had already qualified for the Olympics by virtue of being the hosts.
South Korea had been the perennial runner-up, with Japan and North Korea sneaking in. The Philippines had become weaker because its best players were professionals and, therefore, ineligible to participate in FIBA events until 1989), and due to the politicization of basketball in that country.
By the 21st century, the tournament was renamed the "FIBA Asia Championship". During the 2007 Championship, West Asian teams were finally able to compete with the traditional East Asian powers, as evidenced by an all-West Asian final, in which Iran defeated Lebanon. The 2009 FIBA Asia Championship will be held from September 1 to September 9, 2009 in the Philippines.
Results
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | MVP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Iran | Lebanon | South Korea | |
| 2005 | China | Lebanon | Qatar | Yao Ming (China) |
| 2003 | China | South Korea | Qatar | Yao Ming (China) |
| 2001 | China | Lebanon | South Korea | Yao Ming (China) |
| 1999 | China | South Korea | Saudi Arabia | Hu Weidong (China) |
| 1997 | South Korea | Japan | China | Chun Hee Chul, (South Korea) |
| 1995 | China | South Korea | Japan | Hur Jae (South Korea) |
| 1993 | China | North Korea | South Korea | |
| 1991 | China | South Korea | Japan | |
| 1989 | China | South Korea | Chinese Taipei | |
| 1987 | China | South Korea | Japan | Lee Chung Hee (South Korea) |
| 1986 | Philippines | South Korea | China | |
| 1983 | China | Japan | South Korea | |
| 1981 | China | South Korea | Japan | |
| 1979 | China | Japan | South Korea | |
| 1977 | China | South Korea | Japan | |
| 1975 | China | Japan | South Korea | |
| 1973 | Philippines | South Korea | Taiwan | |
| 1971 | Japan | Philippines | South Korea | |
| 1969 | South Korea | Japan | Philippines | |
| 1967 | Philippines | South Korea | Japan | |
| 1965 | Japan | Philippines | South Korea | |
| 1963 | Philippines | Taiwan | South Korea | |
| 1960 | Philippines | Taiwan | Japan | Carlos Badion (Philippines) |
