2025.11.27 12:07 (Updated 2025.11.27) | Xu Weizhe
New Taipei Kings star Jeremy Lin. (Photo: New Taipei Kings Facebook)
The 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers kick off today, with Taiwan facing Japan in their first group stage match tomorrow night. FIBA's latest "Smart Power Rankings" places the Taiwan men's basketball team 5th out of 16 teams in this tournament, higher than Japan (9th) and South Korea (7th), demonstrating the recognition of Taiwan's growing strength in recent years.
The first round of the qualifying tournament will be a double round-robin format with home and away games. Each group will play 6 games, and the top 3 teams will advance to the second round. Taiwan is in Group B with Japan, South Korea, and China. In its group preview, FIBA pointed out that the "Japan vs. Taiwan" match is the most crucial game in the first round of Group B, which will affect the outcome of the qualifying rounds.
FIBA also highlighted Jeremy Lin, the New Taipei Kings guard who was selected for the national team for the first time, as a key player for Taiwan. It mentioned that he is Jeremy Lin's younger brother and has performed well in the Taiwanese professional basketball league in recent years. If he can bring his talent to the FIBA stage, it will further strengthen the rising Taiwanese team. The report also stated that his dream of wearing the national team jersey is equally significant for his brother Jeremy Lin, who has just retired.
FIBA's preview points out that all four teams played in the Asian Cup this summer. China won the silver medal, Taiwan and South Korea reached the quarterfinals, while Japan was eliminated in the quarterfinal playoffs. Taiwan last qualified for the World Cup in 1959, and this qualifying tournament is seen as the best opportunity to rewrite history.
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