Qatar Faces Japan in Key Friendly Basketball Tournament Match

In a highly anticipated matchup, Qatar will face Japan today at 17:00 local time in the 2025 International Friendly Basketball Tournament. Hosted by the Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF), the game will take place at the state-of-the-art Lusail Multipurpose Arena in Doha.

This encounter follows Qatar’s thrilling 82-78 victory over Saudi Arabia in their opening match. The game was marked by intense competition, with both teams locked in a 24-24 tie after the first quarter. Qatar gradually took control, ultimately securing a narrow win and positioning themselves at the top of the tournament standings with two points, while Saudi Arabia earned one point.

Qatar Prepares for Asia Cup Challenge

Today’s clash with Japan presents a significant challenge for Qatar, as the Japanese team is known for its fast-paced, technically skilled playing style. Under the leadership of head coach Hakan Demir, Qatar’s technical staff aims to use this match to enhance team cohesion and fine-tune strategies in preparation for the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup 2025, scheduled for August 5-17 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

In a parallel match today, Iraq will take on Saudi Arabia at 19:00, as both teams look to showcase their capabilities in this friendly tournament. The tournament features four Asian teams—Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Iraq—competing in a single-round-robin format. This structure allows each team the opportunity to test their skills ahead of major continental competitions.

Looking Ahead to the FIBA Asia Cup

The friendly tournament serves as vital preparation for the FIBA Asia Cup, which will include 16 teams. Qatar finds itself in Group A alongside Australia, South Korea, and Lebanon. Group B consists of Guam, Japan, Syria, and Iran, while Group C features China, Jordan, India, and Saudi Arabia. Group D includes Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, Iraq, and the Philippines.

Teams will compete in a group-stage format, with the top team from each group advancing directly to the quarter-finals. Teams finishing second and third in their respective groups will then enter crossover knockout matches to determine the remaining quarter-finalists.

As the tournament progresses, Qatar aims to build momentum and confidence, using each match as a stepping stone towards their ultimate goal of success at the FIBA Asia Cup.