TWO time reigning champion Australia and the other top guns expectedly comprised the early quarterfinal cast of the 31st FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Joining the Boomers in the Final Eight are Iran, China, and New Zealand.
The four countries made the quarterfinals outright after topping their respective groups, all with identical 3-0 slates.
READ Australia tops Group A, faces winner of Gilas vs Saudi KO game
Australia emerged No. 1 in Group A, Iran ruled Group B, China went unbeaten in Group C, and New Zealand ruled Group D.
All four will take a two-day rest as they await the four other teams that will comprise the other half of the quarterfinals through a qualification phase.
The Final Eight gets underway on Wednesday at the King Abdullah Sports City.
Eight teams which finished second and third in their respective groups, battle it out in the next two days to determine which among them will earn the remaining four berths at stake in the next round.
Chinese Taipei and Jordan kicked off the playoffs on Monday (Manila time) followed by Gilas Pilipinas versus Saudi Arabia by midnight of Tuesday (Manila time).
Later on Tuesday night, it’s Korea against Guam and finally Japan opposite Lebanon.
The Sokors and Cedars were the other two teams to come out of Group A, while the Akatsuki and Guam took the two other berths in Group B.
The host team and Jordan emerged Nos. 2 and 3 in Group C and Chinese Taipei and the Philippines, in that order, in Group D.
Winner of the Taipei-Jordan game faces Iran in the quarterfinals, while the Philippines and Saudi Arabia tussle will have its hands full dealing against Australia in the next round.
Survivor of the South Korea-Guam playoffs takes on China, while New Zealand battles whichever between Japan and Lebanon make it.
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