Gems ready to chase FIBA U18 Asia Cup three-peat

The Australia Gems are set to tip off their FIBA U18 Asia Cup campaign in Seremban, Malaysia with the tournament running from October 4 to 10. 

Preparation for Sunday’s opening matchup against the Philippines is well underway, as the Gems begin their pursuit of a third straight Asia Cup title. 

KEY DATES:

Group A will feature Australia, Korea, New Zealand and the Philippines, with eight teams competing across two groups for the Asia Cup crown. 

The group phase will run from October 4 to 6, before the tournament moves into the final phase, with teams battling through the knockout stages for a place in the championship game on October 10. 

The fixtures for the Gems group stage matchups are as follows: 

AUS V PHI | SUN OCT 4 | 14:30 AEST 

AUS V NZL | MON OCT 5 | 14:30 AEST 

AUS V KOR | TUE OCT 6 | 14:30 AEST 

STATE OF PLAY:

Australia enters the tournament as defending champions, having claimed back-to-back FIBA U18 Asia Cup titles in 2022 and 2024. 

The Gems will now look to make it three consecutive titles, continuing Australia’s strong record at the U18 level. 

With the final 12 locked in for Malaysia, the Gems head into the tournament with plenty of recent representative experience.

Eight players were a part of the U17 Sapphires’ bronze medal campaign at the FIBA U17 World Cup in July, while several others have also represented the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence. 

THE ROSTER:

The Gems are bringing talent across from the Sapphires program and rising stars from the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence program and WNBL. Cheyenne Bobongie is one of those Aussies graduating from the Sapphires and is a WNBL player just signed to the Townsville Fire. Aspen Crase is a recent graduate of Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence, Crase averaged 8.52 points, 1.22 assists and four rebounds and has signed with the Adelaide Lightning in the WNBL. Olivia Olechnowicz is another young star who at the FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup averaged 12.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists, together with being named the tournament’s Best Defensive Player.

The Gems full squad can be seen below:

FIBA U18 Women's Asia Cup

1. 4
   Cheyenne Bobongie Guard
2. 5
   Taryn Bond Guard
3. 9
   Aspen Crase Forward
4. 15
   Jemyma Manyok Centre
5. 12
   Lily Mapp Forward
6. 7
   Olivia Olechnowicz Guard
7. 10
   Sophie Richardson Forward
8. 11
   Madison Ryan Small Forward
9. 0
   Eliza Shanahan Guard
10. 8
    Jade Sherrington Forward
11. 6
    Isabel Smith Guard
12. 14
    Matilda Trout Forward

THE OPPONENTS:

Philippines:

The Philippines are ranked 45^th in the world. Their best U18 Asia Cup result is a bronze medal, achieved twice—in 1972 and 1978—with both tournaments hosted in Manila. The Philippines won Division B at the 2024 tournament and, as a result, have been promoted to Division A for 2026, where they have been drawn against the Gems.

New Zealand:
Australia and New Zealand have met many times at U18 level, with the Gems holding a 16–0 record over the Kiwis across Asian and Oceania championships. Their most recent meeting came at the 2022 FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup, where Australia won 111–44. New Zealand is ranked fourth in the world, and its best tournament finish is fifth place, achieved in 2018 and 2024.

South Korea:

South Korea last faced Australia at the 2024 FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup. It was the fourth meeting between the teams, with the Gems holding a 3–1 record. Australia won that group-stage clash by 33 points. South Korea is ranked 23^rd in the world and is the second-most successful team in U18 Women’s Asia Cup history. One of only four nations to have won the tournament, South Korea has claimed seven championships, five silver medals and nine bronze medals.

Japan:

Not in the Gems group but Japan is the bronze medalists at the past two tournaments, in 2022 and 2024. Japan’s best U18 Women’s Asia Cup result was its 2008 title, while the nation has also won 11 silver medals and seven bronze medals. Japan is ranked ninth in the world, the second-highest position among the tournament contenders behind the fourth-ranked Gems.

China:

Also not featuring in the Gems Group but is the most successful nation in U18 Women’s Asia Cup history. Its 16 gold medals, six silver medals and one bronze medal are a testament to the strength of its basketball program. The Gems have faced China in the past two gold medal games. Australia won by 26 points in Bangalore in 2022 before defeating China by 17 points on its home court in the most recent edition of the tournament. China is currently ranked 18^th in the world at women’s U18 level.

HOW TO WATCH:

 All of the action will be broadcast live on FIBA Youtube as well as Courtside 1891 / DAZN.