History
The Asian Basketball Confederation Championship was inaugurated in Manila in 1960. The championship was held to find Asia's best team and for qualification to the World Championship and the Olympics. On the next four tournaments, the Philippines won 3 with the Japanese beating the Filipinos on 1965. Korea, Japan and the Philippines split the next 3 championships until China debuted on 1975 at Bangkok with the championship, where they've dominated ever since.
There were only four instances where China didn't win the championship since then: in 1986 when the Philippines won; in 1997, when the Chinese complained at Riyadh's climate; the loss to South Korean Nationals in 2007 and when the Chinese sent their "B team" since they've already qualified for the Olympics by virtue of their hosting, and in 2009 when Iran defeated a full-strength Chinese team in Tianjin to become the first team since the Chinese to successfully defend the championship
Korea had been the perennial runner-ups, with Japan and DPR Korea sneaking in. The Philippines had become weaker due to its players turning professional (therefore ineligible for FIBA participation until 1989). By the 21st century, the tournament had been renamed the FIBA Asia Championship. During the 2007 Championship, West Asian teams were able to compete with the traditional East Asian powers, as evidenced of an all-West Asian final when Iran defeated Lebanon.
Read more about this topic: FIBA Asia Championship
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