It is said that success comes after hardship, and the Saudi basketball team may be proof of that. On Saturday evening, the Green Team secured their place in the qualifying round for the quarterfinals of the 2025 Asia Basketball Cup after defeating India, continuing what could become a magical journey for the host.

This is how the Asian Basketball Federation’s website began its report about our national team star Khaled Abduljabbar. The report added: “After losing the opening match against China, Saudi Arabia achieved two consecutive victories, the first being a stunning 77-73 win over Jordan (one of the 2022 semifinal teams) last Thursday, ending a 12-year winless streak. Then came the big win 84-59 over India, igniting the enthusiasm of the fans who filled the stands of King Abdullah Sports City, where they will watch their team continue the final stage journey.

Khaled Abduljabbar expressed great pride in this transformation experienced by him and the team, not only in this ongoing tournament but since the previous edition three years ago. He said, expressing his happiness: “A great improvement.”

Saudi Arabia was among 16 teams participating in the 2022 Asia Cup in Indonesia, marking their return after nearly a decade-long absence, specifically since the 2013 edition held in the Philippines.

The 34-year-old player was part of that team but returned home empty-handed after losses to the hosts, then Australia (the eventual two-time consecutive champions), and Jordan in Group A, ending the tournament in 14th place.

But years later, the situation has completely changed. From a team hoping to compete, the team now has big ambitions to reach as far as possible, starting by securing a ticket to the quarterfinals as a first step. Abduljabbar, who finished the India match with 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists, said: “We were 0-3 in the last edition in Indonesia, and now we have won two matches. It’s a great start; we just have to maintain this momentum.”

Achieving that would be an accomplishment in itself, as Saudi Arabia has not reached the last eight for nearly two decades, specifically since the 2005 championship in Qatar, where they finished eighth in a tournament won by China.

This idea is undoubtedly exciting, but coach Rickard Casas’s players know that reaching there will not be easy, as they must overcome the strong Philippines team in a decisive knockout match. The Philippines (Gilas) were the first to qualify for that stage after beating Iraq 66-57 to secure third place in Group 4, a win that may reinvigorate a team with five Asian titles, after starting the tournament with losses to Chinese Taipei and New Zealand.

Additionally, the large fan support for the Philippine team is a factor the team has long relied on, especially now as they face such an important match.

Nevertheless, Khaled Abduljabbar seems very excited about the upcoming confrontation, saying: “The Philippines is undoubtedly a great team. They will have their fans here, and we will have ours. I think the arena will be completely full. We are excited to compete.”

But the main reason he looks forward to this match is the desire of Abduljabbar and the rest of the Saudi players to avenge a team they have never beaten before. The two teams have met three times previously at FIBA tournaments, with Gilas winning all, the last being 76-63 in the Asia qualifiers for the 2023 World Cup in November 2022, in this very arena.

The veteran international player said: “The last time we played against them, they beat us, so we definitely want to take our revenge. But in the end, it will definitely be a great match.”