MANILA (Enzo Flojo's Asia on my Mind) - As of this writing, only six teams remain in the hunt for the FIBA Asia Cup 2017 crown, though several players have already stood out as elite in the tournament.

Iran and Korea won over Lebanon and Philippines respectively to book the first two Semi-Finals tickets, while Australia, China, New Zealand and Jordan will dispute the remaining two berths later today.

Apart from the big games, though big names have risen to become the cream of the crop in Beirut. These are the players who have not only led their teams to success but have been able to really turn a lot of heads and make fans swoon.

Here are my top five players so far in the FIBA Asia Cup 2017.

Hamed Haddadi (Iran)

Only two people currently carry a double-double average in the FIBA Asia Cup, and Haddadi is one of them. He has also been a triple-double threat mainly because of the fact that he is among the leaders in the entire competition in assists with 7 a game. The 2.18m behemoth from Iran is no longer as dominant in terms of bullying his way in the lane and dunking on anybody in his way, but the beauty in Haddadi's game is that he has shown how making adjustments in play style can still make him a big impact player for the three-time Asia champions.

Mitch Creek (Australia)

The 1.98m Creek was not really counted among the biggest names for Australia coming into this tournament, but he has really come into his own and has been the Boomers' main man throughout their first three games. His athleticism and ability to finish strong has captivated fans and produced some memorable moments, and it seems he is getting better with each passing day after scoring 10 points on Day 1, 15 points on Day 3 and 22 points on Day 5.

Fadi El Khatib (Lebanon)

Show me another 38-year-old who can still drop 30 points on an opposing national team and average in the mid-20s for a tournament. The Lebanese Tiger is truly a living legend in Asian hoops, and if this is the final competition in which we'll see him, then what a way to go. The 1.98m forward continues to seize the imagination of fans and dazzle opponents with his craftiness and efficiency.

Oh SeKeun (Korea)

🇰🇷Korea's 🔝 scorer Sekeun Oh shot 80% 🆚 @JAPANBASKETBALL🇯🇵 #FIBAAsiaCup2017 pic.twitter.com/B8b9rin7t8

— FIBA (@FIBA) August 14, 2017

Lion King - that's what Oh SeKeun is called in the Korean Basketball League. It was originally because of his hairstyle, but now it's mainly because of how he plays - he is as ferocious as a lion and, like a lion, he is the king of Korean basketball. He has also shown that he can still own Korea's opponents at the FIBA Asia Cup even after missing both the 2015 and 2013 editions.

Terrence Romeo (Philippines

Romeo is not among the most efficient players in the FIBA Asia Cup, but he is surely one of the most thrilling and mesmerizing. With every crossover, spin move and herky-jerky movement, Romeo wows the crowds and dizzies his foes, and every splashed three-pointer results in an uproar from the stands. People may argue that he is a feast-or-famine player for Gilas Pilipinas, but nobody can argue that he is perhaps the most enthralling player in the tournament thus far.

Enzo Flojo

FIBA

FIBA's columnists write on a wide range of topics relating to basketball that are of interest to them. The opinions they express are their own and in no way reflect those of FIBA.

FIBA takes no responsibility and gives no guarantees, warranties or representations, implied or otherwise, for the content or accuracy of the content and opinion expressed in the above article.