2013 FIBA Asia U16 Championships Roundup: Day Three

The first group stage of the 2013 FIBA Asia U16 Championships in Tehran, Iran concluded with the traditional favorites gaining ground, while Team Philippines suffered a tight loss against bitter rival Chinese-Taipei.

Mike Nieto struggles to get the rebound against the
trees of Chinese-Taipei.

In the first game of the day, China blasted Bahrain, 92-43, behind the 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocked shots of Hu Jinqiu. Hu, a 6’10 16-year old center, was just plain dominant in this affair. It sure seems like the Chinese have another young big guy who can be potentially dominant. He joins the ranks of Wang Zhelin, Li Muhao, and Zhou Qi as the next troop of lanky slotmen for the Big Red Machine. Hu was backstopped by the 16 points and 8 boards of Yuan Zhanlian, while Xu Mingzhi added 10 markers, 6 assists, and 5 steals. Sadiq Hasan’s 15 points and 10 rebounds topped the losing effort of Bahrain.

The second game of the day featured Hong Kong dropping a close one to Syria, 75-66. The EABA side just couldn’t find a way to stop the tandem of Mohamad Hadri and Khalel Khori, who combined for 45 points and 32 rebounds for the Syrians. Diminutive playmaker Ronaldo Shammas also did well for the WABA squad with 15 markers and 11 boards. On the other end, On Ka Chung and Chu Ho Man scored 17 and 15 points respectively to pace HKG, while Liu Kin Fung collared 13 rebounds in the losing effort.

The third game saw how Korea blew out Malaysia, 105-72, behind the superb production of team captain Kwon Hyeok-Joon. Kwon finished with 19 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, and 5 steals, underscoring how he is definitely one of the best guards of this generation of Asian hoopsters. Big man Han Seung-Hui backed him up with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Park Sang-Kwon added 18 markers, 7 boards, and 2 blocks. Malaysia, for its part, was led by Tan Wei Jie’s 17 points, while Foo Ting Jun added a dozen markers.

In the day’s fourth game, Japan remained unbeaten in the first round after disposing of India, 85-71. What started as a close game was broken open when the Japs unloaded a 15-4 bomb to start the second period. After that, the EABA squad of coach Takashi Ideguchi just cruised to its second win in as many games. Once again, African Rui Hachimura shone for the Nippon guys with 25 points, 16 rebounds, and, get this, EIGHT BLOCKS. The 6’6z Hachimura, along with US-bound Yuta Watanabe, looks to be one of the future bulwarks of Team Hayabusa. Yuto Nomi also did well with 19 points, while Gen Hiraiwa scored 14 markers and hauled down 7 boards. The Indians, champions of the SABA group, sank to 0-2 in the standings. They were led by the 35 points and 4 triples of team captain Mahipal Singh.

In game number five, Iran bounced back from its previous loss to Korea by slamming Thailand, 71-51. The home side wasted no time in proving its superiority here, leading by 16 after the first frame and never looking back. Wingman Behrooz Razaghin led the way with 13 points for Iran, while Behzad Azizi and Amir Poat lorded the paint with a combined 19 rebounds. Iran is now at 2-1, and carries one win and one loss over to the next round. The Thais are effectively eliminated after their third straight loss. They were led by the 17 points, 7 boards, and 4 blocks of 6’6 Chanatip Jakrawan.

For the final match, the Filipinos dictated the tempo for most of the game only to falter in the second half and lose to Taiwan, 95-90. Coach Hsieh Yu-Chuan’s wards outscored the Pinoys, 18-8, in the latter part of the third period to take the initiative. They then successfully kept the Philippines at bay in the final frame to preserve the W. Superb swingman Tu Su-Han led Taiwan with 29 points on the strength of 4 treys, while forward Hsu Cheng-Shun added 10 points, 9 boards, and 5 blocks. Mike Nieto, Jolo Mendoza, and Paul Desiderio combined for 65 points for the Philippines, but it was all for naught as the Pinoys absorbed their first defeat of the tournament.

BOX SCORES:

CHINA over BAHRAIN, 92-43

CHN 92 – Hu 19, Zhao 18, Yuan 16, Xu 10, Wang Z 9, Fu 7, Zhang 6, Wang C 4, Luo 3, Shen 0, Liu 0

BRN 43 – Hasan 15, Juma 9, Baqer 5, Al Madeh 3, Husain 3, AL Musalli 2, Ghazwan 2, Kadhem 2, Al Waddaei 2, Mohamed 0, Shakeeb 0

QS: 21-12, 40-25, 64-31, 92-43

Sadiq Hasan led Bahrain's losing effort against China.

Fu Hao gets open from long range.

SYRIA over HONG KONG, 75-66

SYR 75 – Hadri 26, Khori 19, Shammas 15, Tarzikhan 11, Al Kerawan 4, Hadad 0, Egho 0, Diab 0

HKG 66 – On 17, Chu 15, Lo 8, Cheung 8, Liu 7, Yang 5, An 4, Chu 2, Yau 0, Chan 0

QS: 18-21, 36-36, 56-52, 75-66

Liu Kin Fung tries to go up strong.

Antonio Tarzikhan tries the fadeaway.

KOREA over MALAYSIA, 105-72

KOR 105 – Kwon 19, Park SK 18, Choi 14, Han 14, Park MU 9, Yun DB 8, Park JC 7, Mun 6, Yun WS 5, Yang JH 5, Lee 0, Yang JM 0

MAS 72 – Tan 17, Foo 12, Wong 11, Heng 8, Soong 6, Liew 4, Lau 4, Chong 3, Yek 2, Rosli 2, Chang 2, Lim 1

QS: 24-16, 47-40, 72-54, 105-72

Yun Do-Bin rises to the basket.

Soong Kah An launches from beyond the arc.

JAPAN over INDIA, 85-71

JPN 85 – Hachimura 25, Nomi 19, Hiraiwa 14, Maki 13, Hayashi 5, Taira 4, Igarashi 3, Gunji 2, Muto 0, Kono 0

IND 71 – Singh M 35, Briggs 8, Gupta 8, Tudu 7, Sunil 7, Das 3, Maan 2, Mehla 1, Pandit 0, Singh P 0, Hooda 0, Kanderiya 0

QS: 23-19, 44-29, 62-48, 85-71

Yogesh Kanderiya pulls up from midrange.

Hayato Maki is one of Japan's deadliest snipers.

IRAN over THAILAND, 71-51

IRI 71 – Razaghin 13, Azari 8, Seyedi 8, Farhadi 7, Sheikhi 7, Poat 7, baban 6, Kabir 5, Azizi 4, Naziri 4, Meraji 2, Monji 0

THA 51 – Jakrawan 17, Kupadit 7, Auesatjapon 6, Jamkrajang 6, Chumang 4, Makmeesiri 4, Wanyapech 3, Charansarn 2, Nantho 2, Boonkong 0, Leelaphiphatkul 0, Numjan 0

QS: 23-7, 38-22, 51-28, 71-51