08 - 16
October 2016
9 Wael Arakji (LIB)
10/10/2016
Game Report
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Pauian fall to dominant Al Riyadi

CHENZHOU (FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2016) – Chinese Taipei’s Pauian were hoping to win for the second straight day, but they ran into a dominant Al Riyadi side that prevailed, 105-81, at the FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2016 in Chenzhou, China.

Dewarwick Spencer shone brightest for Al Riyadi once again, doing a lot of damage on both ends of the floor. Rising star Wael Arakji also turned a lot of heads. The 2016 NBA Draftee posted 19 points on 8-of-11 field goal shooting, while three other Riyadi players scored in double-figures. As for Pauian, the Taipei outfit rode the coattails of Quincy Davis again. Davis recorded 21 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 1 block in the loss.

Turning Point: Al Riyadi showed good quality early on, leading by 9 after the first period and extending that to 16 at the half, but Pauian were able to rally a bit in the third quarter. Ultimately, however, the Lebanese squad powered through in the fourth to preserve their second win in as many outings.

Stats Don't Lie: Pauian just coughed the basketball up too many times in this contest. Al Riyadi forced their opponents to commit 26 turnovers throughout the match, and the Lebanese promptly converted these into a total of 35 points. Taking care of the basketball and minimizing errors are certainly going to be top-of-mind for Pauian as they prepare for their next few matches.

Game Hero: Spencer continues to be a strong campaigner for Riyadi. He tallied 31 points in 12-of-17 field goal shooting to go along with 5 triples, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Needless to say, he made an impact in nearly every aspect of their win. If he continues this strong play, it shouldn’t be a shocker to see Al Riyadi on the podium by the tournament’s end.

The Bottom Line: Pauian could not follow up last night’s victory with another one here — at least not with Dewarwick Spencer and Wael Arakji wreaking so much havoc. The Lebanese displayed their depth once again, and they remain favorites against ONGC tomorrow before a titanic tussle with Petrochimi on Day 5.


FIBA