MANAMA (Bahrain) - Kazakhstan won their second straight game in consecutive days, inching themselves closer to claiming direct qualification to FIBA Asia Cup 2021. The Steppen Wolves locked down Palestine in the second half and ran away with a 93-56 win.

Kazakhstan led by only 2 points at the end of the first quarter, but cranked up the defense in the second half and never looked back. Four players scored in double-digits for Kazakhstan, led by 20 points from Anthony Clemmons.

Palestine managed to recover after falling behind 0-9 to start the game and take the lead, but were unable to hang along with the hot-shooting Kazakhstan. The managed to score only 9 points in the third quarter and fell into a hole too deep to dig themselves out of.

Another key factor leading to Kazakhstan’s win was their three-point shooting. The team as a whole shot 40 percent (12-30) from beyond the arc, with Vadim Chsherbak having the hot hand. The 27-year-old sharpshooter recorded his Qualifiers-high of 16 points on 4-6 three-point shooting.

Palestine struggled to find the bottom of the net as they shot only 26.3 percent. Sani Sakakini finished with 11 points on 1-11 shooting from the field, a contrast from his 41-point performance that last time these two teams met. Palestine did have positive performances from debutant Kyndall Dykes and Jamal Mayali. Dykes led Palestine with 22 points and 10 rebounds while Mayali came off the bench for 10 points and 5 assists.

This victory brings Kazakhstan’s record to 3-1 after also beating Sri Lanka yesterday, 111-52. If they are able to claim another victory in their final game of the Manama bubble against Sri Lanka once again on February 22, they will put themselves in a good position to clinch a top two spot in the standings of Group F and direct qualification for FIBA Asia Cup 2021.

Palestine (1-2) will need to regroup after a day’s rest to face Sri Lanka on February 21.

FIBA