BENGALURU (India) - Korea managed to fend off a feisty Chinese Taipei squad to highlight the first day of the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2019. Finalists from the 2017 edition, Japan and Australia, came away with resounding wins while China took care of business in the second half against New Zealand.

Australia blasted out of the gates in the first game of the tournament. A 12-0 run in the middle of the first quarter pretty much sealed the deal early on in their 123-57 win over the Philippines.

Ezi Magbegor

Coach Sandy Brondello managed the rotations carefully with no one even reach the 20 minutes played mark in. Regardless of the shortened individual playing time, 9 players found their way to score in double-digits led by rising star Ezi Magbegor. The former U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup MVP put up 18 points on 8-10 shooting from the field.

The Philippines got a majority of their scoring with 17 points from Gemma Miranda who also manage to plug in a highlight-worthy crossover.

Chinese Taipei gave 12-time Women’s Asia Cup champions Korea quite a scare after holding on the lead for nearly the entire first half. It’s possible that flashbacks of the 2013 loss to Chinese Taipei woke Korea up as they regouped to reclaim the lead early in the 4^th quarter for good. Chinese Taipei never backed down, but could not come back and had to take in a 48-44 loss.

Huang Ping-Jen made it a one-possession game with a full minute left on the clock, but Chinese Taipei’s failed attempt to collect rebounds wiped their chances clean. Korea had 19 offensive boards in the game, which might have been the turning point that pushed them to the win.

Bae Hyeyoon put up a steady line of 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists for the winning side.

Bae Hyeyoon

It took China some time to break away from New Zealand. It was a third quarter burst that proved to be just enough to get China their first win of the tournament, 67-44.

The Tall Ferns were stubborn to go down hanging tight with the perennial Women’s Asia Cup contenders, staying tied in the first quarter and down by only 4 points at the half time buzzer.

Eventually, China’s size was just too much for New Zealand to withstand especially Li Yueru who had 6 points on 3 shots and 14 boards. Shao Ting was also rock solid with 13 points on 5-6 shooting with 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals.

Shao Ting

The closing contest of the day saw the defending champions Japan rain down on the hosts India hard with a 103-27 victory. As a team, Japan knocked down 14 three-pointers over the course of the entire game.

21-year-old shooting guard Himawari Akaho was close to perfection with 23 points and only 2 misses from 11 shots to lead the team in scoring. In her return to the Women’s Asia Cup, 2-time MVP Ramu Tokashiki had a cool 10 points and 7 rebounds in 13 minutes of play.

Himawari Akaho

Scores

Australia 123-57 Philippines
Korea 48-44 Chinese Taipei
China 67-44 New Zealand
Japan 103-27 india

Daily Leaders

Points: 23 Himawari Akaho (JPN)
Rebounds: 14, Li Yueru (CHN) and Cayla George (AUS)
Assists: 9, Leilani Mitchell (AUS)

FIBA