Korea end China's reign on top, take on unbeaten Taipei in Finals

JAKARTA (2015 FIBA Asia U16 Championship) - Chinese Taipei maintained their unbeaten streak in the 2015 FIBA Asia U16 Championship to book their first-ever entry into the Finals in the history of the competition where they will meet Korea on Saturday.

Taipei defeated Japan in the Semi-Finals on Friday for their eighth successive win here, before twice former runners-up Korea ended China's monopoly of titles in this event beating the three-time reigning champions in another Final Four clash.

Taipei and Korea, who thus became the first two Asian teams to qualify for the 2016 FIBA U17 World Championship in Spain, are both aiming for the maiden title.

China will take on Japan in an attempt to take the third berth from Asia.

Taipei all the way

Chinese Taipei dished out another display of effervescence but with an equal mix of discipline in beating Japan 60-57.

Lin Ting-chien was neutralized by a vigilant Taigao Kagitomi, but Taipei found their leader in hitherto second-in-command Tang Wei-chieh.

The youngster scored seven of the team's 20 points in the first quarter as Taipei led all the way in the game.

Tang Wei-chieh went on to finish with 21 points, in a 8/14 field shooting clip and also had 10 rebounds, 8 of them off the defensive glass.

Han Chieh-Yu and Lin Ting-chien each had 11 points, the former also pulling down a game-high 13 points.

Having fallen behind early on, Japan were always fighting an uphill battle. And against an equally equipped outfit, it ended up as a losing battle.

Seiya Takahra's dozen points was the highest for Japan, who now will aim to at least retain the third place finish they earned two years ago.

Korea catch China off guard, consolidate thenceforth

China and Korea brought the BrtiAma arena alive with some scintillating exchanges before the former prevailed

Wang Rui and Zhu Rongzhen combined well with Wu Yujia to keep the China campaign moving, which was well countered by the Korean double-barrel of Yang Jae Min, Shin Minsuk as the teams played put a battle on even keel.

There was nothing to choose between the two teams in terms of evenness of the scoreboard as well as the enthusiasm in their efforts at least for a better part of the first half.

Lee Jung-hyun stepped up for Korea in the third period, when the team seized a decisive edge moving from hitherto trailing situation into constant lead.

Having scored a mere seven in the first quarter, Lee Jung-hyun went on to finish with 17 points.

Yang Jae Min added 30 points and Shin Minsuk contributed 21 points.

China, who were thus left off guard went on the decline as the game progressed.

Rui Wang led their scoring with 20 points.


Philippines take on Lebanon for 5th place

Philippines, who were playing outside the Semi-Finals for the first time in the history of the competition, overcame fellow SEABA team Thailand 81-46 to earn a place in the 5th place play-off.

The SEABA U16 champions now will take on Lebanon, who defeated Kuwait 79-56.

Thailand and Kuwait will face off for the 7th place.

Iraq finish 9th; Malaysia take 11th place

Iraq beat hosts Indonesia in the 9th place play-off. Malaysia beat Bahrain 87-84 to take the 11th place.

FIBA