History made by Chinese Taipei with first win over China in 20 years at the U18 level
BENGALURU (India) - Chinese Taipei pull off a stunning upset against 5-time defending champions China, 74-61.
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It was the first win over China at the youth level in 20 years, back when the competition was called the Asian Championship for Junior Women. It’s also only the second time ever at the youth level for both men’s and women’s that Chinese Taipai has beaten China.
Since the competition had changed it’s name to the FIBA U18 Women’s Asian Championship, only one other team had been able to beat China - Japan. Now the history books can add Chinese Taipei to that list.
The five-time defending champions China had started their game as they usually did, beginning with a 25-10 first quarter. This included an unanswered run of 10 points. They’d start the second quarter with another basket to make it a 17-point deficit which would end up being the largest it would get.
Chinese Taipei chipped away into the lead from there.
The turning point of the game was a mind-blowing run out of the halftime break which saw China go scoreless for over 7 minutes as Chinese Taipei scored 24 straight points.
It was Chang Yu Lan’s turn to step up and play the heroine role for Chinese Taipei after Hsiao Yu Wen’s big game against Japan. It seemed as if she could not miss, especially inside the arc as she finished with 18 points on 8-13 shooting, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals.
Hsiao had a second straight double-double and though it was not as explosive as in her first game, it was still impressive with 13 points and 14 rebounds.
Yu Chin Hua also had a double-double with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and the dagger three-pointer in the final seconds to seal the deal.
China attempted a comeback run led by Li Wenxia’s 21 points and 10 rebounds, but there was no denying Chinese Taipei of this historic win.
The win improved Chinese Taipei’s record to match China’s at 1-1, though they will be facing a 0-2 Indonesia in their last game of the Group Phase.
China will have a tougher matchup in a rematch of the past five U18 Women’s Asian Champions Final against Japan.
FIBA
