JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) – For one half, everything clicked. The energy was right, the execution sharp and the plan working. Keron Deshields was at the heart of it all.
In his FIBA Asia Cup debut, the dynamic guard poured in 21 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and dished 7 assists in a blistering opening act for Syria against group favorites Japan. However, when the second half started, the rhythm fell apart, and so did the result. Deshields scored just 4 of his points in the critical third and fourth quarters, where the Japanese turned things around.
"I think we played great in the first half," Deshields said post-game. "But we had too many turnovers. They got going in transition, and that’s what they love. That was the difference."
Japan ran wild with 67 second-half points, flipping a tight game into a tough loss. Now, with another Group B matchup coming on Day 4 (Friday) against Iran, Deshields knows there’s no room for another split performance.
Coach Joseph Stiebing echoed the same urgency.
"If we can put two halves together like we did in the first, we’ll have a chance to maybe get out of this pool," he said. "If we don’t, we’ll probably go home after our third game."
Deshields, who has starred for Al Ittihad in FIBA WASL, isn’t new to this level. He knows the style, the opponents and the speed of the game. Of course, this is the FIBA Asia Cup, and it’s a different kind of pressure.
That’s where his leadership comes in. He’s already shown what he can do in 20 minutes. Now the challenge is making it last for 40 and bringing the rest of the squad with him.
"I think coach had a great game plan," Deshields said. "If we can put two halves together, I think we can beat anybody in the Asia Cup."
Friday offers the next chance. With a shot at redemption and survival on the line, expect Deshields to be ready.
FIBA