SEREMBAN (Malaysia) - Australia and Chinese Taipei blew out their respective opponents to stay unbeaten entering their crucial meeting in the FIBA U16 Women's Asia Cup 2025, Tuesday at the Karisma Arena.
The Sapphires flat-out dominated Korea for the 119-40 victory before the East Asian side took down the Philippines by way of a 74-48 rout to make their Wednesday match a clash for the top spot in Group A.
Both squads improved to 2-0 with those results, with the winner sweeping their way into the Semi-Finals - and taking a spot to the prestigious FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup set next year in Czechia.
Game time is at 11:30 local time.
Five players finished in double figures for Australia, with Sophie Richardson leading the way with a game-high 20 points. Isabel Smith came through with 18 points, which she laced with 8 rebounds and 4 assists.
Marianela Fakalata supplied 14 points. Lily Mapp produced 12 points and 8 rebounds, while Jemyma Manyok added 11 points and 13 rebounds as all players contributed at least 3 points in the wire-to-wire win.
The four-peat seekers hardly broke a sweat in mauling the four-time tournament medalists, scoring the first 13 points of the game before finishing the first quarter with a massive 38-5 advantage.
Han Yedam had 14 points while Lim Seun added 11 for Team Korea, who fell to 0-2 in the group as they couldn't replicate the same fight they showed in that narrow defeat to Chinese Taipei barely 24 hours ago.
Chinese Taipei, on the other hand, continued their fine play, needing little time to seize control of the game before coming away with their most comfortable win to date, forging a tie atop the pool with the Aussies.
The game was actually tied at 9-all early until Chang Yu-Tung's perfect trip to the free throw line triggered the critical 13-0 run to take the lead for good before ending the opening frame with a 22-12 lead.
The former bronze medalists would go on to break away in the middle chapters, outscoring their Southeast Asian counterparts, 38-24, during that stretch for a 60-36 lead entering the game's final 10 minutes.
Chang top-scored for Chinese Taipei with 17 points and 8 rebounds. Hsieh Ai-Tung and Lin Nian-Zhen brought 12 points apiece while Tsai Yu-Yen chipped in 11 points as the quartet bannered their offense.
Ella Smith led the Philippines with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Tiffany Reyes backed her up with 12 points in their second loss in as many games as the Division A newcomers remain in search of a W.
The Philippines and Korea are bound to face one another on Wednesday as well at 14:00 local time in a meeting between desperate teams hoping to stay in contention.
FIBA