BANGKOK (Thailand) - Kazakhstan completed the FIBA U18 Women's Asia Cup 2026-Division Semi-Finals cast following a dominant 62-34 conquest of Thailand on Friday night at the Nimibutr Stadium.
The CABA representatives started to pull away with an 11-2 run for a 25-12 before the first ended, then leaned on defense in the middle quarters which left the host nation searching for answers that never arrived.
From scoring 15 in the first 10 minutes, the SEABA side got held to only a total of 12 points in the second and third chapters while their opponents had 27 combined to build a 52-27 lead, all but securing the victory.
After this solid rebound from a tough 66-59 loss to Lebanon in the Group Phase's final day two days ago, the Kazakhs have set up a meeting with the spotless India in the Semi-Finals tomorrow, Saturday, July 18.
They will be battling the best team of Group A, who swept their way into the top spot and into the penultimate phase by winning all three of their games in the pool stage versus Thailand, Oman, and Indonesia.
All but two of Coach Aziza Temirgazy's players scored in the victory, with Milana Krutevich headlining the balanced charge with a double-double showing with 14 points and 14 rebounds plus 3 steals and 4 blocks.
Kaussar Ybray and Amina Sharipova came through with 11 points each, as this very trio helped put together the aforementioned first-quarter rally that turned the game around in their favor the rest of the match.
Rebounds helped dictate the outcome as Kazakhstan hauled down 63 - it was 20 more than what was collected by Thailand, who also committed 34 turnovers in the defeat that foiled another Semi-Finals bid.
Thailand will try to salvage a 5th-place finish like in 2022 when they face Samoa in the Classification 5-6 tomorrow at 13:30 local time, which serves as a prelude to the knockout Semi-Finals that starts at 16:00.
Lebanon and Indonesia will open the Semi-Finals, followed by the face-off between India and Kazakhstan at 18:30. The winners will arrange a showdown in the Final on Sunday, July 19, for promotion to Division A.
FIBA