SHENZHEN (China) - Chinese Taipei began writing their redemption story with a 122-38 mauling of Tahiti to raise the curtains of Division B action in the FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2025, Sunday at the Shenzhen Sports Center.
Hoping to return to Division A after being relegated in 2023, the crew got off to a 22-7 start into the game and that was all they needed to score the eventual rout - a rout predicated on their hot shooting from deep.
The team of Coach Michael Olson knocked down a total of 22 three-pointers and that impeccable touch was mostly thanks to their conscious effort of finding the open ones, as evidenced by their 39 assists.
Overall, Chinese Taipei shot 58-percent from the floor. They also hauled down 48 rebounds and did excellently on the defensive side as well, chalking up a total of 24 steals in the dominant victory.
Seven players finished in twin digits in the win, with Huang Ling-Chuan leading the way with 18 points - all of which he collected from beyond the arc as she went a solid 6-of-7. She also had 4 rebounds and 2 assists.
Chen Wei-An made 15 points and 5 rebounds. Lin Wen-Yu and Lin Yu-Ting made 14 points each while Chen Yen-Yu, Cho Ching, and Liao Wei-Ching fired 13 points each, with the latter adding 10 rebounds for a double-double.
Joining Chinese Taipei as the early winners in Group A were India following an 85-68 conquest of Kazakhstan in the second game of the day following a massive second-half turnaround after a tight encounter early.
India actually found themselves trailing by six after the first 10 minutes but picked it up in the middle quarters, eventually unloading 55 points during that stretch to enter the fourth with a 69-47 lead.
Pushpa Senthil Kumar top-scored in the W with 23 points. The duo of Sreekala Rani and Sathya Krishnamurthi, meanwhile, tallied identical numbers of 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists, and combined for 11 steals.
Dharshini Thirunavukkarasu chipped in 10 points and 8 assists to flirt with a double-double as their balanced attack was big thanks to the way they shared the ball, ending up with a total of 27 assists.
Interestingly, India and Chinese Taipei will lock horns tomorrow, Monday, July 14, at 16:30 local time for the group leadership in a meeting to be watched out for given the manner in which they won their first matches.
Iran capped off Day 1 with a masterful win of their own, an 82-32 romping over Cook Islands in the lone game of Group B in a defensive class as they registered 19 steals and 14 blocks to overwhelm their foes.
Roxanna Barahman led Team Melli with 20 points and 11 assists. Negin Rasoulipour Khameneh finished with 20 points as well together with 8 rebounds, while Nahideh Asadi Aghdash added 10 points off the bench.
Up next for Iran will be Mongolia on Tuesday, July 15, at 13:30 local time.
FIBA