JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) – Chinese Taipei booked their place in the Quarter-Finals of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 with a 78-64 win over Jordan on Monday at King Abdullah Sports City, gaining sweet revenge for their heartbreaking defeat at the same stage in 2022.
The result improved Taipei’s record to 3-1 and set up a last-eight clash with Group B winners Iran. Jordan, who never found sustained offensive rhythm, saw their campaign end with a 1-3 record.
Brandon Gilbeck anchored Taipei’s interior with 9 points, 13 rebounds and a tournament-high 7 blocks, erasing shots at the rim and altering many more. Adam Hinton provided the offensive spark, scoring 18 points with 2 triples, while Chen Ying-Chun added timely perimeter shooting, including a decisive fourth-quarter flurry. Dar Tucker led Jordan with 20 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal and a block, but lacked consistent support on the scoreboard.
"I thought our team really came together to get this win," said Hinton. "I thought a lot of the guys just stepped up and made the extra effort every single play. Especially Brandon, I thought he was a monster... rebounding, blocks, just doing everything for us. That was really big for us. Ray, too, hit some huge buckets down the stretch, shooting threes from where Damien Lillard and Steph Curry were. Very big for us. Very good win and I’m excited for the next one."
The game was tight through much of the first half, with both teams trading leads and defensive stops. Late in the second quarter, Jordan briefly pulled in front before Taipei responded with a 6-0 run capped by Gilbeck’s inside finish, sending them into halftime up 39-35 and with a foothold they would not surrender.
Early in the third quarter, Taipei created real separation. Hinton’s triple, followed by Chen’s steal-and-score and Lin Ting-Chien’s long-range make, opened a 49-39 advantage – the first double-digit cushion of the game. Jordan clawed back behind Tucker’s scoring, but struggled to break through against Gilbeck’s rim protection.
The fourth quarter brought one last surge from the Falcons. Tucker drilled consecutive threes to cut the margin to 61-57, and Jordan’s full-court press disrupted Taipei’s offence. The tension was short-lived, however, as Chen answered with back-to-back triples under five minutes to play, reigniting Taipei’s momentum and effectively sealing the result.
For Chinese Taipei, the win marks a significant step forward, both in advancing to the last eight and in exorcising the memories of their 2022 Qualification to Quarter-Finals collapse to Jordan. For Jordan, the defeat ends a campaign defined by too many cold stretches on offense to mount a deep run.
Coach Gianluca Tucci's side now turn their focus to Iran, one of the tournament’s unbeaten sides. With Gilbeck patrolling the paint and their perimeter threats showing composure in key moments, Taipei enter the Quarter-Finals with both confidence and momentum.
FIBA