Day 1, Level 1 Round-Up - China, Korea win big; Japan down Taipei

CHENNAI (23rd FIBA Asia Women Championship) - Defending champions Korea and last edition’s silver medalists began their campaign in a rousing fashion posting rather facile wins in their opening Level I games on Thursday.

Korea whipped India 102-46 and China surged ahead with a 115-51 win over Thailand. Japan, however survived a few scares before going past Chinese Taipei 73-65.

Incidentally, both India and Thailand had won play-offs in the last edition to play in Level I here.

Japan played solidly in the closing moments and defeated a familiar, but fierce, Taipei.

Yuko Oga played all the 40 minutes of the game and obviously was the decisive force for the Japanese, who are here on a quest to retain at least their bronze medal – and regain their chance to represent FIBA Asia in the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

“It was our first game and we were probably facing the toughest opponent in the opener,” said Fumikazu Nakagawa.

“That was the reason for us to play Yuko without a break. Also they (Chinese Taipei) were always pecking on our heels,” he added.

Ryoko Utsumi – one of Oga’s teammates at Incheon two year ago – sparkled with in her attempts on the paint.

Utsumi fired in all her five two-pointer attempts, and converted three of the five three-pointers, to tally a 21-point game.

Chinese Taipei did rather well, as they always have against Japan, but failed at the crucial junctures.

“It happens,” said Chinese Taipei coach Lin Hung Ling-Yao.

“When the two teams know each other so well, and are equally equipped it always boils down to a couple of shots,” the veteran coach said.

Li Wan-Ting and Liu Chun-yi shared the scoring honours for Taipei with 12 points each.

Sharpshooter Beon Yeonha and seasoned campaigner Jung Sunmin were, as expected, the stars in Korea’s win over the hosts.

Beon Yeoha fired in a game-high 26 points and Jung Sunmin returned a double-double.

“We expected a lot tougher fight from the Indians,” said Korea coach Lim Dal Shik.

Beon Yeonha fired five three-pointers in nine attempts and scored 23 of her points in the first half itself.

Jung Sunmin collected a game-high 14 rebounds to go with her 20 points as Korea never trailed nor showed any relent throughout.

Both Beon Yeonha and Jung Sunmin were rested for the entire fourth quarter.

“We hope we can roll,” Jung Sunmin said.

“Playing the hosts is never easy. We are happy with the win,” she added.
 
Geethu Anna Jose was restricted to only 14 shots for the entire game and her scoring was thus restricted to 15 points – the highest for India.

Huang Hongpin, despite playing only the first and the third quarter, led China’s scoring with 18 points.

Guan Xin, China’s mainstay in their second-place finish at Incheon two years ago and Olympian superstar Miao Lijie played for less than their normal time on the court and scored 13 points apiece.

Guan also had a game-high eight rebounds.

“We are yet getting used to the conditions,” Sun Fengwu said.

“We are coming together well as a team, but we need more time and games to play our best,” he added.

Juthamas Jankatan’s game-high 20 points was the highest for Thailand.

S Mageshwaran
FIBA Asia