SEREMBAN (Malaysia) - Hong Kong, China seized pole position in Group B after surviving a tough stand by Malaysia, 72-61, in the FIBA U16 Women's Asia Cup 2025-Division B, Sunday evening at the Karisma Arena.
Valerie Lau starred with 22 points, half of which she made in the opening period before helping set the tone for the second-quarter pullaway which enabled the crew to lead by as many as 19, 60-41, to end the third canto.
And that proved to be a good enough cushion for the East Asian crew to hold off a spirited comeback attempt by the host nation, which saw the latter chop the gap to just seven, 68-61, with only 1:03 remaining in the match.
Free throws by Lui Ching Yui and then Lau inside the final 25.9 seconds were the insurance buckets they needed to seal the victory - and to move one win away from sweeping their way into the Semi-Finals.
Lui finished with 11 points alongside 5 rebounds and 3 assists while Lee Tsz Yiu added 11 as the crew sustained their winning ways from their 74-71 victory over Indonesia Saturday where they rallied from 20 down.
Hong Kong, China improved to 2-0 and are definitely looking to complete their sweep of the group when they take on Tonga on Monday, September 15, at 19:00 local time in the final game of the Group Phase.
Erma Ervina led the young Harimau with 16 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists in the fightback that fell just short. Jong Qian Hui and Trixie Teo added 10 points apiece in the loss that dropped their record to an even 1-1.
The Malaysians will look to bounce back against Indonesia on Monday as well at 16:30 local time in a meeting between long-time SEABA rivals, with the hope to keep their Semi-Final aspirations alive.
Coach Pang Hui Pin's unit will face a Timnas side that's coming in with high morale after their dominant 83-57 conquest of the Tongans, a result that dealt the latter their second loss in as many outings.
Eager, of course, for redemption after bowing to Hong Kong, China, the Indonesians raced to a 23-11 start in the game's first 10 minutes but it wasn't until the second chapter where they'd break away for good.
Ayu Krisabella and Chloe Cung nailed a trifecta each and those long shots triggered what would become a blazing 19-0 run to grow an eight-point edge to a 42-15 lead with less than three minutes left in the said period.
Indonesia would eventually nab their first win of the tilt, with Florenza Celesta bannering the triumph with a remarkable double-double of 19 points and 18 rebounds plus 2 assists for an efficiency of 32.
Chelsea Kutiawan supplied 11 points, while Inez Welly chipped in 10 points.
Tonga only had Ruby Cutbush in double digits with 13 points although the team, as a whole, tried to show its teeth on defense in the second half but the lead that Indonesia built proved to be too insurmountable.
FIBA