FIBA Asia – Day 3 Round-Up: 20th FIBA Asia Champions Cup

JAKARTA (FIBA Asia Champions Cup) - Korean Army outfit Sangmoo outscored their opponents 18-8 in the final five minutes and eked out a 69-66 win over Kuwaiti league champions Al Qadsia in a pivotal Group A game at the 20th FIBA Asia Champions Cup on Thursday.

In another Group A game, an injury-ridden Al Riyadi Beirut fielded only their bench for the entire duration and Mahram raced way to an 87-61 win.

In Group B action, Jordanian league champions Zain overpowered their Indonesian counterparts Satria Muda 84-71 and Al Arabi of Qatar defeated their fellow Gulf rivals Al Wasl for the first time in three meetings with a 97-78 win.

Guard Hee Jong Yang, with a 66.67% success rate in field, including a 4/6 record in three-pointer attempts, led Sangmoo’s scoring with a game-high 26 points – nine of them coming in the final five minutes.

Qadsia scored the first seven points of the game, but struggled thereafter with their offensive rhythm and trailed for the entire first half.

The Kuwaiti club seemed to have found their bearings, when they managed a six-point lead going into the final ten minutes.

Qadsia stretched that lead to 58-51 with 5:13 left, when Sangmoo unleashed their final blow and raced away to their maiden win.

“Our offense let us down,” said Qadsia coach Jordancho Davitkov.

Qadsia’s American import Mike Harris scored only two of his team-high 22 points in the final quarter and Ahmad Albrahim only three of his 20 points.

“Obviously I’m very happy with the result,” said Sangmoo coach Lee Hun Jae.

“More importantly, I thought we were a lot organized, especially when we trailing at the end of the third quarter,” he added.

Sangmoo, who had lost both their previous outings – to Smart Gilas and Al Riyadi – thus bounced back into contention for a place in the quarterfinals.

Al Qadsia, who had lost to Al Riyadi in their opening game, now face the daunting task of needing to win either of their two remaining games – against the mighty Mahram or the speedy Smart Gilas – to remain in the race for a place in the play-offs.

Four of Riyadi’s starters were down with injury and sickness.

Christian Charles and Fadi El Khatib were ruled out as of Wednesday and Ali Fakhreddine (knee) and Brian Feghali (flu) joined them in the hospital list. El Khatib and Feghali didn’t even make it to the venue.

Coach Fouad Abouchakra decided to rest Nate Johnson – the only fit starter – thus providing an opportunity for his bench to start the game.

“What’s the point in tiring only him out,” Abouchakra justified his decision.

“We need to preserve ourselves in order to stay long in the tournament,” he said.

“Fadi can play only in the semifinals, if we make it. As for the others, you’ll see them once they are ready. I hope it happens sooner than later.”

Abouchakra found symphathy from counterpart Mostafa Hashemi.

“I feel really sorry for the coach (Abouchakra),” Hashemi said.

“I hope their players can get fully fit and the two teams meet again. Only then it will be a complete championship for us,” he added.

Riyadi, who had beaten Korea’s Sangmoo and Kuwait’s Al Qadsia in their first two games, thus suffered their first defeat, and take on Smart Gilas on Friday before Mahram’s clash with Al Qadsia.

Having lost both their previous encounters against Wasl – both the defeats coming in the GCC, including 69-84 defeat two weeks ago – Arabi looked a charged up lot.

American Joshua Jones, who was inducted in their ranks after the GCC justified the faith with a game high 38 points.

Seasoned campaigner Erfan Saeed produced a double-double with 13 points and as many rebounds.

Khalid Abdi converted four of his five three-pointer attempts in 16 points and Maurice Hargrow – Jones’ American compatriot – had 16 ppints.

For Wasl, their imports – American Chukwunike Okusa and Ivorian Herve Lamizana – justified their inclusion. Both had 21 points.

Al Arabi had defeated Young Challengers of India in their opening game on Wednesday. Al Wasl, who are now 1-2 in Group B, take on Young Challengers on the morrow after Arabi’s clash with hosts Satria Muda.

Zain raced ahead 23-16 in the first ten minutes and never looked back as all the players barring center Jamal Almaayatah got a feel of the court.

American Ontario Lett returned a double-double with a game-high 12 rebounds to strengthen his team-high 16 points.

Mousa Awadi and Roderick Riley chipped in with 12 points each. Mohammad Hammdan spent the least time on court, but all the others who played entered their name in the Zain scoresheet.

“It was not as easy as it looked,” said Zain assistant coach Robert Taylor.

“I think our style of playing – power won us the game today,” Taylor said.

As expected imports Nakiea Miller and Rashad Powell were the leaders of the hosts pack.

Miller, returning to full presence from a painful ankle led the scoring for the game with 20 points and also collecting 10 rebounds.

Powell returned 16 points.

“We knew we had no chance against their size,” Satria coach Fictor Roring said.

“They were better than us in all respects – experience, talent and scoring. What I’m really happy about is that my players gave their 100%. That’s a huge bonus for us,” he added.

Zain’s third win on the trot left them perched firmly on top of the group. Satria, who lost to UAE’s Al Wasl on the opening day, have thus lost both their outings.

Zain have a break on Friday and take on Al Arabi on Saturday, in a clash which possibly could decide the Group B toppers.

Scores

Group A

Sangmoo 69 (Hee Jong Yang 26, Bong Su Kim 14, Gu Young Park 10) bt Al Qadsia 66 (Mike Harris 22, Ahmad Albrahim 20). Quarterwise Scores: 20-18, 39-34, 46-52.

Mahram 87 (Jackson Vroman 13, Priest Lauderdale 13, Hooman Rezae 13) bt Al Riyadi 61 (Sabra Yehya 20, Rony Fahed 14). Quarterwise Scores: 29-12, 53-27, 67-44.


Group B

Zain 84 (Ontario Lett 16, Mousa Awadi 12, Roderick Riley 12) bt Satria Muda 71 (Nakiea Miller 20, Rashad Powell 16, Rony Gunawan 13). Quarterwise Scores: 23-16, 40-33, 64-49.

Al Arabi 97 (Joshua Jones 38, Khalid Abdi 16, Maurice Hargrow 14, Erfan Saeed 13) bt Al Wasl 79 (Chukwunike Okusa 21, Herve Lamizana 21, Khalifa Katoot 15). Quarterwise Scores: 23-17, 51-36, 74-59.

S Mageshwaran
FIBA Asia