SEREMBAN (Malaysia) - Uzbekistan announced their return with a 65-62 come-from-behind victory over Samoa in a thrilling start to Division B play of the FIBA U16 Women's Asia Cup 2025, Saturday at the Karisma Arena.
Khushnoza Murodjonova struck the backbreaking triple for a 65-60 lead with 1:32 left, and a steal by Munirakhon Khalikova in the dying seconds were all enough to complete the rally after being down by as many as 12.
The rousing victory also marked a successful comeback for the young Uzbeks in the biennial youth competition after a decade - the program last played in the tourney in 2015 in Indonesia as part of the Level II cast.
Murodjonova top-scored for Team Uzbekistan with 18 points, knocking down four of their 11 three-pointers - including one to open the deciding chapter that gave themselves the lead for good at 52-50.
Farangiz Lutfullaeva, on the other hand, came through with all-around numbers of 15 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 7 of the team's 13 steals as she also played a crucial role in their fourth-quarter turnaround.
Lutfullaeva helped out Murdjonova and Shakhzoda Urinova put together the telling 13-4 scoring spree - which she herself concluded with a layup off the break - to construct a 62-54 lead with 3:45 remaining.
Then came the aforementioned trey that practically served as the dagger, eventually enabling Uzbekistan to stun a team that's hoping to go back to Division A after being relegated during the 2023 games in Jordan.
Wasted by the disappointing loss was the 19-point, 13-rebound showing of Marley Sialeipata to lead Samoa, who also received 15 and 10 from Jalyn Newton-Taito and 12 points from Tapuitea Matatia.
Sialeipata and Matatia actually spearheaded an 8-0 run for a 33-27 lead entering the break, giving the impression that they had everything under control as they went on to build a 42-30 lead during the third canto.
But it was also in that same period where Uzbekistan began their comeback trail and the Samoans would gradually crumble, ultimately losing at the end as the opposition showed better poise.
Also coming from behind were India as they thwarted Iran, 70-67.
Mahek Sharma showed nerves of steel in crunch time, completing a three-point play to break the deadlock with 1:12 remaining as the crew went on to complete the comeback from down 61-50 early in the fourth.
That also capped off a solid outing from her, as she finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Sharma's heroics, furthermore, saved the efforts of her teammates in orchestrating the resistance, which saw Reva Kulkarni lead the way with a well-rounded performance with 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists.
Kulkarni sank four of the team's five threes, the last of which tied the ball game at 67-all with 1:50 to spare before she dished the assist that led to Sharma's game-winning conversion from close range.
Aditi Subramanian chipped in 10 points in the win that made Sunday's game all the more interesting.
India and Uzbekistan are bound to meet at 14:00 local time, with the winner taking the solo lead in Group A - and more importantly moving a step closer from booking an outright qualification to the Semi-Finals.
Teams finishing first in their groups will advance directly to the Final Four.
Mobina Beheira, meanwhile, had 18 points to lead Iran in the loss. Elina Kazemevini made 13 points and 5 rebounds as the two led their third-quarter surge to take the lead, which they were able to grow to 11.
Sara Mokhtari added 11 points and 8 rebounds for the young Team Melli, who will try to notch their first win when they face Samoa on Sunday as well at 11:30 local time in a clash between teams hungry to break through.
FIBA