NEW TAIPEI CITY (Chinese Taipei) - Chinese Taipei finally got on board in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers following a stunning 77-65 win over Korea as Window 2 got underway on Thursday night.
It was their first after suffering twin losses to Japan back in the opening window but the result, witnessed by an electric crowd at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium, was more than just barging into the win column.
It's a historic one, actually.
A check at the records showed that the 12-point victory was their first against Korea in major FIBA competitions in over 15 years, or since a 70-65 escape at FIBA Asia Cup 2009.
Here's a quick look at the hea-to-head matchups:
Year | Competition | Winning team | Final score |
2026 | FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers | Chinese Taipei | 77-65 |
2022 | FIBA Asia Cup | Korea | 87-73 |
2013 | FIBA Asia Cup | Korea | 75-57 |
2011 | FIBA Asia Cup | Korea | 82-61 |
2009 | FIBA Asia Cup | Chinese Taipei | 70-65 |
2009 | FIBA Asia Cup | Korea | 72-70 |
2007 | FIBA Asia Cup | Korea | 85-70 |
1999 | FIBA Asia Cup | Korea | 61-54 |
1997 | FIBA Asia Cup | Korea | 96-71 |
1995 | FIBA Asia Cup | Chinese Taipei | 63-62 |
1989 | FIBA Asia Cup | Korea | 112-91 |
1987 | FIBA Asia Cup | Korea | 98-81 |
1986 | FIBA Asia Cup | Korea | 89-80 |
Chinese Taipei now have three wins against Korea, although their most recent result should be more painful for the latter as they got denied from booking an early trip to the World Cup Qualifiers' Second Round.
And for the charges of Coach Gianluca Tucci, it goes without saying that the W they pulled off against an old tormentor shall give them the confidence that they can compete given their history in this stage.
"It was an amazing game. We played one of the best games ever since I'm here."
Prior to the second window, Chinese Taipei had lost 13 of their 14 games in the World Cup Qualifiers, including the last 11. They have allowed 80+ points in their last six games and failed to score more than 73 points in that span.
But tough times don't last as they say, and they would finally turn things around by taking down an erstwhile unbeaten team that came into this window on a high after a shocking sweep of China previously.
Still, they know that the job done isn't done yet. After all, it's only their second win in 15 games in the World Cup Qualifiers, and they would need to add more to it to keep the dream of going to Qatar in 2027 alive.
It may be a daunting task but the future looks bright especially after Chinese Taipei drew solid performances from numerous players to help deliver the triumph, with a quartet of them finishing in twin digits.
That included star guard Benson Lin, who finished with 18 points behind an excellent 7-of-10 shooting from the field for an efficiency of 15 to submit his best performance of the 2027 World Cup Qualifiers thus far.
Clearly, he got the best of his contemporary and an old rival in Lee Hyunjung, who tried to strap the Koreans on his broad shoulders and went on to finish with 18 points as well on three triples, on top of 8 rebounds.
That face-off between the two stars proved reminiscent of their FIBA U16 Asia Cup 2015 Final meeting. And the way they delivered for their respective sides shall make their rematch in Window 3 all the more exciting.
That we can't wait for.
FIBA