SEREMBAN (Malaysia) - Uzbekistan salvaged a fifth-place finish in Division B of the FIBA U16 Women's Asia Cup 2025 following a 54-47 victory over Malaysia, Thursday at the Karisma Arena.
The team from Central Asia raced to a 19-5 start, but needed to repel the home team's comeback attempt late in the game before coming away with the victory to finish their campaign strongly.
Farangiz Lutfullaeva starred in the triumph with 17 points and 13 rebounds for an efficiency of 22 as she took matters into her own hands down the stretch to ensure that no collapse would take place.
She scored the team's last 9 points, capped by back-to-back floaters inside the final 1:11 of the match toward a 54-46 lead as their Southeast Asian counterparts struggled to buy a basket, eventually folding.
The others also did their part in making the triumph possible, with Shakhzoda Urinova knocking down three triples for 9 points. Rayhona Salimova only had 4 points but still made her presence felt with 10 rebounds.
Uzbekistan flat-out dominated the boards, 64-37, and collected 10 steals as well.
Long Ze Lin, on the other hand, was the lone bright spot for Malaysia with 15 points.
The young Harimau concluded their run with four straight losses to end up at sixth - indeed a far cry from their 2023 run in which they took home the bronze medal after beating Hong Kong, China, 52-46.
FIBA