Bengaluru, 29^th July 2017: The Indian women’s basketball team has been elevated to Division A after beating Kazakhstan in an exciting finale.

 

BFI President K Govindaraj has announced a cash prize of INR 10,00,000/- to the Indian squad.

 

India tip Kazakhstan in thriller

The Division B final was a clash between two undefeated Division B teams, India and Kazakhstan. The two teams were meeting for the first time in the tournament. With the winner getting promoted to Division A for the next edition of the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup, both teams came out hungry for the victory.

 

Kazakhstan held the size advantage over the Indian team and this was punctuated by the play of Kazakh centre Nadezhda Kondrakova. She was able to score from inside and outside to begin the game. For India, the scoring came from a balanced team effort. Shireen was aggressive on her drives to the basket, while guards Paul Durai and Raspreet created space to knock down their jumpers.

 

Kazakhstan held a slim 3-point lead entering the second quarter and the built on it immediately. Tamara Yagodkina hit a couple of big triples in the second period to build on the Kazakh lead. Centre Kondrakova and forward Kurazova were attacking the boards for Kazakhstan, leading to multiple second chance opportunities. Kazakhstan ended the first half with another buzzer-beating triple and extended their lead to 8 points (39 to 31).

 

In the third quarter, the Kazakh offense continued to flow from bigs Kondrakova and Kurazova. But India slowly started to find their offensive rhythm. Shireen and Raspreet hit a couple of jumpers to give India some momentum. Debutante Grima Merlin came off the bench to provide an offensive spark with her strong drives to the basket. Shireen punched in a triple to end the third quarter, holding the Kazakh lead to 8 points again.

 

In the fourth, India began with a 6-0 run, with Paul Durai and Raspreet hitting a triple each. Grima followed it up with another shot from beyond the arc and the Kazakhs were thrown off their game. With the lead finally down to just one point, Jeena stepped up to give India the lead with a nifty move in the post. But Kazakh centre Kondrakova continued to fire, playing to her strengths in the post against the smaller Indian defenders. It all came down to the final minutes, when Kazakhstan arrested a 5-point lead, with a bucket from Kondrakova followed by a huge triple from forward Oxana Ossipenko.

 

But the Kazakh lead was soon cut down by a Shireen layup followed by a Jeena and-1 drive to the hoop. With the game tied at 71 apiece, both teams exchange buckets – Shireen from India and Oxana from Kazakhstan. There was 19 seconds left in the game and possession belonged to India with the ball in the hands of India’s MVP in the game, Shireen Limaye. Despite being a scambled play, Shireen managed to create space and hit a deep stepback jumper, putting India up with under a second left. The last ditch effort from Kazakhstan was to no avail and India secured a historic win, advancing to Division A of the FIBA Asia zone.

 

“All the hard work over the past 5 months paid off!” said India star Limaye after the thrilling victory.

 

India (Jeena Skaria 20 pts, Shireen Limaye 17 pts 10 rbs 6 asts, Grima Merlin Verghese 14 pts) bt Kazakhstan (Nadezhda Kondrakova 30 pts 18 rbs, Zalina Kurazova 17 pts, Oxana Ossipenko 8) 75-73 [16-19, 15-20, 19-19, 25-15]

 

Pic: fiba.com

Bengaluru, 28^th July 2017: The semifinals of the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2017 were played today, with the two Division A semifinals and one Division B semifinal at the Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium in Bengaluru, and the other Division B semifinal at the Koramangala Indoor Stadium.

 

Division A

Australia bt Korea 81-64

As the fourth ranked team in the world, Australia are favourites to go all the way and deny Japan their shot at the three-peat. They reached the semi-finals with ease, winning all their games in the group stages and brushing DPR of Korea aside in the quarterfinals. But Korea began today’s game with a desire to upset the Australian canter, and by the end of the first quarter they were within range at 17 – 22.

 

As the game wore on, Korea continued to shoot the ball well. Their three point shooting (36%) kept them in the game early on, but the Australian offensive juggernaut proved impossible to stop. The Australian women shot the ball at a respectable 45% from the field, but were superior in passing the ball around to find the driving lane. They racked up 42 points in the paint, compared to only 14 points for Korea.

 

Australian bigs Sara Blicavs and Marianna Tolo dominated the backcourt, and did not allow Jisu Park the room to repeat her performance against New Zealand. She was limited to shooting one of eight from the field, and grabbed only 5 rebounds. At the other end of the floor, Blicavs and Tolo combined for 25 points.

 

Korea were further disadvantaged by the fact that Kim Danbi played no part in the first half, and was struggling at the start of the second before checking out within 2 minutes.

 

For Australia, Kelsey Griffin top scored with 21 points, shooting the ball at an impressive 64% from the field.

 

Australia (Kelsey Griffin 16 pts; Alanna Smith 12 pts; Sara Blicavs 10 pts) bt Korea (Leeseul Kang 14 pts; Sungyoung Sim 14 pts; Yung Hui Lim 12 pts) 81 – 64 [22 – 17, 23 – 13, 16 – 11, 20 – 23]

Japan bt China 74-71

Japan and China squared off in the second semi-final to decide who would face Australia in the gold medal game. China entered the game undefeated, trouncing most of their opponents on the way to the final four. Japan, on the other hand, dropped a game against Australia in the league stages, in an otherwise trouble-free run to the semi-finals.

 

The defending champions are known for their speed, rather than size. That is exactly what they showed the crowd today. Japan looked to push the tempo, right from the start, and play a fast paced game. Despite China fielding a bigger lineup, Japan stuck to their small ball strategy, led by dynamic point guard Manami Fujioka. Japan looked to put up their shots before China got their defense in place and the strategy paid off.

 

With Japan leading 18-15 to begin the second quarter, China went on a 6-0 run, taking the lead. Shao Ting carried the offensive load for China, connecting on all 3 of her 2-point attempts in the first half. Both teams exchanged buckets and ended the first half tied up at 32.

 

In the second half, China brought back their 6-foot-7-inch centre Yueru Li and she had an immediate impact on the game. There was no Japan defender who could contain her when she got deep post position and this worked to China’s advantage. While Japan continued to work through their backcourt of Fujioka and Rui Machida, China relied on the shooting of Shao Ting and post play of Li. The third quarter ended with China up 55-54.

 

In the fourth, China began to pull away building a slim lead. This is when Japan went on a blistering run led by their fiery point guard Fujioka. She penetrated the China defense with ease and created multiple opportunities for her teammates. Japan went on an 11-0 run to take a 2-point lead (71-69) in the final minutes. But China managed to tie things up with 2 minutes to go. However, a clutch triple by Japan’s Yuki Miyazawa in the penultimate minute game Japan a crucial 3-point lead. China hurried their opportunity to tie the game, which gave Japan possession in the final minute. Two offensive rebounds by Japan down the clock, forcing China to foul Fujioka. She had the opportunity to seal the game, but missed both freethrows, giving China life. China had a good look at a game-tying triple but Xiufeng Shi was unable to convert. Japan held on to clinch a thrilling victory.

 

“We just looked to get out and run. Forty minutes of pace!” said Japan coach Hovasse after the game. Japan will face Australia in the final, and will look to make amends this time around after losing to them in the league stages.

 

Japan (Manami Fujioka 19 pts 14 asts 8 rbs, Yuki Miyazawa 16 pts, Maki Takada 13 pts) bt China (Shao Ting 16 pts, Song Gao 13 pts, Yueru Li 13 pts)74-71 [18-15, 14-17, 22-23, 20-16]

New Zealand defeat DPR of Korea 82-61

New Zealand beat DPR of Korea by a comfortable margin (82 – 61), securing their status in Division A. In the first quarter, the Tall Ferns shot the ball well, building up an early 23 point lead. DPR of Korea could not find their way back from there. New Zealand’s women dominated in the middle, outrebounding Korea 53 – 27 and scoring 48 points in the paint. Kalani Purcell led the effort with a double-double (13 points and 14 rebounds), and Jillian Harmon chipped in with 15 points. DPR of Korea must now play Philippines tomorrow in a battle against relegation to Division B.

 

New Zealand (Jillian Harmon 15 pts, 9 rebs; Kalani Purcell 13 pts, 14 rebs; Georgina Agnew 10 pts) bt DPR of Korea (Jong Ok Ri 19 pts; Hyang Ok Kim 17 pts; Suk Yong Ro 11 pts) 82 – 61 [31 – 8, 18 – 17, 22 – 16, 11 – 20]

Philippines lose to Chinese Taipei 53-87

Philippines lost to Chinese Taipei in a one sided game that saw them go behind in the first quarter and trail throughout the game. Centre Hsi-Le Bao led her team with a double-double (16 points and 11 rebounds), as her team shot a healthy 44.3% from the field. For Philippines, France Mae Cabinbin led the scoring with 14 points, but did not find much offensive support from any of her teammates. Philippines must now battle DPR of Korea to avoid being relegated back to Division B.

 

Chinese Taipei (Hsi-Le Bao 16 pts, 11 rebs; Yu-Ting Lin 14 pts; Ying-Chieh Wu 14 pts) bt Philippines (France Mae Cabinbin 14 pts) 87 – 53 [25 – 17, 13 – 8, 21 – 17, 28 – 11]

Division B

India edge past Lebanon

Hosts India took on Lebanon in their Division B semi-final in the last game of the day. India has had an untroubled run in Division B thus far, entering the game unconquered. Lebanon’s only loss was against an impressive Kazakhstan side in the league stages.

 

In the first quarter, Lebanon was the more aggressive team. Despite none of their players touching 6 feet, Lebanon outrebounded India and created 6 second-chance points. Their shooting was on point as well, with guards Rebecca Akl and Lama Moukaddem combining for 3 triples, including a buzzer-beating three to end the first quarter. For India, veteran point guard Anitha Paul Durai connected on both her shots and Shireen Limaye found her way to the basket, for 5 points each.

 

Lebanon held a 4-point lead entering the second quarter, leading 20 to 16. In the second, Lebanon continued their good shooting and was also forceful on drives to the basket. For India, the scoring came from multiple players. Raspreet Sidhu found her touch, while IMG Academy graduates Barkha Sonkar and Kavita Akula contributed with a triple each. India entered halftime down by 5 (33 to 38).

 

The third quarter was an up-and-down affair with both teams finding the bottom of the bucket at regular intervals. Veteran guards Paul Durai and Raspreet continued to fire, knocking down shots with efficiency. Forward Jeena Skaria got her mid-range game going creating for her teammates from the post, while centre Rajapriyadarshini contributed with a couple of buckets in the paint. For Lebanon, the 3-point barrage continued from Lama Moukaddem and Rebecca Akl. Paul Durai hit a buzzer-beating triple to end the third, ensuring that the Lebanon lead remained at 2 points (58-56).

 

In the final period, both teams played good defense in the first five minutes. Lebanon continued to maintain a slim lead, until India forward Jeena Skaria caught fire, hitting three straight shots and knocking down a technical freethrow, putting India ahead by 6 points. India never looked back, holding off Lebanon and maintaining their lead in the final minutes. Late clutch freethrows from Jeena and Raspreet sealed the deal, giving India a memorable 79-69victory. They now advance to the Division B final where they will face Kazakhstan.

 

India (Jeena Skaria 20, Raspreet Sidhu 17, Anitha Paul Durai 13) bt Lebanon(Rebecca Akl 20, Lama Moukaddem 16, El Charif Chirine 15) 79-69 [16-20, 17-18, 23-20, 11-23]

Kazakhstan advance defeating Uzbekistan 77-51

The second Division B semi-final took place earlier in the day between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Kazakhstan have remained undefeated so far, and carried on their fine form into this game. After a largely even first quarter, Kazakhstan put their pedal to the gas in the second quarter, outscoring Uzbekistan 23 to 9. This opened up the game, giving the Kazakhs a comfortable double-digit lead.

 

Zalina Kurazova led the scoring for Kazakhstan with 24 points, while Kondrakova had a big double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Kazakhstan sealed the deal with a strong fourth quarter (22-9), registering a 77-51 blowout win and qualifying for the Division B final tomorrow. Sevastyanova had 19 points for Uzbekistan in the loss.

 

Kazakhstan (Zalina Kurazova 24 pts, Nadezhda Kondrakova 18 pts 10 rbs) bt Uzbekistan (Anastasiya Sevastyanova 19 pts, Irina Averyanova 13 pts 15 rbs, Aliya Samatova 10 pts) 77-51 [17-13, 23-9, 15-20, 22-9]

Sri Lanka lose to Fiji 64-65

Sri Lanka and Fiji played out a nail-biting game in what was essentially a dead rubber, with Fiji narrowly edging the game 65 – 64. The teams went into the fourth quarter tied at 47, and the lead changed hands several times before Fiji went ahead for the final time in the last minute of the game. Mili Koyamainavure top scored with 22 points for Fiji, and made some crucial plays down the stretch.

 

Fiji (Mili Koyamainavure 22 pts; Bitila Tawake 11 pts, 13 rebs; Tiyana Kainamoli 10 pts, 10 rebs) bt Sri Lanka (SulochanaIddamalgoda 12 pts; Imesha Durage 10 pts; Nadeeshani Silva 12 rebs) 65 – 64 [16-13, 8-15, 23-19, 18-17]

Pic: FIBA.com

Bengaluru, 27^th July 2017: The quarterfinals of the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2017 concluded today for both Division A and B, with games played at the Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium and Koramangala Indoor Stadium.

Division A

Korea knock New Zealand out

The first quarterfinal was a clash between South Korea and first-timers in the FIBA Asia Zone, New Zealand. This was a golden opportunity for New Zealand to qualify for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup next year after spending years falling short in the Oceania zone due to the mighty Australians.

 

The first quarter was a low scoring affair for both teams. Korea especially struggled while shooting from the field, with only 20% of their shots falling. As many as five New Zealand players got on the scoreboard in the first period, as they ended the quarter with a 14-8 lead.

 

The second quarter was pivotal in the scheme of the game: Korea fought back, dramatically improving their shooting percentage, and going on a huge 26-2 scoring run. Guards Han Byul Kum and Yung Hui Lim combined well with bigs Joo Yeong Kwak and 6-foot-4-inch Jisu Park. On the defensive end, Korea switched to a 3-2 zone and challenged New Zealand to knock down shots. Unfortunately, the outside shots were not falling for New Zealand and on the inside, Jisu Park made life difficult for the New Zealand slashers.

 

Starting the second half down 20 to 34, New Zealand’s veteran point guard Micaela Cocks sparked the offense with back-to-back 3s. This kicked off a 12-2 run for New Zealand, as they cut the lead down to 4 points. But Korea continued to score down low through their bigs Park and Kwak. As many as 32 points were scored by Korea in the paint in the first three quarters, compared to New Zealand’s 14.

 

In the final period, it all came down to making shots. Korea carried on their momentum, knocking down clutch buckets down the stretch. Jisu Park continued to hold the fort down low and was aggressive around the basket on offense. New Zealand’s shooting woes continued and they were just not able to bridge the gap.

 

“The ball didn’t go into the hoop enough!” said NZ coach, Kennedy Kereama after the game. Korea pulled away for a 64-49 win, sealing a semifinal berth tomorrow.

 

Korea (Jisu Park 10 pts 11 rbs, Yung Hui Lim 14 pts, Joo Yeong Kwak 11 pts) bt New Zealand (Jillian Harmon 13 pts 10 rbs, Antonia Edmondson 11 pts 9 rbs, Micaela Cocks 11 pts) 64-49 [8-14, 26-6, 11-18, 19-11]

 

Australia ease past DPR of Korea

Favourites Australia took on DPR of Korea in the second quarterfinal of the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2017. Both teams entered the game with contrasting records. While Australia are unbeatean, DPR of Korea came out of the league stages with no wins under their belt.

 

There was a stark size difference between the two teams. Australia, with the bigger lineup, ran their offense through the post, as usual. The Opals were able to score in the paint over the smaller Korean defenders with ease: 28 of Australia’s points were scored in the paint. Australia held a significant rebounding advantage as well, outrebounding Korea 50 to 22. Their offensive rebounding led to 25 second-chance points.

 

DPR of Korea’s players fought valiantly, but were outmatched in all departments. The superior Aussies held the lead from start to finish. They were led by Alanna Smith’s 20 points, followed by Sara Blicavs’ 13 points. Australia will now face South Korea in the semifinal.

 

Australia (Alanna Smith 20, Sara Blicavs 13, Stephanie Cumming 11) bt DPR of Korea (Suk Yong Ro 22, Ryu Jong Kim 7, Hyang Jong Pak 7) 81-48 [28-12, 21-11, 11-12, 21-13]

China blow out Philippines

China made light work of the Philippines in the third quarterfinal of the day, sealing a spot in the semifinals tomorrow. Just like the previous quarterfinal, size was the crucial difference between the two teams.

 

There was too much one-on-one play by the Philippines guards, which did not pay off against the bigger China lineup. China, on the other hand, executed their offense to perfection. On half court sets, their ball movement created easy open looks, which they were able to knock down at a high percentage. China also used their post players to run a lot of offensive possessions against the undersized Perlas.

 

6-foot-7-inch China centre Yueru Li led the way once again with 19 points and 12 rebounds. China was able to test their bench strength in today’s game and they performed exceptionally well, contributing 62 points. China dominated in all departments and closed out on a massive 117-43 win, breaking the Cup scoring record thus far. Philippines remain winless in a disappointing welcome to Division A.

 

China (Yueru Li 19 pts 12 rbs, Sinjin Huang 15 pts, Shao Ting 12 pts 7 asts) bt Philippines (Afril Bernardino 11 pts, Camile Sambile 10 pts) 117-43 [33-13, 28-2, 25-16, 31-12]

 

Japan overcome Chinese Taipei

Defending champions Japan took the last semi-final spot with a gritty 73–57 victory over Chinese Taipei. The challengers came out of the blocks with a clear plan to stifle Japan’s transition game, and it worked well in the first quarter. The Chinese Taipei offense also complemented their defensive effort, as they were hitting their shots. Hsi-Le Bao started strong with a block and a three pointer, as they ended the first quarter with a narrow lead (15 – 13).

 

But as the game wore on, their effort began to slacken. Japan’s star point guard Asami Yoshida dished out some splendid passes to find her teammates in space, as the Japanese took the lead 33 – 30 into halftime. From there on, Japan’s lead only continued to grow, and they eventually won by a comfortable 16 point margin.

 

Japan’s offensive effort was led by Moeko Nagaoka, who shot at a remarkable 70% and top scored with 28 points; Asami Yoshida notched up 8 assists and 3 steals. Japan will now face China in the semifinals, in a rematch of last edition’s final which Japan won comfortably.

 

Japan (Moeko Nagaoka 28 pts; Saki Mizushima 11 pts; Asami Yoshida 8 asts) bt Chinese Taipei (Ping-Jen Huang 17 pts; Hsi-Le Bao 16 rebs) 73 – 57 [13 – 15, 20 – 15, 19 – 15, 21 – 12]

Division B

 

India cruise to semis

Hosts India played Fiji in the last quarterfinal of the day, as they looked to continue their charge towards promotion. The Indian offense was on fire once again in the first half, as they raced to a 42 – 23 lead by halftime. Anitha Paul Durai and Jeena Skaria did the bulk of the scoring in the first half, with 24 points between them. Kavita Akula put in an assured performance at point guard, even knocking down a buzzer beater three at the stroke of halftime.

 

In the second half, Coach Zoran Visic gave his bench a run-out, allowing Grima to continue her run of good performances in this tournament (15 points). India’s centres were offensively productive, as Rajapriyadharshini finished with 12 points and Poonam Chaturvedi had 10 points.

 

India was superior in almost every department, outrebounding the Fiji team 55 – 25. Fiji were also clumsy with their passing, allowing the Indian women to notch up 28 points from turnovers.

 

In the final analysis, the team shot the ball well, at a healthy 45% from the field. Anitha Paul Durai led the scoring for India with 19 points and Grima Merlin chipped in with 15 points. Mili Koyamainavure led the scoring for Fiji with 23 points.

 

India (Anitha Paul Durai 19 pts; Grima Merlin 15 pts; Rajapriyadharshini Rajaganapathy 10) bt Fiji (Mili Koyamainavure 23 pts) 93 – 51 [19 – 11, 23 – 12, 25 – 16, 26 – 12]

 

Uzbekistan fend off feisty Singapore

Uzbekistan set up a semifinal clash with Kazakhstan after an emphatic come-from-behind victory over Singapore. Singapore began the game well, going up 37 – 32 by halftime. But Uzbekistan came back strongly in the third quarter and outscored their opponents 33 – 16. The game eventually finished 84 – 79. Singapore played hard, looking for high percentage shots and racking up 46 points in the paint. But the 12-point deficit to start the fourth quarter proved too much to overcome. Elena Khusnitdinova starred for Uzbekistan with a double-double (19 points and 11 rebounds), while Natalya Koneva top scored with 26 points. Uzbekistan was on fire from beyond the arc, shooting an impressive 47.4%.

 

Uzbekistan (Natalya Koneva 26 pts; Elena Khusnitdinova 19 pts, 11 rebs; Anastasiya Sevastyanova 16 pts) bt Singapore (Jia Min Lim 18 pts, Cheryl Poon 13 pts; Jacqueline Chu 13 pts) 84 – 79 [18 – 22, 14 – 15, 33 – 16, 19 – 26]

 

Lebanon brush past Sri Lanka

Lebanon booked their spot in the Division B semifinals with an easy 86 – 37 victory over Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka shot the ball poorly, hitting only 20% of their shots from the field. Veteran centre Nadeeshani Silva top scored for Sri Lanka with 17 points, but none of her teammates broke into double figures. They were also outrebounded by Lebanon 60 – 41. For Lebanon, power forward Narine Gyokchian notched up a double-double, with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Lebanon will now face India in the semifinal.

 

Lebanon (Lama Moukaddem 16 pts; Nancy Maalouf 14 pts; Narine Gyokchian 13 pts, 12 rebs) bt Sri Lanka (N. Silva 17 pts) 86 – 37 [25 – 11, 22 – 9, 29 – 10, 10 – 7]

Bengaluru, 25^th July 2017: The group stage of the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2017 concluded today, with four Division A games and one Division B game at the Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium in Bengaluru, and two Division B games at the Koramangala Indoor Stadium.

 

India has stormed into the Division B Quarterfinals after topping their preliminary Group stages, 2-0.

Division A

New Zealand come from behind to beat Chinese Taipei

A crucial last day of group games kicked off at the Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium in Bengaluru with a hugely consequential game between Chinese Taipei and New Zealand. With one win apiece, both teams were looking for the win to nab second place in Group A.

 

In the first quarter, Chinese Taipei opted to play zone defense to keep the bigger New Zealand players out of the paint, and executed their plan to near perfection. New Zealand were relegated to taking contested outside shots, and struggled to penetrate. On the other hand, Chinese Taipei were sinking their shots, racing to a 23 – 7 lead early in the second quarter.

 

As the game wore on, New Zealand stepped up their defense and hustle for every possession, forcing Chinese Taipei to take tougher shots, and found their way back into the game. They managed to tie it up at 38 with 9 minutes left in the game, before edging ahead for a 59 – 53 win.

 

Jillian Harmon struggled to make her shots in the first half, but willed her side back into the game and finished with 15 points and 15 rebounds. “We were too stagnant in the first half, we talked about cutting more to beat the zone,” she said. Centre Kalani Purcell was a big factor in the comeback, scoring 16 of her 22 points in the second half. She also had 13 rebounds.

 

New Zealand (Kalani Purcell 22 pts, 13 rebs; Jillian Harmon 15 pts, 15 rebs; Micaela Cocks 12 pts) bt Chinese Taipei (Hsi-Le Bao 12 pts; Fan-Shan Huang 7 pts) 59 – 53 [7 – 21, 17 – 14, 10 – 3, 25 – 15]

Australia hand Japan first defeat

Probably the most awaited game of the league stages took place today with defending champions Japan taking on world no. 4 Australia. The game turned out to be a fascinating exhibition of contrasting styles of basketball.

 

There was not much to separate the teams in the first quarter, with players on both sides knocking down their shots. Japan began the second period with a slim 1-point lead (15-14). But Australia shot out of the gates in the second, going on a 7-0 run. The Opals channeled most of their offense through the post and it paid off.

 

Veteran centre Marianna Tolo along with forwards Kelsey Griffin and Sara Blicavs carried the bulk of the scoring load for the Aussies. They were patient in the post and used their size to hit shots around the basket against the small Japan defenders.

 

But each time Australia though they had pulled away, Japan fought back to close the gap. Backup point guard Manami Fujioka put on a dazzling offensive display, despite her tiny stature. She was able to penetrate the Australia defense with ease, either scoring or creating for her teammates. She ended up with a double-double of 18 points and 10 assists. Japan’s first-choice point guard had a below average display and saw little playing time. Along with Fujioka, the shooting of Yuki Miyazawa (19 points) helped keep Japan in the contest.

 

In the second half, Australia’s 3-point shooting lit up the game. The Opals shot an incredible 60% from 3-point range in the game, led by Katie-Rae Ebzery and Stephanie Cumming who hit all three of their attempts. Tolo also stepped up in the clutch, hitting a couple of buckets down the stretch to maintain the Australia lead.

 

“We did a better job of controlling the tempo in the second half. We wanted to play more of a grind-out game,” said Tolo after the game. Australia ended with an 83-74 win.

 

Australia (Marianna Tolo 17, Kelsey Griffin 16, Sara Blicavs 12) bt Japan (Yuki Miyazawa 19, Manami Fujioka 18, Maki Takada 10, Yuka Osaki 10) 83-74 [14-15, 20-15, 25-20, 24-24]

 

Korea get first win of the tournament against Philippines

The third fixture of the day was the final Group B game, played between Philippines and Korea. The Philippines’ women were looking for their first win of the tournament and began the first quarter brightly. Punching above their weight against a bigger Korean team, they raced to a 12 – 4 lead. But in the last few minutes of the first, Korea began to knock down a few shots and tied the game 19 – 19 by the end of the quarter.

 

From then on, Korea began to establish themselves in the paint: Guard Kim Han Byul (178 cm, 5ft 10”) and centre Park Jisu (195 cm, 6ft 5”) commanded the paint, grabbing the offensive rebounds and converting the second chance attempts.

 

The women from the Philippines worked hard to keep up, driving hard to the basket and attempting the odd 3 – point shot.

 

But the size disadvantage proved too hard to overcome, as Korea began to build a lead. Their shooting was disappointing, at only 38 percent, but they were dominant on the boards. They grabbed 65 rebounds compared to 41 for the Philippines, and scored 26 second chance points.

 

Five players finished with scoring in double figures, two of whom had double – doubles: Kim Danbi (19 points & 10 rebounds) and Lim Yung Hui (13 points & 10 rebounds).

 

Korea (Kim Danbi 19 pts, 10 rebs; Park Jisu 15 pts; Lim Yung Hui 13 pts, 10 rebs) bt Philippines (Allana May Lim 14 pts; Analyn Almazan 12 pts; Janine Pontejos 10 pts) 91 – 63 [19 – 19, 25 – 15, 26 – 13, 21 – 16]

 

China dominate against DPR of Korea

The final league stage game of Division A saw China taking on DPR of Korea. China is undefeated thus far in the tournament, while DPR of Korea is still searching for its first win.

 

It was immediately obvious that China had the size advantage. DPR of Korea’s small lineup was unable to handle the bigger Chinese players. China scored a majority of their buckets around the basket, led by their 6-foot-7-inch centreYueru Li.

 

Korea’s players had no answer for Li who received numerous touches in the paint. She put up 33 points to go with 11 rebounds. China was able to test their bench strength today, with all but one of their players getting a chance on the court. Their team play was scintillating to watch – 38 assists on 44 made baskets. Sijing Huang also had a double-double for China with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

 

China ended up blowing out DPR of Korea by over fifty points. They have now ended up at the top of their table ahead of the quarterfinals beginning on Thursday. For DPR of Korea, it was a winless league stage.

 

China (Yueru Li 33 pts 11 rbs, Song Gao 14, Sijing Huang 12 pts 10 rbs) bt DPR of Korea (Suk Yong Ro 20, Jong Ok Ri 11) 110-53 [23-7, 30-20, 28-11, 29-15]

 

Division B

Kazakhstan maintain perfect record with win over Fiji

In the first Division B game of the day, Kazakhstan beat Fiji 71 – 48. They capitalized on their size advantage in the paint, grabbing 24 offensive boards and scoring 16 second chance points. OxanaOssipenko top scored for Kazakhstan with 21 points, hitting five out of eight shots from beyond the arc. BulouKoyamainavure top scored for Fiji with 28 points, but she had little support from the rest of her team mates. Having topped Group B, Kazakhstannow qualify automatically for the semi-finals, because Group A comprises only three teams.

 

Kazakhstan (Oxana Ossipenko 21 pts; Tamara Yagodkina 16 pts; Nadezhda Kondrakova 13 pts) bt Fiji (Bulou Koyamainavure 28 pts) 71 – 48 [19 – 9, 14 – 7, 16 – 12, 22 – 20]

 

Singapore run Lebanon close

Lebanon beat Singapore 74 – 64 to recover from their terrible start to the tournament, having lost to Kazakhstan in their first game. They shot the ball at a healthy 47%, and were led in scoring by Nancy Maalouf with 16 points. Lebanon capitalized on their size advantage, scoring 32 points in the paint and limiting Singapore to only 12. Singapore put up a valiant challenge, led by forward Cheryl Poon with 20 points, but eventually succumbed to the size and physicality of the Lebanese team.

 

Lebanon (Nancy Maalouf 16 pts; Chirine El Charif 15 pts; Rebecca Akl 11 pts) bt Singapore (Cheryl Poon 20 pts; Jia Min Lim 12 pts; Jayne Tan 11 pts) 74 – 64 [18 – 16, 16 – 15, 21 – 11, 19 – 22]

 

Grima Merlin stars as India outclass Sri Lanka

The headline game of the day was the host’s matchup against Sri Lanka, as they looked to cement top spot in Group A. The Indian women were heavily favoured to prevail over their island neighbours, and they did not disappoint.

 

They recorded an emphatic 88 – 42 victory. Coming off an impressive game against Uzbekistan, Grima Merlin turned in an even better performance, notching up a double-double (20 points and 10 rebounds).

 

But in comparison to Sunday’s assured and all-round performance, the Indian women began the game rather nervously: missing outside shots and turning the ball over. Nevertheless, they worked hard to penetrate the paint and find the high-percentage looks. Centre Rajapriyadharshini was a dominant force in the paint early on, grabbing offensive rebounds and converting the second chance points.

 

As the game wore on, the Indians’ lead grew. This gave coach Visic the opportunity to give his bench a run-out before the tougher knockout fixtures. There were good showings all around as the bench combined to score 51 points.

 

Shireen Limaye racked up 10 rebounds for the second game in a row, in a great collective showing off the boards that saw India notch up 85 rebounds, in comparison to only 40 for Sri Lanka. India’s young centre Poonam Chaturvedi scored 8 points late in the game to the sound of loud cheers from the crowd.

 

India will now play Fiji in the quarterfinals on 27^th July at the Sri Kanteerava Indoor Stadium, Bengaluru.

 

India (Grima Merlin 20 pts, 10 rebs; Anitha Paul Durai 13 pts; Shireen Limaye 8 pts, 10 rebs) bt Sri Lanka (Imesha Dapana Durage 9 pts; Nadeeshani Kumarine Silva 8 pts) 88 – 42 [23 – 10, 3 – 17, 13 – 19, 16 – 29]

 

 

Division A quarterfinals schedule

Division B quarterfinals schedule

Picture credits: FIBA.com

Bengaluru, 23^rd July 2017: The FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2017 tipped off this morning at the Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium in Bengaluru.

Division A

Australia down Korea

The first Division A game was a clash between powerhouse Australia and Korea. Playing for the first time in the FIBA Asia zone, Australia made an emphatic statement with a 78-54 win.

 

Ranked number 4 in the world, Australia got off to a slow start, allowing Korea to gain a 15-13 lead at the end of the first quarter. But from the second period onwards, Australia stifled the Koreans, forcing them to take tough contested shots. Korea managed only 3 points in the second quarter compared to Australia’s 20.

 

With a 33-18 lead to begin the second half, Australia cruised the rest of the way, relying on the scoring of forwards Kelsey Michelle Griffin (15 points) and Allanna Smith (13 points). Point guard Lauren Stacey Mansfield had 6 points and 5 assists.

 

Australia (Kelsey Michelle Griffin 15, Alanna Smith 13, Belinda Snell 11) bt Korea (Sungyoung Sim 11, Jisu Park 10, Hana Park 7) 78-54 [13-15, 20-3, 24-18, 21-18]

Japan rout Philippines

The Philippines were given a tough introduction to Division A, as they were defeated by Japan 106 – 55. The Japanese women got off to an electric start in the first quarter, opening up a 16-point lead. The lead only continued to grow as the game wore on, as the Japanese women continued to rotate the ball well, and maintain a high tempo on transition.

 

Evelyn Mawuli (21 points) led the scoring for Japan, and five other players also finished with scoring in double figures. Star point guard Asami Yoshida racked up five assists in the first five minutes of the game, and could afford to spend the rest of the game on the bench as the Japanese lead was never threatened.

Japan (Evelyn Mawuli 21 pts; Miyuki Kawamura 14 pts; Sakura Akaho 12 pts) bt Philippines (Gemma Miranda 17 pts; Allana May Lim 9 pts; Janine Pontejos 8 pts) 106-55 [25-11, 31-20, 31-8, 19-16]

Chinese Taipei edge past PRK

Chinese Taipei won their first game of the tournament 77 – 76 against DPR of Korea, in a thrilling finish. The game was tied at 60 going into the fourth quarter, and tied at 76 in the final minutes of the game. With seconds left on the clock, Chinese Taipei were awarded free throws for a foul committed by DPR of Korea, and managed to convert one of them.

 

The women from Chinese Taipei had to overcome a spirited performance from Suk Yong Ro, who had 36 points, shooting at a surreal 82%. DPR of Korea fielded a small team that played the game with a lot of intensity and at a very high tempo, forcing Chinese Taipei to play catch-up through most of the game. There were seven lead changes and five ties over the course of the game.

 

Chinese Taipei was led by centre Hsi-Le Bao who had a double-double, racking up 17 points and 10 rebounds.

 

Chinese Taipei (Hsi-Le Bao 17 pts, 10 rebs; Yu-Hao Lan 14 pts; Ping-Jen Huang 11 pts) bt DPR of Korea (Suk Yong Ro 36 pts; Hyang Ok Kim 23 pts) 77-76 [20-28, 20-16, 20-16, 17-16]

China defeat New Zealand

In their first match in the expanded FIBA Asia zone, New Zealand was blown out by team China. China’s size bothered New Zealand throughout the game. Starting at centre for China was 6-foot-7-inch Yueru Li, who was a towering presence in the paint.

 

China played excellent defense on New Zealand, rotating well and closing in on the NZ shooters. The paint was practically shut down by Yueru Li and backup centre Hongpin Huang. On the offensive end, China was patient, using the shot clock and finding the open shot.

 

Despite the absence of their first-choice centre Sun Mengran, China led from start to finish and closed out on a 77-48 win. Meng Li top scored for China with a game-high 15 points. Jillian Harmon had 14 points for New Zealand in the loss.

 

China (Meng Li 15, Yi Shen 14, Shuang Zhao 14) bt New Zealand (Jillian Harmon 14, Micaela Cocks 9, Antonia Edmondson 8) 77-48 [17-10, 22-14, 21-16, 17-8]

 

 

 

Division B

 

India defeat Uzbekistan

India began their quest for promotion to Division A with a flourish, beating Uzbekistan 92 – 76. The Indian women were hugely productive offensively, led by Anitha Paul Durai with 28 points. She was money from three-point land, hitting six of seven shots, and played with her heart on her sleeve, hustling on every possession.

 

Coach Visic rotated his team throughout the game, and there were bright performances all round: Jeena Skaria chipped in with 12 points and Shireen Limaye had 10 rebounds. Last minute call up Grima Merlin was very effective off the bench with 17 points, many of which were scored in transition.

 

India (Anitha Paul Durai 28 pts; Grima Merlin 17 pts; Jeena Skaria 12 pts) bt Uzbekistan (Elvira Salavatova 15 pts; Elena Khusnitdinova 14 pts; Natalya Koneva 13 pts) 92 – 76 (19 – 9, 24 – 21, 26 – 23, 23 – 23)

 

Singapore outclass Fiji

The other Division B games took place in Koramangala Indoor Stadium, starting with the game between Singapore and first time participants Fiji. Singapore outmatched Fiji in all departments, ending with a 103-38 win. Jayne Sarah top scored for Singapore with 21 points.

 

Singapore (Jayne Sarah En Min Tan 21, Jacqueline Jia Jia Chu 17, Cheryl Poon 17) bt Fiji (Bitila Sigani Tawake 8, Tiyana Anne Kainamou 7) 103-38 (35-9, 25-12, 18-9, 25-8)

 

Lebanon lose to Kazakhstan

The last s followed by the game between Kazakhstan and Lebanon. Lebanon shot the ball poorly (29% FGP) and was outrebounded 35 – 51. Eventually, the game finished 62 – 54 in favour of Kazakhstan, for whom Tamara Yagodkina top scored with 22 points and Zalina Kurazova had a double-double (14 pts, 11 rebs).

 

Kazakhstan (Tamara Yagodkina 22 pts; Zalina Kurazova 14 pts, 11 rebs; Nadezdha Kondrakova 11 pts) bt Lebanon (Rebecca Akl 18 pts; Lama Moukaddem 10 pts; Chirine El Charif 9 pts) 62 – 54 (15 – 13, 14 – 11, 21 – 13, 12 – 17)

 

Pic credit: FIBA .com

Bengaluru, 22nd July 2017: The inauguration ceremony for the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2017 took place today at the Ritz – Carlton, Bengaluru, presided by the Governor of Karnataka, Vanjubhai Rudabhai Vala.

K Govindaraj, President of the Basketball Federation of India, stressed the importance of the Cup: “The best of Asian talent from 15 nations is in Bengaluru for the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2017, which is the first senior level international tournament to be hosted in Karnataka. In fact, this Championship comes back to India for only the second time, after Chennai hosted it way back in 2009.”

Mr Hagop Khajirian, the FIBA Regional Director – Asia, also expressed optimism about the future of basketball in India: “Fans in India will witness first-hand the likes of Asami Yoshida, Marianna Tolo, Kim Danbi, Jillian Harmon, Shao Ting and many more. We have a strong belief and hope that hosting the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2017 will be a step forward towards increasing the popularity of the game in this sports frenzied nation.”

Other invited dignitaries Sri KJ George (Hon’ble Minister for Bangalore Development and Town Planning and Bengaluru District in-charge Minister) and Sri N A Haris (Hon’ble MLA, Shantinagar Constituency). The event was hosted by Smt G Padmavathi, Mayor of Bengaluru.

The inauguration ceremony was also witnessed traditional dance performances that showcased the cultural heritage and diversity of India.

This officially tips off the Cup, which will be played from 23rd to 29th July 2017 at the Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru.

Bengaluru, 17^th July 2017:  The preparations for the prestigious FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2017 are in full swing. At a press conference this afternoon at the Century Club, Bengaluru, BFI President K. Govindaraj and Secretary General Chander Mukhi Sharma scheduled an interaction with the media. They were joined by Mr Anupam Agrawal [IPS], Director, Youth Empowerment and Sports.

 

The Cup is all set to take place from July 23-29 at the Kanteraava Indoor Stadium and Koramangala stadium in Bengaluru. India first participated in this event in 1970, and has competed 17 times in total. The Indian women’s team best finish in this tournament came in the year 2013, when it finished 5^th, including a historic Level 1 victory. Prior to that, India’s best finish had been 6th place at the 1992, 2009 and 2011 iterations.

 

India needs to top Division B to get elevated into Division A for the next edition.

 

Online ticketing is live

The city of Bengaluru last hosted a FIBA Championship back in 2004 (the U18 Championship for Men). The Championship is returning now at the senior level. Just like the Harlem Globetrotters’ visit to the Kanteerava stadium back in 2006, which drew huge crowds, it is expected that the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup too will be a big boost not just for the city but also the state of Karnataka and the country.

 

With the participation of Australia, the 2006 World champions, and Asian giants like holders Japan, China, South Korea and Chinese Taipei, this event is expected to provide immense inspiration to the young aspirants and the senior players as well.

 

Tickets are on sale in full swing online since 11^th July (www.ticketgenie.in/fiba-tickets). Starting 22^nd July, tickets will also be sold at the box office at the Kanteerava Stadium.

 

Full support provided to the Indian team

There are high hopes from the Indian team. India is ranked No 40 in the FIBA world rankings and is at No 5 in Asia. The BFI identified probables over two months ago and they have been in a coaching programme in Bengaluru itself so that they get acclimatized with the weather and playing conditions.

 

The team was given proper friendly games and also sent to Chinese Taipei for an exposure trip.

 

Serbia’s much-acclaimed coach Zoran Visic has taken charge of the team. BFI is providing all facilities to enable them to put their best foot forward. Diet, medical requirements, proper accommodation in a good hotel, transport and exposure trips, whatever is needed has been provided in order to ensure that the team regains its due place in Level 1 again.

 

Support from the Government

The Karnataka State Basketball Association has been in the forefront of organizing major national and international events. It is impossible to host such a major event without the support from the State government and other government departments. Sri Siddaramaiah, the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka, is a sports lover himself and has always provided all support, whether financial and other logistical, as well. For this event, the CM himself is the Chief Patron of the Organising Committee.

The Sports Minister, Sri Pramod Madhwaraj, the Minister for Bengaluru Development and Town Planning, Sri K J George and the Dept of Youth Empowerment & Sports have been working with BFI all along. The State government has given BFI all support and cooperation in every respect so that the event is successful and our foreign guests go back without any cause for complaints.