FIBA U16 Asian Championship 2023: New Zealand Holds Off Korea, Japan Stages Comeback, and China Triumphs Over Philippines

September 18, 2023
4:54 am
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In the kickoff of the FIBA U16 Asian Championship 2023, New Zealand stood firm against Korea, Japan made a stunning comeback to defeat Iran, and China clinched a victory against the Philippines in three intense games.

Host nation Qatar secured an opening-day victory for the second year in a row, thanks to an outstanding performance from their returning star player. Malaysia, after missing last year’s competition, also marked their return with a triumphant win.

Meanwhile, Australia maintained their undefeated streak, while Jordan and Lebanon sailed to resounding victories.

Australia Starts Title Defense with Convincing Win

Australia wasted no time in establishing their dominance, mirroring their stellar performance from the FIBA U16 Asian Championship 2022. They opened the 2023 campaign with a commanding 114-50 win.

The Crocs roared out of the gates, posting a 33-14 lead in the first quarter and never looking back. Indy Cotton led the charge with 17 points on 5-6 shooting, and every player contributed with at least 6 points.

Furthermore, Australia’s team effort was evident as each player recorded at least one assist, accumulating a total of 38 assists. This marked the second-highest assist count since this statistic began being recorded in the competition back in 2013.

Australia’s victory extends their all-time winning streak in the competition to an impressive 12 games.

New Zealand Holds Strong Against Korea for Opening Victory

Semi-finalists from the 2022 edition, New Zealand, clinched a hard-fought 83-81 win against Korea, avenging their early exit in the previous year’s competition.

Korea sprinted to an early lead and commanded most of the first quarter. However, New Zealand shook off the pressure, quickly leveling the score. By halftime, New Zealand had bounced back with a balanced attack, establishing a lead of their own.

Their lead grew as large as 17 points in the third quarter, seemingly cruising to a comfortable victory. Yet, Korea showed resilience, clawing their way back into the game in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.

In the end, New Zealand managed to hold off their opponents in a tense finale. The decisive play was a block from behind by Lachlan Crate, with Hayden Jones sealing the deal with a transition dunk, giving New Zealand a 4-point lead with only 16 seconds left.

Korea’s effort was led by Daniel Edi, Jihoon Yoon, and Woohyeok Yang, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win.

Japan Stages a Comeback to Beat Iran

Japan, last year’s finalists, surrendered a substantial lead but managed to claw their way back for a thrilling 65-62 victory over Iran.

The game began with Japan racing to a 12-point lead in the first quarter, led by Shogo Takata, who finished with 21 points. However, Iran quickly rallied, tying the game early in the second quarter.

As Japan’s initial fervor waned, Iran steadily built up an 8-point cushion in the final quarter. Yet, in an exciting turn of events, Japan mounted a 14-point comeback, securing a hard-earned victory.

Besides Takata’s scoring prowess, Japan benefited from the all-around performance of Leon Shingo and a standout performance from young talent Chusonjakku Shiratani.

For Iran, Iman Valizadeh led the scoring effort with 17 points.

Jordan Cruises to Victory Over Bahrain

After a back-and-forth start, Jordan cruised to a dominant 85-44 victory over Bahrain.

A 13-0 run that bridged the first half and extended into the third quarter sealed the deal for Jordan. This victory marked their return to the competition after a decade-long absence.

Omar Hijazi dominated for Jordan with 18 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 blocks on efficient 8-11 shooting. Faisal Shawwa contributed significantly with 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks.

Ndao Shines as Qatar Claims FIBA U16 Opening Day Win

Mohamed Ndao exceeded expectations in his second appearance at the U16 Asian Championship, leading Qatar to a 91-82 victory over Saudi Arabia.

Playing all 40 minutes, Ndao recorded 25 points, 18 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 5 blocks, achieving an impressive EFF rating of 40. He became only the second player, since the statistic was introduced in 2015, to reach a rating of at least 40 EFF.

The game remained fiercely competitive throughout the first half, with the lead changing hands 18 times. However, from the second half onward, Qatar dominated proceedings.

Abdullah Yassin Mousa also had a standout game for Qatar, scoring 28 points while playing the entire 40 minutes.

For Saudi Arabia, Reda Almatroud and Amjad Abdulwahab M Ateek delivered solid performances, but they face a challenging journey to secure their first win in the competition in over a decade.

Malaysia Claims Important Victory Over Kazakhstan

In a crucial Group Phase matchup, Malaysia emerged victorious with a 79-71 win over Kazakhstan.

Malaysia initially fell behind after a stumbling start in the first quarter, allowing Kazakhstan to go on an 11-0 run. However, they quickly regrouped and countered with a 13-0 run to seize the lead for good in the second quarter.

Elvin Hoo, Malaysia’s sharpshooter, found his rhythm and finished with 18 points, leading the team. Meanwhile, Ivan Remezov was Kazakhstan’s top performer with 24 points on efficient shooting, but they couldn’t fully capitalize on their size advantage.

Lebanon Welcomes Sri Lanka to FIBA U16 Asian Championship

Lebanon, semi-finalists in 2022, introduced Sri Lanka to their first-ever FIBA U16 Asian Championship with a dominant 99-45 victory.

Lebanon left no room for doubt, leading for all but 55 seconds of the game. Jason El Dekss scored a game-high 32 points in under 23 minutes, while Ralph Iskandar contributed with 13 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 6 steals.

Vishwa Herath showcased promise for Sri Lanka, posting 18 points and 8 rebounds.

China Prevails in Rivalry Matchup Against the Philippines

China and the Philippines didn’t disappoint in an exciting clash, with China emerging victorious with an 83-67 win.

The margin widened to double-digits late in the second half after an entertaining back-and-forth battle in the first half. The Philippines faced a 5-point deficit early in the fourth quarter but failed to score in the last 7 minutes of the game, sealing their fate.

All 11 players who took the court for China contributed to the scoreboard, with Boyuan Zhang leading the way with 17 points.

Kiefer Alas led the Philippines with 20 points.

Sports Betting Buzz Surrounds FIBA U16 Asian Championship

As fans eagerly follow the action on the court, many are also engaging in the excitement of sports betting, making predictions, and wagering on their favorite teams. The unpredictability of the games, the rise and fall of underdog stories, and the potential for upsets all add to the allure of betting on these youthful talents.

Bookmakers are offering a wide range of betting options, from straightforward match winners to more intricate prop bets. This dynamic environment creates an additional layer of engagement for fans, allowing them to immerse themselves further into the tournament’s highs and lows.