There was a hint of intensity in the combats on the second day of the FIBA-Asia women’s basketball championships at the JN Indoor Stadium. The first sign of it emerged from Japan, which rattled the redoubtable Chinese almost till the end of the third quarter before the latter exercised their authority to register a 75-58 victory — their second in as many days.
India showed semblance of improvement but frittered away a splendid start against Chinese Taipei to suffer an 84-61 defeat. With no point yet and slated to lock horns with China on Saturday, India has a very difficult task in hand.
The sparkle in India’s challenge lasted just part of the first quarter when it led 16-9, with Geethu Anna Jose contributing 14 points. She nonchalantly slithered through the defence ring to score. But, India lost its rhythm and this momentary loss of pace and precision was enough for Chinese Taipei to get control of the match after ending the first quarter 16-16.
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Aggressive and adept in shooting, Chinese Taipei, led by Wang Ting Li, exploited India’s inconsistent ball collection under the board.
Progressively, India lost the edge, inaccurate shooting and passing coming in the way of any combined thrust. On the contrary, Chinese Taipei tightened up on every front and ended the second quarter leading 46-34.
India looked up to Geethu beyond a point she could not take the pressure. Anitha Pauldurai strained every nerve to get the measure of the opponent’s swift raids but was not always successful. Prashanti Singh showed a bit of gumption in her approach work as did Harjit Kaur. But collectively, the team to failed to strike.
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Deceptive margin
The final difference of 17 points for Japan definitely masks the method and mobility of the team, which clearly defied the Chinese machine. Unusually phlegmatic, the Chinese allowed themselves to be outpaced and out flanked. With the immaculate shooter Noriko Koiso leading the scoring, Japan even had marginal leads of 14-13 and 28-25 in the first two quarters.
Making good of the lack of height with adjuncts of speed and accuracy in shooting, Japan did disturb the composure of the Chinese defence. Even midway in the third quarter, the scores tied at 42-42.
It was at this point the Chinese players realised that the time had come to wrest the initiative. This turnaround came from Huang Hong-ping. The lanky forward surged ahead repeatedly to score. With Chen Nan for an able ally, she enlarged the lead progressively.
By the time the final quarter began, China led 58-46 and from then on it was smooth sailing till the final horn.
The results: Group A: China 75 (Bian Lan 13, Miao Lijie 14, Zheng Fan 12, Chen Nan 18) bt Japan 58 (Noriko Koiso 17). Chinese Taipei 84 (Wan-Ting Li 14, Shih-Chieh Chang 15, Chang Ning 12, Fan-Shan Huang 10) bt India 61 (Geethu Anna Jose 34). Korea 116 (Kwe Ryong Kim 19, Sun min Jung 14, Yeon ha Beon 13) bt Thailand 45 (Sukumwong 12, Naruemol Banmoo 11).
Group B: Malaysia 84 (Beng Fong Goh 22, Chai Ling Thoh 14, Suik May Kew 12) bt Lebanon 69 (Chantelle Anderson 15, Nisrin Dandan 17, Chada Nasr 18). Kazakhstan 71 (Anna Kucheryavykh 10, Maria Protesnko 12, Oxana Ivanova 10, Alishaukaite 18) bt Philippines 52 (Chovi Bojra 16, Meranciana Arayi 26). Uzbekistan 89 (Nataliya Koniva 24, Khusnitdinova 12, Yuilya Kashuba 11, Alla Krasovskaya 15) bt Sri Lanka 48 (Pedige Inoka Juwan 15, Benica Thalagala 13).
Saturday’s matches: Group B: Malaysia v Kazakhstan (9 a.m.); Sri Lanka v Lebanon (11 a.m.); Philippines v Uzbekistan (1 p.m.); Japan v Thailand (3 p.m.); India v China (5 p.m.); Chinese Taipei v Korea (7 p.m.).