A total defensive collapse in the game-deciding third quarter led to a bitter defeat for Taiwan as it dropped the opener to Japan by an 85-75 final score on Saturday night in the basketball competition of the Asian Games at Doha, Qatar.
Chen "Airman" Hsin-an (Yulon Dinos) racked up a game-high 24 points for Taiwan, 14 of which were scored during an evenly-fought first half, but it still was not enough to deliver the win against a tenacious Japan squad that outshot Taiwan by a 46 percent to 35 percent margin.
The contest began with Chen hitting three monstrous three-pointers in a fast-paced first quarter that ended in a 25-25 tie. Taiwan led by as much as six points midway through the second quarter, before consecutive three-pointers by Japan's Kashiwagi Shinsuke brought his team to within a point of Taiwan, the first half ending 42-41.
Carrying its first-half momentum into the third quarter, Japan turned its attention to playing inside the paint and were rewarded with several key buckets from big man Eric McArthur.
The low-post dominance by Japan, coupled with a five-minute scoring drought for Taiwan ultimately helped Japan build a nine-point cushion (64-55) after the third quarter, a lead it would not relinquish en route to victory.
Four different players scored in the double-digits for Taiwan, with Chen's 24 leading the way and Lin "the Beast" Chih-jeh (Taiwan Beer) pitching in with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Tien Lei of the Dacin Tigers also scored a dozen to match center Tseng Wen-ding (Dinos), but the offense never really gelled.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care