Taiwan’s dreams of qualifying for next year’s basketball World Cup were dealt a severe blow yesterday when they lost their final group-stage game at the FIBA Asia Championship to Qatar 71-68.
Entering the game with a 4-0 record in Group E, Taiwan needed to beat Qatar (3-1) to finish atop the group and set up a quarter-final matchup against the fourth-placed Group F team, likely Kazakhstan.
Although Taiwan staged an impressive rally when trailing by 12 points with four minutes left, their efforts fell just short of what was needed when center Tseng Wen-ting missed a three-point shot from well behind the arc with just seconds to go.
The loss meant that Taiwan will finish second in the group, provided that the Philippines defeat Hong Kong as expected in yesterday’s later game, setting up a likely quarter-final encounter with China tomorrow.
So far in the championship, China have not shown themselves to be the Asian basketball powerhouse they typically are, suffering group-stage losses to Iran and South Korea, but they still make a much more formidable foe for Taiwan than Kazakhstan would have been.
The loss to Qatar broke Taiwan’s five-game winning streak at the Manila tournament, in which the top three finishers will qualify for the 2014 FIBA World Cup.
They had previously upset the Philippines and Jordan, as well as defeated Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and Japan, but were unable to clear the final group hurdle.
Although Taiwan came off best in shooting from the floor in a game in which neither team shot well, they were outrebounded 48-32 and had 12 fewer second-chance points than Qatar. Only two Taiwan players — center Quincy Davis and point guard Chen Shih-chieh — posted double-digit scores.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely