Rediscovering their shooting range after a dismal outing on Tuesday night, Taiwan A dominated Jordan from the get-go and went on to defeat the visitors 78-72 in their fifth game of this year’s William Jones Cup at University of Taipei Gymnasium in Tianmu last night.
The win not only gave the hosts some much-needed confidence, but also sole possession of the lead in the standings with a 4-1 record.
Unlike their four previous contests in which Taiwan A needed some time to warm up, last night’s match saw the hosts’ defense making a strong statement in the opening quarter by holding Jordan to just five points, while forcing eight turnovers.
Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times
However, Jordan did not go quietly as they chipped away at Taiwan A’s lead by outscoring the hosts 20-15 and 25-18 in the second and third quarters respectively, using solid perimeter play and several second-chance baskets off the glass to pull within four of Taiwan A by the start of the fourth quarter.
After an 11-0 run by Taiwan A in the first three-and-a-half minutes of the fourth that made it 65-50, Jordan managed to return the favor by rolling off a 20-9 run of their own to keep it a four-point game with less than a minute to play.
That was as close as they got as Tsai Wen-cheng and Hung Chih-shan calmly sank a pair of free throws each to put the game away.
“Good defense is the key to our transition game,” Tsai said after the game.
Tsai’s two clutch steals in the closing minutes and back-to-back fast-break baskets off Jordan turnovers down the stretch proved to be the difference as Taiwan A claimed another victory.
TAIWAN B 79, JAPAN 69
Cashing in on a 19-8 run in the third quarter, Taiwan B rallied from a first-half deficit to top Japan in the first game in Tianmu yesterday afternoon to improve to a 2-3 record.
It was the second straight day that Taiwan B recorded a Jones Cup win following Monday afternoon’s upset victory over defending champions Iran, virtually guaranteeing the hosts at least a seventh-placed finish in this year’s competition.
Five different players scored in double digits, led by Chang Jung-hsuan’s team-high 17 points and Chen Ying-chun.
However, the victory did come at a cost — Chang sprained his left ankle early in the fourth quarter.
EGYPT 102, US 76
Red-hot Egypt continued their Jones Cup winning ways by putting up 57 points in the first half en route to a blowout win over the US in Tianmu yesterday afternoon.
In other Jones Cup action, it was: South Korea 74, Iran 69
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