China and Japan enter title game in Colombo

Wang Haimei

SEMIFINALS
Japan U16 - Taiwan U16 99:60
Japan celebrated the win over Taiwan in the U16 Asia Championship Final. They will now take on China to defend the title. Stephanie Mawuli (181-C-98) and Sana Goto (180-PF-97) scored 13 points each for the winners.
Japan nailed 23 points in the opening frame and secured a 12-point lead after ten minutes. Japan stayed in control throughout the second term. They dropped 34 points building a comfortable 57:24 halftime advantage. Japan kept Taiwan at bay throughout the third term. They rolled to a massive 82:40 lead at the final intermission. Taiwan outscored their opponents in the fourth term but could not avoid the defeat. Hinano Mizuno (172-G-97) and Yuki Kato (177-PF-97) had 11 points apiece for the winners. Kao Yu-Lin (161-G-99) responded with 13 points for Taiwan. Cho Ching (172-F-97) chipped in 12 points in the losing case.

Japan U16: Stephanie Mawuli 13, Sana Goto 13, Hinano Mizuno 11, Yuki Kato 11
Taiwan U16: Kao Yu-Lin 13, Cho Ching 12

China U16 - South Korea U16
China will play in the title game in Colombo. They outgunned South Korea to set up the clash versus Japan in the Final of U16 Asia Championship. Wang Haimei (172-G-97) produced 19 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists to lead the winning side.
China snatched a narrow 22:18 lead after the opening quarter. They boosted the margin throughout the second term. China arrived at the interval up by as many as 11 points 41:30. China triggered a massive 28:8 run in the third quarter to clear off. South Korea slowed their opponents down in the final stanza but could not avoid the defeat at the end. Dilana Dilishati (192-C-97) chipped in 17 points for China. Guo Zixuan (187-F-97) and Ha Wenxi (188-C-97) knocked down 9 points each for the winners. An Heji (164-PG-97) answered with 10 points for South Korea. Han Eomji (179-C-98) tossed in 7 points in the losing case.

China U16: Wang Haimei 19, Dilana Dilishati 17, Guo Zixuan 9, Ha Wenxi 9
South Korea U16: An Heji 10, Han Eomji 7

Level I Playoffs
India U16 - Kazakhstan U16 84:71
India remains in Level I for the next U16 Asia Championship. They needed an 84:71 win over Kazakhstan at the Play-off stage. Kazakhstan managed to take 10-9 lead midway through the first period, but India grabbed 20-14 after 10 minutes. The board showed 29:24 after 15 minutes, while Kazakhstan tied it all at 36:36 at the halftime. The second half however fully belonged to India. The latter reached 62:51 lead after 30 minutes of the game and increased to final 13 points.
Riya Verma (179-F-98) top-scored for the winners with 24 points and Bhandavya Hemmige (163-F-98) netted 23. VENKATARAMAN Srividhya chipped in 20, whilst KOLLAM THODI Mayukha had 11. Alexandra Arzamastseva (187-C-98) Anastassiya responded with 21 points and 15 rebounds in defeat and Elmira Abikeyeva (167-G-97) as well as Alexandra Kovalevskaya had 13 each. Irina Bovdun produced 10 points in a loss.

India U16: Riya Verma 24, Bhandavya Hemmige 23, VENKATARAMAN Srividhya 20, KOLLAM THODI Mayukha 11
Kazakhstan U16: Alexandra Arzamastseva 21+15 rebs, Elmira Abikeyeva 13, Alexandra Kovalevskaya 13, Irina Bovdun 10

Malaysia U16-Thailand U16 39:59
Thailand head to Level I for the next U16 Asia Championship. They won the Play-off game against Malaysia 59:39 and took their spot in the next edition.
It was a slow start from both teams as both of them realized the importance of the game. Thailand won the first period 5-4, but the stormed past the opponents with a massive 21-2 surge. It became clear at the halftime that Thailand would win the game. The latter added 16-11 rally in the third period and increased to 25 points after 30 minutes of the game. Malaysia replied with a 22-17 run in the last stanza for the final result. SIRIPHUNTHANUN and Rujiwan Bunsinprom (173-F-98) top-scored for the winners with 15 points each. Amphawa Thuamon (173-F-97) collected 13 points and 15 rebounds, while Thunchanok Lumdappang added 8. Kar Syuen Khoo (163-G-98) ended up with 10 points in a loss, whilst Ching Yee Ho (160-G-98) netted 7. Yu Feng Ng (170-G/F-97) and Yun Wei TAN produced 6 points each in a loss.

Malaysia U16: Kar Syuen Khoo 10, Ching Yee Ho 7, Yu Feng Ng 6, Yun Wei TAN 6
Thailand U16: SIRIPHUNTHANUN 15, Rujiwan Bunsinprom 15, Amphawa Thuamon 13+15 rebs, Thunchanok Lumdappang 8