POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
Il-Young Heo
Group A
South Korea - Taiwan 78:56
South Korea claimed the second consecutive victory at the start of the East Asian Championship in Incheon. The hosts held off Taiwan for 2-0 record on top of Group A. Taiwan fell at 1-1 record after the defeat. Heo Il-Young (197-F-85) delivered 13 points to pace the winning team.
Taiwan surprised the home team in the opening quarter. The visitors went on a 21:15 rally in the first term. But the Korean side quickly bounced back. They adjusted defensively and held Taiwan to 10 points in the second period. South Korea accumulated a 37:31 halftime lead. The hosts maintained the lead throughout the third term. They arrived at the final intermission up by 11 points 56:45. South Korea unloaded 22 points in the fourth period and sealed the winning outcome at the end. Doo Kung-Min netted 12 points, while Lee Seoung-Hyun added 11 points and 10 rebounds for the winners. Tsai Wen-Cheng (190-G/F-85) responded with 13 points for Taiwan. Creighton Douglas (196-F-85) and Tseng Wen-Ting (203-F/C-84) chipped in 9 points apiece in the defeat.
South Korea: Heo Il-Young 13, Doo Kung-Min 12, Lee Seoung-Hyun 11+10 boards
Taiwan: Tsai Wen-Cheng 13, Creighton Douglas 9, Tseng Wen-Ting 9
Japan - Macau 101:53
Japan claimed the first win at the East Asian Championship in South Korea. They fired past Macau for 1-1 record in Group A. Yuta Watanabe (200-SF-94) delivered 22 points and 14 rebounds to lead the winners.
Japan led from start to finish in this one. They dominated every facet of the game. Japan built a 25:13 lead ten minutes into the game. They exploded with 28 points in the second period to gain a 53:27 halftime advantage. Japan did not loosen the grasp in the third term. They dropped 23 points to secure a 35-point buffer before the final stanza. Taiwan managed just 12 points in the fourth quarter as Japan cruised to the victory. Kosuke Kanamaru (193-F/G-89) netted 15 points, while Makoto Hiejima (190-G-90) added 14 points in the victory. Ka Tong Lai (191-C-95) responded with 15 points for Macau. Tong Fai Cheong (190-PG-93) had 14 points in the losing case.
Japan: Yuta Watanabe 22+14 boards, Kosuke Kanamaru 15, Makoto Hiejima 14
Macau: Ka Tong Lai 15, Tong Fai Cheong 14
Group B
Hong Kong - Mongolia 76:73
Hong Kong managed to open win count at the East Asia Championship in Incheon tonight. They narrowly defeated Mongolia to improve at 1-1 record in Group B. Lo Yi Ting (177-PG-87) was instrumental in the victory scoring 25 points for Hong Kong. Mongolia fell at 0-1 record after the defeat.
Hong Kong got to a slightly better start to the game. They enjoyed a narrow 19:16 lead after the opening quarter. Mongolia pulled closer in the second frame. They cut the deficit at 2-point mark at the interval 35:33. Hong Kong stepped on the gas in the third quarter. They fired 24 points and piled up a 7-point buffer heading into the final frame. Mongolia tried hard to change the situation and cut the deficit but Hong Kong hung on to eke out victory at the end. Lee Ki (177-PG-87) netted 18 points, while Cheng Kam Hing (189-F-85) had 17 points for the winners. Sanchir Tungalag (188-G-89) responded with game-high 39 points for Mongolia. Zoljargal Namjildorj (194-F-87) had 10 points in the loss.
Hong Kong: Lo Yi Ting 25, Lee Ki 18, Cheng Kam Hing 17
Mongolia: Sanchir Tungalag 39, Zoljargal Namjildorj 10
