POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
Il-Young Heo
Group A
South Korea - Macau 124:39
South Korea clinched the third straight win at the East Asian Championship. The hosts dismantled Macau in Incheon today. Heo Il-Young (197-F-85) fired 29 points to lead the winners. South Korea will now take on Hong Kong in the semifinal on Monday.
South Korea stunned their opponents in the opening quarter. Macau managed to score just one point in the first ten minutes to face a woeful 33-point deficit at the break. South Korea sank 36 points in the second frame and gained a 70:12 halftime lead. The hosts scored eagerly in the second half cruising to a comfortable victory at the end. Kim Jong-Kyu (207-C-91) delivered 20 points for the winners. Lee Jung-Hyun (191-F-87) and Park Jae-Hyun (187-G-91) finished with 12 points each for the hosts. Ka Tong Lai (191-C-95) responded with 13 points for Macau. Chan Cheok Wa added 6 points in the loss.
South Korea: Heo Il-Young 29, Kim Jong-Kyu 20, Lee Jung-Hyun 12, Park Jae-Hyun 12
Macau: Ka Tong Lai 13, Chan Cheok Wa 6
Japan - Taiwan 71:70
Japan withheld a furious challenge from Taiwan to celebrate a crucial victory in the final day of the preliminary action at the East Asian Championship. Both teams entered the game at 1-1 record fighting for the second position and semifinal birth from Group A. Japan withheld a late rally from Taiwan to secure so needed victory. Kosuke Kanamaru (193-F/G-89) delivered 15 points to lead the winners. Japan will now face China in the semis.
Japan and Taiwan stayed on level terms in the opening quarter. The scoreboard read 17:17 after ten minutes. Taiwan pulled ahead in the second quarter. They eked out a 35:32 halftime lead. But the third term proved decisive. Japan adjusted offensively and unleashed 22 points to surge ahead. They registered a 54:50 advantage at the final break. Taiwan worked hard to deny the deficit but Japan proved calm and accurate in the decisive moments to seal the winning outcome. Kosuke Takeuchi (206-C/F-85) and Ryota Sakurai (194-G-83) delivered 12 points each for the winning side. Tsung-Hsien Chang (192-G-87) responded with 21 points for Taiwan. Creighton Douglas (196-F-85) and Hung Chih-Shan (176-PG-85) finished with 12 points apiece in the loss.
Japan: Kosuke Kanamaru 15, Kosuke Takeuchi 12, Ryota Sakurai 12
Taiwan: Tsung-Hsien Chang 21, Creighton Douglas 12, Hung Chih-Shan 12
Group B
China - Mongolia 109:45
China finished East Asian Championship preliminary round on a high note. They knocked down Mongolia to advance into semifinal stage from the top position in Group B. China will now take on Japan in the semis. Mongolia will face Taiwan in the clash for the fifth overall position at the tournament and the ticket to the Fiba Asia Championship.
China dropped 26 points in the first frame to take a 9-point lead. They extended the margin in the second quarter. China accumulated a 49:23 halftime lead. China went on a 30:9 rally in the third term to leave Mongolia behind. Six players scored in double digits for China as they cruised to the second straight win at the tournament. Guo Ailun (192-SF-93) netted 21 points for the winning team. Yanyuhang Ding (200-F-93) contributed 15 points, while Meng Da (196-F/G-82) added 14 points for China. Deigernyam Davaasambuu responded with 12 points for Mongolia. Battur chipped in 9 points in the loss.
China: Guo Ailun 21, Yanyuhang Ding 15, Meng Da 14
Mongolia: Deigernyam Davaasambuu 12, Battur Ganbold (185-F-87) 9
