Streak alive as Chinese Taipei secure trip to FIBA Asia Cup 2025

Chinese Taipei had to take a longer and tiring route to the FIBA Asia Cup 2025, but nothing else should matter anymore now that they have finally reached their destination. The proud program on Friday night are headed to the continental showpiece for the 19th successive time following a masterful 122-60 conquest of a dejected Thailand, in the process completing a two-game sweep of Group G in the Qualifying Tournament for Third-Place Teams at the University of Taipei Tianmu Gymnasium. Well rested as compared to their Southeast Asian foes, the crew of Coach Gianluca Tucci wasted no time setting the tone, racing to a 22-9 lead before breaking the game wide open in the second quarter. The Thais looked for answers but to no avail, eventually kissing their hopes of advancing goodbye as they finished with two losses in as many outings - the first an 89-81 result at the hands of Guam about 24 hours ago. All that they could do was witness the home team celebrate in triumph as they made sure to reach the Asia Cup yet again, helping as well the team from the Pacific qualify to the tilt for the first time ever. Following Friday's result, half of the four remaining tickets to the August 5-17 conclave to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia have been booked, with the other two to be fought for by Iraq, Bahrain, and India over at Group H which begins action late Friday night at the Khalifa Sports City in Manama with a clash between Iraq and India. Chien-Hao Ma (201-F-2001, college: Georgia St.) led Chinese Taipei with 20 points on an excellent 6-of-10 shooting from three-point distance and 7 rebounds off the bench in the win that saw all 12 players score at least 3 points. Chun-Hsiang Lu (190-C-1997) delivered 16 points, half of which he collected from the free throw line by going a perfect 8-for-8. Mohammad Al Bachir Gadiaga, who starred in their 113-73 rout of Guam, supplied 14 points. Gilbeck Brandon (213-C-1996, college: W.Illinois) came through with a double-double of 12 points and 15 rebounds while Chen Ying-Chun (182-PG-1993, college: Liberty) prodiced 10 points and 10 assists as a total of five players finished in double figures in the wire-to-wire win.
Courtesy of: fiba.basketball