《TAIPEI TIMES》Taiwan beat China at FIBA U18 event, eye semi-final spot

/ Staff writer, with CNA

Taiwan on Wednesday stunned Group B rivals China 74-61 at the FIBA U18 Women’s Asian Championship in India, the junior national team’s first win against the five-time defending champions in 20 years, and backed up the performance yesterday by hammering Indonesia.

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Taiwan’s win at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru saw them become only the second side after Japan to defeat China at the tournament since 2004.

Taiwan started sluggishly, with China winning the opening tip-off and ending the first quarter ahead 25-10.

China stretched their advantage to 17 points 1 minute, 12 seconds into the second quarter with a layup from shooting guard Wang Jing.

However, the tide started to turn from there as Taiwan’s solid defense and piercing offense brought the score in their favor.

Taiwan sank 21 unanswered points in the second quarter over a blistering seven-minute run and returned to the bench at the close of the third quarter with a 56-44 lead.

Taiwan guard Chang Yu-lan scored eight of 11 from within the arc and two of two from the stripe in the fourth quarter to help secure the win.

Center Hsiao Yu-wen, who scored 39 points against Japan in Taiwan’s previous group game on Tuesday, recorded a double-double of 13 points and 14 rebounds.

China forward Li Wenxia led all scorers with a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds.

After a loss to Japan on Tuesday, Taiwan improved their record to 2-1 with an 81-16 demolition of Indonesia in their final group game yesterday, finishing second in Group B after Japan yesterday beat China 76-59.

As the top team in the group, Japan advanced directly to the semi-finals, while Taiwan today likely face either New Zealand or India from Group A — who were still playing at press time last night — for a chance to make the last four.

Australia topped Group A, while South Korea were provisionally second, which would earn them a shot at a semi-final berth in a playoff against China.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES