AYG FIBA 33 Basketball: China on track for double gold

Story and pictures by Koh Yizhe/Red Sports

Anglican High School, Saturday, July 4, 2009 - Favourites China remained on course for a clean sweep of both the boys and girls Asian Youth Games FIBA 33 Basketball gold medals as they overcame their respective semi-final opponents. The girls' team beat Korea 33-23, while the boys had to survive a stern test from the Philippines, winning 34-31 to prevent a massive upset.

The girls' team overcame a slow start in the first period to take a 15-11 lead into the second. Despite a couple of three-pointers giving Korea a glimmer of hope, China held on tight to their comfortable lead. Eventually, they extended their advantage to seven points at 30-23, before running away with the match, scoring three points in the final period to wrap proceedings up.

They will play Japan in the final after the Japanese beat Thailand 33-13 in two periods.

China’s boys team, however, did not have it as easy. For the first time in four matches, they found themselves on the back foot as Philippines threatened to cause a massive upset. In arguably the best match of the tournament, both teams showed what FIBA 33 was all about with fantastic drives towards the basket in nearly every possession.

China were first to register points on the board with a three-point play by Zhang Ming Hao (China, #5) but Jeron Alvin Teng replied with a pair of free throws. With a breathtaking layup to the basket, it was no surprise that Philippines eventually took the lead at 6-5 with a drive from Jeoffery Javilonar.

Both teams then attempted to outplay each other as neither wanted to be the side that gave up the first quarter. This resulted in open play and a trading of points that was extremely intense and entertaining to watch.

Philippines came into the match knowing that the key to victory was to keep the physically-imposing Zhang Ming Hao quiet, and they did just that. Couple with the lighting-quick action and the frustration of being constantly double-teamed, Zhang committed cheap fouls and was soon in foul trouble. This presented an opportunity for Philippines to take the lead. But they failed to capitalize, and game was dead-even after the first period as both teams combined for a massive 42 point-haul.

The second period carried on where it left off, with both team neck to neck and trying to pull ahead. China had the better of starts in the second with Huang Guo Bin and Li Weijie finding the net. Philippines, on the other hand, found it difficult to get their shooting game going as they missed a couple of three-point attempts.

But Jeron Alvin Teng settled nerves as his two drives levelled the scores at 25-25 once again.

Leoffrey Javillonar then followed up the good work done by his teammate with a drive of his own to give Philippines the lead for the first time in the second period at 27-26, with 1:25 left to play. But a three-pointer and a layup from Li Weijie and Zhao Xing Chen respectively gave China a crucial advantage, as they needed only two points to win the match while their opponents needed four.

Philippines got on the board quickly with Jeron Alvin Teng levelling things with a layup, but a foul on Li Weijie gave the Chinese a chance to take the match. Although he made he first free throw, he missed his second, giving the Filipinos a glimmer of hope. But he made amends soon after, scoring with a layup and sending China into the final.

Philippines’ coach Eric Altamirano commented after the match, "At the start of the match, we believed we could beat them. We wanted to defend against the big man, Zhang Ming Hao, and we forgot about Li Weijie. We allowed him to make a three-pointer at the end of the second period and then allowed him make a layup to end the match. Well, if there was no 33 point cap, and we played till the end of the 15 minutes, we could win!"

Iran will be China’s opponents in the final after the middle-eastern country came from behind to beat favourites South Korea 33-28.

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