2013 FIBA Asia Championship: Taipei maintains strong form, dumps Hong Kong

(Updated 4:35pm) Chinese Taipei buried Hong Kong, 94-55, in Group E play in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship, Monday, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Chinese Taipei converted five three-pointers in the pivotal third quarter, complementing slashing play from Quincy Davis, to improve to 3-0. They now tie Qatar in Group E play, while Hong Kong lost their third straight, 0-3.

Chen Shih-Cheih scored 13 points to lead five players in double-digits. Tien Lei tallied 12 points, while Lu Cheng-Ju and Douglas Creighton notched 11 points each. Yang Chin-Min scattered 10 markers.

Hong Kong got off to a quick start, drawing triples from Wong Chun Wai, Fong Shin Yee and Chan Yik Lun to lead, 12-8. But Chinese Taipei soon recovered, finding transition opportunities and driving lanes in an 11-5 run, until a Fong Shin Yee tip-in with 38 ticks to go allowed Hong Kong to equalize, 19-19, after the first period.

Chinese Taipei gained separation in the second quarter, throwing different looks on defense to frustrate Hong Kong's shooters. They then scored as they ran out early after stops, and a Douglas Creighton triple capped a 9-2 run, 28-21.

Hong Kong called a timeout midway through the period, and engaged Chinese Taipei in a shootout. Chan Siu Wing and Chan Yik Lun converted from deep, but Chinese Taipei matched them as Yang Chin-Ming and Creighton kept the margin steady, maintaining a 43-32 advantage at halftime for Chinese Taipei.

After the break, Chinese Taipei left Hong Kong in the dust. Quincy Davis dissected the defense with seven points in an 18-4 run, punctuated by consecutive triples from Lu Cheng-Ju and Chen, 61-26, with five minutes in the frame. Chinese Taipei continued their onslaught, widening the gap to 30 points on a Yang triple, 72-42, in the last three minutes to keep a comfortable margin for the rest of the way.

Chinese Taipei converted a staggering 34-of-59 (58 percent) field goals, while Hong Kong were 21-of-71 (30 percent). They also led in points in the paint (22-10) and fast break points (14-2).

Fong Shin Yee top-scored for Hong Kong with 13 points and 15 rebounds, while Douglas Reid and Chan Yik Lun tallied nine points each. - AMD, GMA News


The scores:

Taipei 94 - Chen 13, Tien 12, Lu 11, Creighton 11, Yang 10, Davis III 9, Hung 7, Chou 7, Lin 6, Tsai 6, Tseng 2

Hong Kong 55 - Fong 13, Chan 9, Reid 9, Lee 5, Li 4, Tung Leung Lau 4, Lam 3, Tsz Lai Lau 3, Chan 3, Wong 2

Quarter scoring: 19-19, 43-32, 74-43, 94-55