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2013 FIBA Asia Championship: Korea escapes China in clash of heavyweights


Yi Jianlian is met at the rim by a Korean defender. KC Cruz

(Updated 8:35pm) South Korea endured a back-and-forth battle against defending champions China, to emerge victorious, 63-59, Thursday at the MOA Arena, for a share of the lead in Group C of the preliminary round of the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship.

In the other Group C match today, Iran had outclassed Malaysia, 115-25, to also go up 1-0.

Neither side led by more than six points, as the two powerhouses slugged it out. The score was at a deadlock, 55-all, with 2:08 left, resulting in a China timeout, but they were unable to get anything out of it as Wang Shipeng turned the ball over.

Nerves were clearly coming into play, as both sides turned the ball over anew, including a second straight for Wang, giving Korea possession with 1:17 left. A pair of charities by Yang Donggeun put Korea ahead. Then, off a turnover, former NBA player Yi Jianlian missed a two-pointer, but China got the offensive rebound and hit both charities, creating yet another tie at 57-all, 41 seconds left.

Cho Sungmin drew a foul from China, and hit both, breaking the tie, 59-57, 31 seconds left. Off China's timeout, Zhou Peng missed a two-pointer and Korea collared the rebound, leading to Cho Sungmin getting fouled anew. Still steady at the line, he canned both, for a two-possession Korea lead.

China wasn't going away yet though, as Liu Xiaoyu got the basket and the foul, but he missed his bonus charity. This time, Yang Donggeun was tested, but he too canned both free throws. In desperation, China launched up two three-pointers, but both failed to connect, allowing Korea to escape with this one.

"We gave them a lot of layups and a lot of easy baskets," lamented China head coach Panagiotis Giannakis.

Kim Joo-Sung paced South Korea with 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting. Cho Sungmin added 12 markers, while Yang Donggeun chimed in with 11 points, four rebounds and four assists in a well-rounded effort.

Kim Sunhyung (C) lays it up and over China's Yi Jianlian (L) and Zhou Peng. Nuki Sabio

Yi Jianlian opened the game's scoring with a layup but Korea kept pace with their outside shooting, as China finished slightly ahead, 15-13, after the first period.

At the 6:43 mark of the second quarter, Korea guard Yang Donggeun drove in to the lane to tie the ball game at 19-all. Wang Zhizhi however countered with back-to-back shot buzzer beaters, to give his team a 23-21 lead.

Kim Sun-Hyung stole the ball at the 3:20 mark of the second and elevated for a one-handed dunk with two Chinese defenders hot on his tail to cut China's lead to a single point at 25-24. However, once again, the defending champs held on, for a slim 31-29 lead at the end of the first half.

Yi led all scorers at the half with 11 points. He was followed by Zhou Peng and Wang Zhizhi, who combined for 10 points. Korea on the other hand relied on a balanced attack with eight players pitching in.

The Chinese dominated the battle of the boards at the half as they had 19 rebounds compared to only nine for Korea.

Chen Jianghua broke a 35-all deadlock with a short jumper inside the lane, but Kim Jongkyu tied things anew on the next possession with a left-handed jump hook.

Bo Zhang was called for a unsportsmanlike foul at the 2:42 mark of the third quarter as he hit Moon Seonggon's face. However, the Korean failed to make both free throws.

Koera finally took the lead with less than two minutes left in the third as Kim Joo-sung scored on a put-back. Yang Donggan gave Korea a 44-41 lead with free throws and Kim Joo-Sung scored on a layup on their next possession.

Yi scored a split from the free throw line with 2.3 seconds left in the third quarter, but Korea managed to lead, 46-42, heading into the final quarter.

Yi completed a two handed dunk off a beautiful spin to the baseline to cut Korea's lead to two points. He then went in for another slam at the 5:44 mark of the fourth but he was fouled. Yi made two free throws to knot the ball game at 48-all.

The NBA journeyman then canned two more free throws on their next possession to give China the lead, but Kim Joo-Sung tied the ball game again with a short stab.

Another Yi free throw broke a 52-all tie at the 3:24 mark of the fourth to give China the lead. Zhou Peng added two more free throws for China but Kim Joo-Soong to knotted things anew, 55-all with 2:13 left.

"We still have a lot of games remaining so we stay together and stay positive," Yi said after the match. He led his side with a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds, but turned the ball over five times. He was also the only Chinese player in double-figures. Zhou Peng was the team's next top-scorer with eight markers.

Both sides were miserable from downtown, combining to make just one three-pointer, courtesy of Korea. Korea also got more attempts at the stripe, 30-26, and made more, 24-17.   - AMD, GMA News


The scores:

South Korea 63: Kim Joo 15, Cho 12,  Yang 11, Kim S. 9, Lee S. 6, Kim T. 3, Moon 2, Kim Jongkyu 2, Choi 2, Lee S. 1, Yoon 0, Kim M. 0

China 59: Yi 23, Zhou 8, Liu 6, Wang Zhe 5, Zhu 4, Wang Zhi. 4, Sun 2, Guo 2, Zhang 2, W. Chen 2, ang 1, Li 0

Quarter scoring: 13-15, 29-31, 46-42, 63-59
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