2013 FIBA Asia Championship: Jordan books ticket to second round, keeps Saudi Arabia winless

(Updated 12:10am) Jordan ditched the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with a late fourth quarter run, 63-47, clinching the last slot in Group A to qualify for the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship second round, early Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Jordan, 1-2, joins the Philippines (2-1) and Chinese Taipei (3-0) as the top three seeds merge with Japan, Qatar and Hong Kong to form Group E, where the top four teams will advance to the quarterfinals.

Jimmy Baxter led Jordan with 15 points. Wessam Alsous added 11 points, while Ali Zaghab offered 10 points and 10 rebounds.

After a trailing 11-10 as the first quarter wound down, Jimmy Baxter and Ali Zaghab went on an 8-1 run to give Jordan an 18-12 lead entering the second quarter. But in that canto, Marzouq and Ayman Almuwallad spearheaded an 8-2 run, knotting the tally at 20-all, midway through the frame.

Baxter extinguished the run with a drive to the hoop, but a Mustafa Alhwasawi trey triggered a 7-2 run for Saudi Arabia, 27-24, with under three minutes to play in the first half. However, neither team could close the second quarter on a high note, owing to uninspired execution and poor free throw shooting. At halftime, Saudi Arabia kept a 28-26 lead.

Saudi Arabia came out sluggish after the break, allowing Baxter and Ali Zaghab to overtake them, 34-32. However, Jordan compensated by drawing fouls going to the rim, good for a 7-of-10 clip from the charity stripe, knotting the game at 39-39, with two minutes remaining in the third.

However, Jordan seized control as time expired, as Khaldoon Abu Ruqayah converted from deep to spur a 7-0 run. Jordan led heading into the final frame, 46-39.

Taking advantage of sloppy play by Saudi Arabia, Jordan launched a 13-0 run midway through the fourth, powered by treys from Wessam Alsous and layups by Ahmad Alhamarsheh, 59-41, leaving three minutes left. The deficit was too much for Saudi Arabia to overcome, as they ended the first round sans a victory.

Jordan shot 25-of-62 (40 percent) from the field against a paltry 15-of-57 (26 percent) Saudi Arabia clip. Jordan also bested them on the boards (45-35), assists (13-7), points in the paint (40-22) and turnover points (17-8).

Aymam Almuwallad tallied 16 points in the losing effort, while Mohammed Almarwani had 14 points and 12 rebounds. - AMD, GMA News


The scores:

Jordan 63 - Baxter 15, Al-Sous 11, Zaghab 10, Hadrab 9, Alhamarsheh 6, Abu Ruqayah 5, Abuquoura 3, Al Dwairi 2, Abdeen 2, Alnajjar 0, Alfaraj 0, Hussein 0

Saudi Arabia 47 - Almuwallad 16, Almarwani 14, Kabe 6, Alhwsawi 5, Almuwallad 5, Almarwani 1, Abo Jalas 0

Quarter scoring: 18-12, 26-28, 46-39, 61-45