2013 FIBA Asia Championship: Kazakhstan routs India, completes sweep of Group D

Kazakhstan swept the preliminary stage of Group D as they defeated India, 80-67, Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

After their dominant win over Thailand, Kazakhstan struggled against a feisty Bahrain squad, before pulling out a win in overtime. Against India, the Kazakhs made sure there was no need for extra time, dumping their foes in regulation.

 

Mikhail Yevstigneyev was dominant for Kazakhstan as he overpowered his defenders on the way to 21 points, even if he fouled out in the fourth quarter. Anton Ponomarev had seven rebounds, while Jerry Johnson dished out six assists for Kazakhstan.

 

Vishesh Bhriguvanshi canned a triple midway into the first quarter to knot the ball game at 8-all. Joginder Singh then added a layup to give India the lead.

 

Dmitriy Klimov converted on an alley-oop play at the 3:35 mark of the first to give Kazakhstan 12-10 lead, but Narender Grewal replied with a triple for India.

 

Bhriguvanshi converted on a runner with 10 seconds left in the first quarter but Jerry Jonson nailed a triple at the buzzer to give Kazakhstan a 20-19 lead at the end of the initial period.

 

In the second , a free throw and a triple from Mikhail Yevstigneyev knotted the game at 28-all. A layup from Johnson at the 5:42 mark swung the tide for Kazakhstan, and this was followed by another Yevstigneyev make to build a 32-28 lead.

 

Kazakhstan tried to pull away from India late in the second quarter. A layup from Johnson at the 2:32 mark gave them a 39-31 lead.

 

Amjyot Singh stopped the bleeding for India as he swooped in for a two-handed putback, followed by a Bhriguvanshi layup that trimmed the Kazakhstan lead down to four points.

 

Kazakhstan though, held on for a 43-38 lead at halftime.

 

Grewal and Bhriguvanshi carried the load on offense for India scoring 10 points apiece. Joginder Singh backed them up with eight points.

 

Kazakhstan, on the other hand, was led by Yevstigneyev with 14 and Johnson with 12. The Kazakhs narrowly beat the Indians in rebounds, 17-16, while India fell behind in the first half, committing 10 turnovers compared to only three for Kazakhstan.

 

Joginder Singh drove in for a layup at the 8:40 mark of the third to cut the Kazakhstan lead down to five points. Bhriguvanshi then added another layup on the break, but the Kazakhs countered with a 4-0 blast of their own to re-establish a seven-point lead at 49-42.

 

Ponomarev sank one of his patented rainbow triples midway through the third quarter to give Kazakhstan a 56-46 edge. They then scored six straight points, capped by a basket from Vitaliy Lapchenko, for a 16-point buffer with 2:58 left in the third.

 

A mid-range jumper from Satnamn Bharama halted the Kazakhstan run, but Yevstigneyev completed a three-point play on the other end, which was quickly followed by a layup from Yargaliyev to increase their lead to 19, 67-48, at the end of the third quarter.

 

India’s big man Satnam Bharama kept his team in the game with early fourth quarter baskets, but Kazakhstan was just too good for the Indians. The Kazakhs were in cruise control throughout most of the fourth period, en route to their third victory in as many games. - RAF, GMA News 

 

The scores:

 

Kazakhstan 80 - Yargaliyev 13, Jonhson 16, Yevstigneyev 21 , Ponomarev  11, Murzagaliyev 0, Lapchenko 8, Klimov 6, Zhigulin 3, Bondarovich 2, Sultanov 0, Dvirnyy 0

 

India 67 - Bhriguvanshi 19, Grewal 14, Joginder Singh 10, Bharama 8, Amjyot Singh 5, Amritpal Singh 4, Yadwinder Singh 4, Pratham Shingh 2, A. Singh 1, Kaushik 0, Pethani 0, Kadam 0

 

Quarter scoring: 20-19, 43-38, 67-48, 80-67