2013 FIBA Asia Championship: Lucky 13th place for Saudi Arabia as they trounce Thailand late

Saudi Arabia shut down Thailand in the fourth quarter, en route to a 93-80 triumph that gave them 13th place in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship, Tuesday at the MOA Arena.

On Monday, Thailand had routed Malaysia 71-56, to send the latter squad to 15th place, and forge this classification battle. Saudi Arabia's win gave them 13th place, while the dispatched Thailand squad settled for 14th.

Thailand equalized the game early in the fourth quarter, via a two-pointer by Wacharapoong Tongsri, 70-all. Several plays later, he found Sukhdave Ghogar for a bucket and a one-point lead, but it turned out to be the last time Thailand would be up ahead, 74-73, 7:42 left.

Five by Saudi Arabia gave them the lead, 78-76, before Darunpong Apiromvilaichai snapped a two-minute Thai drought. However, they didn't make another field goal the rest of the way, allowing their foes to close the game on a 15-4 blast to seal the deal.  

Saudi Arabia's Fahad Belal led all scorers with 20 points on 6-of-15 shooting. He drew ample support from Marzouq Almuwallad, who powered in a 20-point, 10-assist performance, while Aymam Almuwallad chipped in 12 markers, four boards and three dimes.

After four deadlocks in the first quarter, Thailand managed to break a 20-all tie with seven straight points, though an and-one play by Aymam Almuwallad watered down their advantage at the end of the first period, 27-23.

An early burst of offense at the start of the second period swung momentum over to the side of Saudi Arabia though, as nine straight gave them the lead, 32-27.

Undaunted, Thailand went on a 14-2 run highlighted by scores from Attaporn Lertmalaiporn, Ghogar and Chanachon Klahan, to go back on top, 41-34. Saudi Arabia however had the last laugh of the first half, as a Mohammed Alsager triple and a deuce by Mohammed Almarwani put them ahead entering the break, 52-51.

Another run by Saudi Arabia at the first part of the third canto gave them their biggest lead up to that point at nine, 60-51, 8:27 left in the penultimate period. Thailand punched back though, getting to within a marker on a Wutipong Dasom put-back, 67-66. However, entering the final canto, Saudi Arabia was still on top, albeit by just two points, 70-68.

Attaporn Lertmalaiporn and Anasawee Klaewnarong each had 15 points in the Thailand loss, with Lertmalaiporn responsible for eight of his side's 25 turnovers. Those 25 miscues led to 28 turnover points by Saudi Arabia, as they committed just 16 errors for 15 Thai points.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia also had a commanding 25-14 edge in assists. - AMD, GMA News


The scores:

Saudi Arabia 93 - Belal 21, M. Almuwallad 20, A. Almuwallad 12, Mohammed Almarwani 11, Kabe 8, Alhwsawi 7, Alsager 7, Mathna Almarwani 5, Abo Jalas 2

Thailand 80 - Klaewnarong 15, Lertmalaiporn 15, Tongsri 12, Dasom 9, Klahan 8, Ghogar 8, Darongpan Apiromvilaichai 7, Darunpong Apiromvilaichai 6, Kongkum 0, Lertlaokul 0

Quarter scoring: 23-27, 52-51, 70-68, 93-80