2013 FIBA Asia Championship: India salvages 11th place finish with win over Bahrain

India defeated Bahrain, 75-65, to finish in 11th place in this year's FIBA Asia Championship, Saturday, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Bahrain demolished a double-digit deficit in the second quarter, led by Hussein Al-Tawash's 12 points in the frame, to trail 40-39 at the half, but India made the most of their height advantage, as Vishesh Bhriguvanshi and Amjyot Singh held steady on both ends of the floor to pull away in the final frame.

Bhriguvanshi led India with 19 points and seven rebounds, while Prathnam Singh added 16 markers. Amjyot Singh scored nine and hauled down seven rebounds.

With the loss, Bahrain bows out this year in 12th place in the tournament.

Both teams looked for scoring chances at the rim, though India was far more successful in that department as Vishesh Bhriguvanshi scattered seven points, to lead 19-9. With two minutes to play, Abdul-Rahman Mubarak trimmed the India advantage to single digits with a tough jumper in the lane, but Bahrain's poor interior defense, plus a Prathnam Singh triple with 28 seconds left, caused them to fall behind, 27-13, at the end of the period.

Yunes Kawaid opened the second frame with a driving and-one, setting the tone for a Bahraini squad that scored their next 11 points at the rim or from the line. India tread around a 10-point margin, as a Joginder Singh trey helped keep them on top, 34-24.

India regrouped, calling a timeout, with six minutes to play, but Bahrain didn't stop when play resumed. Hussein Al-Tawash nailed consecutive triples, and Ahmed Akbar scored on a tip-in, forcing India to call timeout anew just two minutes later.

Bahrain snatched the lead on their next possession on a Mubarak trey. But India persevered, as Bhriguvanshi was fouled on a last-second drive and made two freebies for a 40-39 edge at halftime.

India was held to just one field goal in the last six minutes of the half, but managed a 14-of-28 (46 percent) mark through the first two quarters. Meanwhile, Bahrain went 15-of-26 (56 percent) from the floor.

The third period was a defense-oriented affair. Briefly, Kawaid was a one-man fast break as Bahrain took a 45-42 lead, but India's towers soon neutralized them as Amjyot Singh drove to cap six unanswered for India, putting them on top anew, 48-45. Both teams were neck-and-neck until a late split by Arjun Singh gave India a one-point lead, and an unsportsmanlike foul on Bhriguvanshi by Akbar with 10 seconds left made it a 53-51 lead for India after three quarters.

India asserted their height in the fourth quarter, holding Bahrain to just one field goal in the first seven minutes while their bigs scored on the block. India pushed Bahrain into the penalty situation as well, as freebies by Bhriguvanshi added to a 67-57 tally.

With under three minutes to play, Mohamed Al-Derazi scored on a driving and-one, ending a six-minute drought for Bahrain. But Bahrain couldn't capitalize on the situation, and instead committed more fouls that allowed India to widen their lead from the line.

India shot 21-of-57 (37 percent) from the field but compensated by making 29-of-38 (76 percent) free throws. Bahrain went 23-of-56 (41 percent) from the floor and 15-of-25 (60 percent) from the stripe.

Bahrain also held a 12-0 edge in fast break points.

Hussein Al-Tawash led all scorers with 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Yunes Kawaid and Mohamed Al-Derazi scored 12 and 11 points, respectively, and combined for 15 rebounds. - RAF, GMA News