Lebanon shocked South Korea 75-65 with the biggest upset in the Asian Basketball Championship so far and dropped South Korean to 1-1. South Korea has to knock out UAE today to advance to the second round.
Rumors said it was South Koreans' tactics to lose the game on purpose in order to dodge super-power China in the cross-over semifinals. It looks like South Korea will join Japan, Taiwan and probably Syria in the second round bracket.
If they manage to finish first in the group, they will face the other group's No.2 seed in the semi. It will not be China, of course. Thus South Korea can save the last battle with China to the championship game.
Meanwhile, Taiwan's duo Cheng Chih-Lung and Lo Shin-Liang were both unstoppable in the first two game. Cheng averaged 24.5 and Lo averaged an astounding 28.5ppg. Taiwan NT shot extremely well from the outside as a team also. In both wins, they were 65% and 62%, respectively, from 2-PT range and 50% and 67% from 3-PT territory. They are on a high now and can probably achieve their somewhat impossible mission: gain back their top four status in Asian basketball.
Lebanon, Japan, Kuwait, Taiwan and China all secured a birth in the second round.
Results/Standings
Group A
Lebanon 75-65 South Korea(40-34)
UAE 95-81 Philippines(56-44)
Standings:Lebanon 2-0, South Korea 1-1, UAE 1-1, Philippines 0-2
Group B
Japan 88-58 Hong Kong(38-31)
Kuwait 113-80 Thailand(56-43)
Standings:Japan 2-0, Kuwait 2-0, Thailand 0-2, Hong Kong 0-2
Group C
China 112-61 Syria(63-17)
Standings:China 2-0, Syria 0-1, Malaysia 0-1
Group D
Uzbekistan 62-47 Bahrain(28-20)
Taiwan 92-78 Saudi Arabia(50-36)
(Note)Lo Shin-Liang 28p, Cheng Chih-Lung 21p, Chou Hung-Yu 16p, Huang Chun-Shiung 12p....Team shooting 62% from 2PT range and 10-15 from 3PT line....
Standings:Taiwan 2-0, Saudi Arabia 1-1, Uzbekistan 1-1, Bahrain 0-2