Backcourt Wen Chi and Shen Pi-hua combined for 50 points and 25 rebounds as Taiwan upset heavily-favored China, 88-82, to win the preliminary group A last night in the 16th Asian Basketball Championship for Junior Women. The victory marks the first win over China in Asian Junior Women for Taiwanese in the last 16 years.
In order to beat China, Taiwan has to play a perfect game, which they almost did. Taiwan made 30 of 58 field goal attempts, pulled down 45 rebounds over China's 41, while limited China to a miserable 32-92 shooting and led from start to finish.
SG Shen Pi-hua led the team with 27 points (11-16 FG, including 5-8 3PT)and 10 rebounds. PG Wen Chi had 23 points, 5 assists and pulled down a team-high 14 rebounds. SF Lin Wei-mei had 18 points, 7 rebounds and team-high 6 assists.
Li Dan-dan led China with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Lead guard Bian Lan scored 16 but was an unbelievable 7 for 33 from the field because of Taiwan's brilliant defense.
Taiwan won the Group A with 4 straight win and will face Group B second seed Japan in the cross-over semifinal. China will meet Group B winner South Korea in the other matchup.
**Game Results
Dec. 26
Taiwan 88-82 China
Korea 73-65 Japan
India 110-48 Macau
Thailand 127-41 Mongolia
Dec. 25
Japan 205-21 Mongolia
North Korea 125-20 Macau
China 100-45 India
Thailand 69-60 Malaysia
**Preliminary round final standing
Group A
Taiwan 4-0
China 3-1
North Korea 2-2
India 1-3
Macau 0-4
Group B
Korea 4-0
Japan 3-1
Thailand 2-2
Malaysia 1-3
Mongolia 0-4