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KAZ / SYR – Kazakh enter semis, China’s chances hang precariously
TEHRAN (FIBA Asia U18 Championship for Men): Kazakhstan championed the cause of Middle Asia sub zone by booking a semifinal place with an 83-81 win over Syria in a Group I game of the Quarterfinal round on Monday.
The last time any team from the current Middle Asia composition entered the last four was India at the second edition of the championship at Manila in 1972.
Kazakhstan’s win which came thanks to a solid second half, left defending champions China’s fate hanging in balance.
Syria, now can even afford to lose to Lebanon on Tuesday and still make the last four grade, if they don’t lose big.
Lebanon need to beat Syria by at least 35 points on Tuesday in order to qualify. Should Lebanon win by 14 points, China will go through leaving Syria out.
Kazakhstan showed tremendous resilience and resourcefulness in beating Lebanon in double Overtime on Sunday.
Monday too saw Kazakhstan fight back from a deficit before taking over control of the game.
Having trailed marginally in the scoring rate in the first two quarters, Kazakhstan led the third quarter scoring by 10 points (32-22) to start the final ten minutes 65-58 ahead.
Alexander Tytyunik scored 15 of his 19 points in the third quarter, with a 4/6 floor record – including two three-pointers – to lead the Kazakh fight back.
They increased the lead to 70-63 before Syria staged their own rally to level, but could only manage to stay close.
With 5 seconds left in the game, Syria’s Jmell Sder was fouled which brought him to the foul-line. As things would turn out, Sder missed both his free-throws to leave the game in tears.
On the opposite side tears were flowing, but in joy.
“This is a great day in Kazakh basketball,” beamed Nikholay Mikhalchuk the General Manager of the Kazakhstan National teams.
“Oh I didn’t even know,” Kazakh coach Vadim Buryakov said when reminded of the historical Kazakh entry into the semifinals.
“What I’m really happy about is that my team had to work extra hard for two successive nights. At the end of it, the hard work has paid dividends,” he added.
On the inconsequential game against China on Tuesday, Buryakov said, “May be it’s a good chance to try our bench. After all China is a super quality side. My boys won’t miss the chance to try their wares against China.”
Scores
Kazakhstan 83 (Anton Arsenyev 28, Alezxander Tyutyunik 19, Omirzak Akhmet 15) bt Syria 81 (Belal Gneed 22, Tarek Al Jade 11, Mohammad Osfira 11). Quarterwise Scores: 18-19, 33-36, 65-58.
S Mageshwaran
FIBA Asia
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