China emerges winner

By C. Rajshekhar Rao

NEW DELHI, DEC. 22. The wait for the `bounce back' proved to be an unending one. Japan stretched every sinew but could not come up with the magical effort that had brought it back into contests when everything seemed to be over.

China won 78-59 in the final of the Asian junior women's basketball championship at the NDMC Indoor Stadium here on Friday, its depth proving decisive.

The Japanese outfit played its usual entertaining stuff, but ran into a more determined team that had come with more preparation. China knew whom to check, when to attack and when to play slow, and was in control of the situation in its own way.

As for Japan, it may have lost the final, but certainly won a lot of hearts. The resurgence in the semifinal against South Korea and an earlier league match against China were by far the best comeback efforts of the meet.

It was not for nothing that the crowd egged the Japanese on. They had played a brand of basketball seldom seen here and Oga Yuko was the darling of the crowds. She was at her usual sprightly self to begin with, but seemed fagged out due to a back pain towards the end of the final.

There was to be no bouncing back today. China led throughout, even though Japan tailed it for the major part. Star Oga Yuko was shadowed and there were some good snatches by the Chinese.

The advantage of height, with the Chinese having an average of over six feet, was not so much in regard to rebounds because of an energetic Japan, but it did matter in passing. Chen Nan, the `most valuable player here, and Zhang Fan could be given the ball more easily when inside the ring and that helped China with some bonus baskets.

On the other hand, Japan could not get through the crowded up defence of China, and though it did keep itself in with some good three-pointers late in the first session, it was not something that could have gone on throughout.

China got an early lead of 6-0 and then 12-7 largely through the shooting skills of Zhang Fan, but Oga Yuko kept Japan in with some fine lay-ups. But she was seen with a hand on the right side of her back from early on. Despite some rest that she got on the bench and the pain that she had to endear Oga Yuko scored 26 points to emerge the highest scorer with 156 points. She was also given the `best play-maker award, which speaks for her versatility.

Two three-pointers from Kawamura Ryoko and one from Hata Eriko, and some break in moves from Tabuchi Asuka ensured Japan kept breathing down the oppositions neck as the first session ended 40-35 in China's favour.

However, in the second session, it was China which came up with some fine shooting from a distance. Pivot Yuan Linag and Bai Xue got two and one three-pointers, respectively, as China managed to keep a lead of about 10 points from midway into the second session.

Knowing the fighting skills and craft of the Japanese, a fight was always on the cards, but the result was evident a couple of minutes from the end, when China led 76-56.

Earlier in the match for third place, there was a fine effort from Kwak Ju Young and Kim Eun Hye, who helped South Korea put up a spirited display and a ` come from behind win over Chinese Taipei.

Taipei led 64-59 with just over 30 seconds to go, but saw the team come back courtesy a couple drive-ins from the opposition got points as well as free throws that helped it win 67-64 inside regulation time.

The results : Final : China 78 (Chen Nan 29, Zhang Fan 20, Ren Lei 12) bt Japan 59 (Oga Yuko 26, Tanaka Rika 15).

For third place : South Korea 67 (Sun Chieh Ping 26,Lin Chi Wen 10) bt Chinese Taipei 64 (Sun Chieh Ping 26, Lin Chi Wen 10).

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Section  : Sport
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