FIBA Asia Championship 2013: DAY 1 Game Results, Team Standings

Thursday, August 1, 2013

FIBA Asia Championship 2013: DAY 1 Game Results, Team Standings

27th FIBA Asia Championship just kicked off today, August 1, 2013. Below are the live updates, live streams, news and scores of today's games.

WATCH FIBA ASIA CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES via LIVE STREAMING HERE

IRAN vs MALAYSIA:

Iran destroys Malaysia, 115-25, to open FIBA Asia Championship 2013. The Persian powerhouse threw the knockout punch right in the first period, when it outscored its opponent, 42-3.

Former Phoenix Suns center Hamed Haddadi had his way against the smaller Malaysian defenders, scoring 21 points in just 13 minutes. His backup Asghar Kardoust got a good workout as well, posting 15 points for Iran, the champion of the 2007 and 2009 edition of the competition.

Malaysia is not expected to get any relief in Group C, tagged the “Group of Death,” as it battles another Asian powerhouse China in its second assignment on Friday.

JORDAN vs CHINESE TAIPEI:

Chinese Taipei rallied back from a double-digit third quarter deficit before surviving a late charge to defeat Jordan, 91-87.

Lin, a hotshot swingman who is a former Most Valuable Player in Taiwan’s professional league, led his team with 27 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Chinese Taipei got a huge boost from naturalized center Quincy Davis, who posted 18 points and 11 rebounds.

JAPAN vs QATAR:

Qatar defeats Japan 75-74.

CHINA vs KOREA: (Watch China vs South Korea Full Game Replay Here)

South Korea defeated China 63-59.

INDIA vs BAHRAIN:

Bahrain defeat India 82-80.

KAZAKHSTAN vs THAILAND: (Watch Kazakhstan vs Thailand Full Game Replay Here)

Kazakhstan defeated Thailand 81-67.

PHILIPPINES vs SAUDI ARABIA: (Watch PHI vs KSA Full Game Replay Here)

The Philippine national men’s basketball team defeated Saudi Arabia, 78-66, but not before experiencing plenty of struggles against an opponent that was supposed to be an easy opening assignment in the FIBA Asia Championship.

It was an anxious scene on Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena as the Saudis raced to a 16-14 lead in the first quarter. Gilas Pilipinas, playing in front of the home crowd in an Asian championship for the first time in 40 years, rebounded by taking a seven-point lead at halftime, 35-28, but could not break away because of foul trouble, turnovers, and poor shooting.

The Philippines seemed like it was about to break the game open, taking a 16-point lead, 66-50, early in the fourth quarter.

But Saudi Arabia hit three straight three-pointers to cut its deficit to just seven points, 66-59.

Back-to-back hits from June Mar Fajardo and Marcus Douthit gave Gilas more cushion as it cruised to the victory.

Perhaps feeling jitters playing at home, Gilas shot just 31 percent from the beyond the arc and committed 14 turnovers, including eight in the first half. The Filipinos also struggled to adjust to the calls, committing a total of 30 fouls and reaching the penalty in each of the four quarters.

The Philippines’ starting frontcourt of Douthit and Marc Pingris was a source of strength. Douthit finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds, while Pingris added eight and nine. LA Tenorio and Larry Fonacier led the scoring for Gilas with 12 points apiece.

Aymam Almuwallad led Saudi Arabia with 18 points, while Mohammed Almarwani added 12 points and 12 rebounds.

The Philippines will take on Jordan in its second outing on Friday, while Saudi Arabia will battle opening day victor Chinese Taipei earlier in the day.