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TOKUSHIMA (FIBA Asia Championship) - Coach Chung Kwak-Sung played almost his first five throughout the game as Chinese Taipei dashed hosts Japan's hopes of a top 5 finish, handing their East Asian neighbours an 85-80 defeat on Saturday.

Only Tseng Wen-Ting was replaced, by Lee Chi-Yi after 15:48s on the court that too because he committed four personal fouls, from the Taipei starting line-up. The rest all played all the 40 minutes.

"This was a knock-out game. I didn't want to take a chance," Kwak-Sung justified his tactics. "And the players have delivered without complaining.

Chen Hsin-An was the most valuable player for Taipei - top scoring the game with 26 points and more importantly collected nine rebounds, all in defense.

"It's very disappointing. But then I think that's how life is," lamented Japan coach Kimikazu Suzuki.

Scores

Chinese Taipei 85 (Chen Hsin-An 26, Wu Tai-Hao 22, Lee Hsueh-12) bt Japan 80 (Tomoo Amino 15, JR Sakuragi 15, Takehiko Orimo 14). Quarterwise: 25-23, 38-40, 63-62.

S Mageshwaran
FIBA Asia