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INCHEON (FIBA Asia Championship for Women) - Thailand put up a robust show,  handing out a 71-41 defeat to Hong Kong and retained their slot in Level I.

"Of course, I'm happy to retain our position in the Level I," said coach Thailand coach of Korean origin Kim Jae Wong.

"We had come here with very realistic hopes. I think after playing against the top guns in Level I the girls were really confident of this performance," he commented on the margin of  victory. "I'm really not surprised at the difference," he added.

"Now our sights are set on the SEA Games and the Universaid," the coach added.

"We'll get back to the drawing board and start working out on the mistakes we've been making. We've made quite a few, and we need to rectify them quickly in order to go to the next stage in our development."

"That way playing against the big teams has been really helpful for us in this Championship," he said.

Hong Kong Assistant coach Wu Lai Fong put it as "we tried our best, but our best was not good enough to qualify for Level I."

"Obviously, I'm disappointed in not making the next grade. But then I should be realistic at the same time. On that count, I must accede I have no complaints on the exposure my girls have got," she said.

Scores
Thailand 71 (Banmoo Naruemol 16, Nantana Charoentrat 13, P Roong-Aroon 12) bt Hong Kong 41 (Yau Ka Wai 11). (Quarterwise: 26-18, 39-24, 52-29).

S Mageshwaran
FIBA Asia