WUHAN (FIBA Asia Championship) – While the FIBA Asia Championship has been running for five days, the chase for the title and a place at the London Olympics is now starting to get interesting.
On Day 6, the final day of the Second Round, the three remaining undefeated teams – China, Iran and Korea – face tough challenges in an appetising evening of basketball that will make the London equation a little clearer.
“I think we will find out more from tomorrow. It is too early to tell,” said Korea coachJae Hur of his own team’s form, before being asked which of his main rivals appear to be travelling the best. “I think Iran is the better team, but it is really too early to tell.”
With the competition wide open, Jordan coach Tab Baldwin’s prediction of a knife edge tournament is looking like a good one.
On Day 6, the final day of the Second Round, the three remaining undefeated teams – China, Iran and Korea – face tough challenges in an appetising evening of basketball that will make the London equation a little clearer.
“I think we will find out more from tomorrow. It is too early to tell,” said Korea coachJae Hur of his own team’s form, before being asked which of his main rivals appear to be travelling the best. “I think Iran is the better team, but it is really too early to tell.”
With the competition wide open, Jordan coach Tab Baldwin’s prediction of a knife edge tournament is looking like a good one.
“It’s still open, I think it’s definitely open and will remain so until the final games,” he said.
Jordan were hoping to rekindle their best form and upset China, but instead found themselves on the end of a 93-60 thrashing in the hosts’ most impressive performance so far.
Jordan were hoping to rekindle their best form and upset China, but instead found themselves on the end of a 93-60 thrashing in the hosts’ most impressive performance so far.
Now Jordan must defeat the United Arab Emirates to earn the right to play the all-conquering Iran in the Quarter-Finals.
The Philippines were the team that bounced back into title contention on Day 5, physically beating up a Japan team that didn’t respond to the challenge inside the paint. Provided the Philippines can defeat Syria they will face Chinese Taipei in the Quarter-Finals.
Things aren’t so comfortable for Japan who now take on China, and coach Tom Wismanknows his team faces their toughest ask of the tournament.
The Philippines were the team that bounced back into title contention on Day 5, physically beating up a Japan team that didn’t respond to the challenge inside the paint. Provided the Philippines can defeat Syria they will face Chinese Taipei in the Quarter-Finals.
Things aren’t so comfortable for Japan who now take on China, and coach Tom Wismanknows his team faces their toughest ask of the tournament.
“We’ve got to take the lesson we learned from the Philippines game - 52 points in the paint, we got out-rebounded by 13, and we didn’t match up to physicality,” he said.
“If we can take something from that game and respond against China, which is going to be a much bigger test, we’ve got an opportunity to bounce back and show some heart.”
For Iran coach Veslin Matic, a number of teams are a big threat to his team’s reign as two-time defending champion.
“If we can take something from that game and respond against China, which is going to be a much bigger test, we’ve got an opportunity to bounce back and show some heart.”
For Iran coach Veslin Matic, a number of teams are a big threat to his team’s reign as two-time defending champion.
“We have played Korea before, and we lost to them, and Japan has improved a lot. There has been a lot of money invested in East Asian basketball and it is improving,” he said. “The balance is shifting a little bit this way.”
With just one Olympic berth and two places at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament on offer, things will certainly be in the balance until Sunday night, but things might be a little clearer Wednesday night after some of the giants of this year’s tournament have done battle.
PHI/JPN - Philippines survive classic, enter race to London
EUROBASKET - High TV figures reflect tournament's quality
JOR – Last chance for Jordan?
EUROBASKET - Navarro gets MVP, Parker in All-Tournament Team
JPN - Olympic sized test for dangerous Japan
With just one Olympic berth and two places at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament on offer, things will certainly be in the balance until Sunday night, but things might be a little clearer Wednesday night after some of the giants of this year’s tournament have done battle.
WUHAN (FIBA Asia Championship) - Another team entered the gold medal race at the FIBA Asia Championship on Tuesday night, as the Philippines prevailed 83-76 over the previously undefeated Japan in the game of the tournament to date.
Swingmen Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz were originally ruled ineligible for the tournament, but after an appeal were reinstated in time for the Second Round, reinvigorating the team with their physical defence that eventually wore Japan down, and giving the Philippines genuine hopes of medal.
Philippines centre Marcus Douthit led the way in dominant fashion with 25 points and 18 rebounds, while Lassiter and Jim Alapag each scored 15. Centre Joji Takeuchi had 22 points and 8 rebounds for Japan.
Philippines centre Marcus Douthit led the way in dominant fashion with 25 points and 18 rebounds, while Lassiter and Jim Alapag each scored 15. Centre Joji Takeuchi had 22 points and 8 rebounds for Japan.
Douthit was delighted after the game. "That win is huge!" he said excitedly. "That gives us an easier path to the semi finals. We'll let other teams take the high road, we'll take the low road and hopefully we'll end up there in the end."
The Philippines jumped out to a quick start with Douthit dominating the boards andMarnel Baracael and Kelly Williams scoring eight quick points between them for an 8-2 lead, but Japan came right back at them.
After clawing back the margin slowly, Japan connected on three straight triple bridging quarter time to go ahead 26-18. When Takeki Shonaki hit a three-pointer of his own four minutes into the second term the score was 31-23.
The Philippines answered, a sweet Chris Tiu-Lassiter fast break cutting the gap back to two points. But Koki Takeuchi responded immediately with a long range bomb, and when Tomoo Amino nailed a three from the corner the margin was back out to eight points just before half time.
A 10-0 run in the third quarter, capped by an off-balance Lassiter three-pointer gave the Philippines a 46-43 lead with 5:30 to play in the third period, and they finished the term with a stunning 8-0 run in 1:30 to claim the ascendency.
Japan closed to within five in the final term, but a three-pointer from Alapag and four straight points from Douthit, including a tip jam that brought the crowd to their feet, had the margin at 13 points and the contest appeared over.
Takeuchi didn't think so however, scoring eight points in 70 seconds to bring the margin back to six. When he blew past Douthit it looked as if victory was possible for Japan, but he missed the easy reverse lay-up and the Philippines would hold on from the free throw line.
KAUNAS (EuroBasket 2011) - EuroBasket 2011 arguably will go into the history books as the most competitive and enthralling edition of the biennial event.
The mass interest in the tournament is well reflected in some impressive television viewing figures. Here are some of them.
Spanish channel La Sexta's live coverage of Spain's win over France in Sunday's Final was watched by an average audience of 4.73 million viewers.
To put it in context: at the time of the game, almost a third of all people watching TV in Spain were tuned in to the Final, with the audience peaking at 5.96 million at 21:23.
Overall, the game ranked as the eighth most-watched programme of the year to date on La Sexta.
In France, the Final attracted a total of 2.90 million viewers with two channels - France 4 and Canal + Sport - broadcasting it.
France 4, the free-to-air channel, registered an average viewing audience of 1.90 million people in what was France's first EuroBasket silver medal game since 1949. The broadcast ranks as the highest average programme audience ever registered for the digital-only channel.
Meanwhile, Canal + Sport, the pay television channel, simulcasted the game and got an estimated viewing audience of 1.05 million, for the second highest audience in its history.
It was the best audience for a basketball game in France since the 1993 Euroleague Final between Limoges and Benetton Treviso for which five million tuned in.
The high viewing figures were not limited to just the Final.
La Sexta provide live coverage of all 11 of Spain's games, with each one viewed by at least 1.1 million people.
Last Friday's Semi-Final against F.Y.R. of Macedonia was watched by an average of 2.19 million people, while the Preliminary Round clash with Turkey attracted an average audience of 1.92 million.
F.Y.R. of Macedonia came to Lithuania with an impressive contingent of fans following them every step of their amazing journey.
Those who could not make the journey did pay close attention to their team's progress.
Their narrow defeat at the hands of Russia in the Bronze Medal game was watched by a quarter of the adult population, with an average 480,000 viewers. The game had the highest viewing share of the year in the country.
The mass interest in the tournament is well reflected in some impressive television viewing figures. Here are some of them.
Spanish channel La Sexta's live coverage of Spain's win over France in Sunday's Final was watched by an average audience of 4.73 million viewers.
To put it in context: at the time of the game, almost a third of all people watching TV in Spain were tuned in to the Final, with the audience peaking at 5.96 million at 21:23.
Overall, the game ranked as the eighth most-watched programme of the year to date on La Sexta.
In France, the Final attracted a total of 2.90 million viewers with two channels - France 4 and Canal + Sport - broadcasting it.
France 4, the free-to-air channel, registered an average viewing audience of 1.90 million people in what was France's first EuroBasket silver medal game since 1949. The broadcast ranks as the highest average programme audience ever registered for the digital-only channel.
Meanwhile, Canal + Sport, the pay television channel, simulcasted the game and got an estimated viewing audience of 1.05 million, for the second highest audience in its history.
It was the best audience for a basketball game in France since the 1993 Euroleague Final between Limoges and Benetton Treviso for which five million tuned in.
The high viewing figures were not limited to just the Final.
La Sexta provide live coverage of all 11 of Spain's games, with each one viewed by at least 1.1 million people.
Last Friday's Semi-Final against F.Y.R. of Macedonia was watched by an average of 2.19 million people, while the Preliminary Round clash with Turkey attracted an average audience of 1.92 million.
F.Y.R. of Macedonia came to Lithuania with an impressive contingent of fans following them every step of their amazing journey.
Those who could not make the journey did pay close attention to their team's progress.
Their narrow defeat at the hands of Russia in the Bronze Medal game was watched by a quarter of the adult population, with an average 480,000 viewers. The game had the highest viewing share of the year in the country.
Host nation Lithuania's Quarter-Final against that same F.Y.R. of Macedonia side was closely followed by 842,000 viewers, ranking it as the highest sports rating in seven years and the third highest since audience measurement was first established in the country in 2000.
Only the 2003 EuroBasket Final against Spain and the 2004 Olympics Semi-Final against the USA had higher ratings.
The clash was also followed extremely closely in the F.Y.R. of Macedonia, with an astonishing one in five inhabitants tuning in to watch the game. Every second person watching TV at the time of the game were taking in the action from Kaunas.
Germany's Second Round encounter with hosts Lithuania also performed very well, attracting the largest audience of EuroBasket 2011 in Germany.
Only the 2003 EuroBasket Final against Spain and the 2004 Olympics Semi-Final against the USA had higher ratings.
The clash was also followed extremely closely in the F.Y.R. of Macedonia, with an astonishing one in five inhabitants tuning in to watch the game. Every second person watching TV at the time of the game were taking in the action from Kaunas.
Germany's Second Round encounter with hosts Lithuania also performed very well, attracting the largest audience of EuroBasket 2011 in Germany.
An average 998,000 viewers tuned in to watch the game, ranking as the second highest-ever FIBA audience in the country.
Only the 2005 EuroBasket Final between Greece and Germany attracted more viewers (1.35 million).
The live broadcast of the contest was as one of the most-watched sports programmes transmitted by SPORT1 this year.
In Serbia, the same game attracted an average audience of 1.053 million viewers, its highest for the entire tournament.
The live broadcast of the contest was as one of the most-watched sports programmes transmitted by SPORT1 this year.
In Serbia, the same game attracted an average audience of 1.053 million viewers, its highest for the entire tournament.
WUHAN (FIBA Asia Championship) – As he has all through his career, Jordan coach Tab Baldwin is approaching his team’s match-up with the powerful Chinese the only way he knows how.
“I am not going to sit there and say we are going to lose because they are China and they haven’t lost a game etc etc,” he said.
“I am not going to sit there and say we are going to lose because they are China and they haven’t lost a game etc etc,” he said.
“We are going to fight and we are going to try and figure out a way to win, and if we do win I don’t think we’ll be surprised.”
After playing at last year’s FIBA World Championship in Turkey, falling one point shortof beating Australia and narrowly going down to Angola, Jordan headed to the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship in Wuhan as one of the medal favourites.
While some players were missing from last year’s team, star trio Rasheim Wright, Sam Daghles and Zaid Abbas returned with a young but talented supporting cast.
After playing at last year’s FIBA World Championship in Turkey, falling one point shortof beating Australia and narrowly going down to Angola, Jordan headed to the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship in Wuhan as one of the medal favourites.
While some players were missing from last year’s team, star trio Rasheim Wright, Sam Daghles and Zaid Abbas returned with a young but talented supporting cast.
With Jordan teetering in fourth place in their group however, things have not gone to plan.
“It’s an unfortunate two-game trend that we get off to a good start and then seem to lose our way. And I do think it’s mental,” Baldwin said after his team gave up an 18-point second quarter lead to fall to the Philippines, following a similar fade out against Japan.
“Our team really does seem to struggle in the tough moments, particularly late in games and particularly when we have had a lead,” he added.
“It’s an unfortunate two-game trend that we get off to a good start and then seem to lose our way. And I do think it’s mental,” Baldwin said after his team gave up an 18-point second quarter lead to fall to the Philippines, following a similar fade out against Japan.
“Our team really does seem to struggle in the tough moments, particularly late in games and particularly when we have had a lead,” he added.
“It’s very frustrating for them because they know inside that they have the capacity to do it.
"They feel like they are letting each other down, and I feel like I am letting them down by not being able to find the right buttons to push.”
Philippines coach Rajko Toroman thinks Jordan are not far away from turning the corner.
Philippines coach Rajko Toroman thinks Jordan are not far away from turning the corner.
“Jordan played very well (in the first half), switching the defences. On our offence we didn’t know what to do because they knew every one of our moves,” he said.
This isn’t news to star point guard Daghles, but he is baffled as to why his team can’t produce for 40 minutes.
This isn’t news to star point guard Daghles, but he is baffled as to why his team can’t produce for 40 minutes.
“We are still trying to find our identity for some reason,” he admitted. “At some points of the game we show our great side and then we go away from it, so it is very strange to me.”
Things don’t get any easier with host nation China next up on Tuesday, a must-win game if Jordan are to move up to third place and avoid Iran in the Quarter-Finals.
Things don’t get any easier with host nation China next up on Tuesday, a must-win game if Jordan are to move up to third place and avoid Iran in the Quarter-Finals.
With their eyes still on getting on the podium and keeping the Olympic dream alive, Jordan is approaching the game with a positive outlook.
“They’ve found some form in this tournament after a really tough summer for them,” Baldwin said of the Chinese. “But I think there are some tactical issues with China that can be exploited.
“They’ve found some form in this tournament after a really tough summer for them,” Baldwin said of the Chinese. “But I think there are some tactical issues with China that can be exploited.
"It’s going to be a tough game, we know that, but my career as a coach in international basketball has been about never conceding a game before it’s played.”
For Daghles, who plays his club basketball for Jilin in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), this is a game he is very much looking forward to against players he knows very well.
For Daghles, who plays his club basketball for Jilin in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), this is a game he is very much looking forward to against players he knows very well.
“I do. Me and ZouZou (Zaid Abbas) know them especially well,” he said.
“Tomorrow’s going to be an exciting game with over 10,000 people at the game,” he added. “You’re always excited to play a team like China.
“Tomorrow’s going to be an exciting game with over 10,000 people at the game,” he added. “You’re always excited to play a team like China.
"Beating them will only build confidence for our team, and that’s what we need right now, some confidence - somehow, some way.”
KAUNAS (EuroBasket 2011) - Juan Carlos Navarrowas named the Most Valuable Player of EuroBasket 2011 and headlined the All-Tournament team which included Tissot Ambassador Tony Parker.
Navarro had 27 points and five assists as Spain defeated France 98-85 in Sunday's Final to successfully defend the title they won in Poland in 2009 and clinch an automatic place into the 12-team field for next year's Olympic Basketball Tournament in London.
Sergio Scariolo's men made history as they became the first repeat champions of Europe since Yugoslavia 20 years ago.
Navarro, nicknamed 'La Bomba', saved some of his best performances for last, scoring 26 or more points in each of Spain's last three games, including a 35-point explosion in the Semi-Final win over F.Y.R. of Macedonia.
The 31-year-old guard was rewarded for his clutch play throughout the tournament as the media picked him as the MVP and he was presented with a special edition Tissot T-Touch Expert watch by FIBA President Yvan Mainini and Lithuanian basketball great Arvydas Sabonis.
Navarro also headlined the All-Tournament team.
He was joined on it by team-mate Pau Gasol, F.Y.R. of Macedonia guard Bo McCalebb, forward Andrei Kirilenko of Russia and France's Parker.
Parker helped France reach their first final of an international basketball tournament since the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Getting to the championship game allowed Les Bleus to book their own place in the London Games.
Parker led all players in scoring with 22.1 points per game and ranked fourth in assists (4.4).
Mr Mainini and Mr Sabonis presented all five players with specially engraved PRC 200 watches to celebrate their contribution to the tournament.
Navarro had 27 points and five assists as Spain defeated France 98-85 in Sunday's Final to successfully defend the title they won in Poland in 2009 and clinch an automatic place into the 12-team field for next year's Olympic Basketball Tournament in London.
Sergio Scariolo's men made history as they became the first repeat champions of Europe since Yugoslavia 20 years ago.
Navarro, nicknamed 'La Bomba', saved some of his best performances for last, scoring 26 or more points in each of Spain's last three games, including a 35-point explosion in the Semi-Final win over F.Y.R. of Macedonia.
The 31-year-old guard was rewarded for his clutch play throughout the tournament as the media picked him as the MVP and he was presented with a special edition Tissot T-Touch Expert watch by FIBA President Yvan Mainini and Lithuanian basketball great Arvydas Sabonis.
Navarro also headlined the All-Tournament team.
He was joined on it by team-mate Pau Gasol, F.Y.R. of Macedonia guard Bo McCalebb, forward Andrei Kirilenko of Russia and France's Parker.
Parker helped France reach their first final of an international basketball tournament since the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Getting to the championship game allowed Les Bleus to book their own place in the London Games.
Parker led all players in scoring with 22.1 points per game and ranked fourth in assists (4.4).
Mr Mainini and Mr Sabonis presented all five players with specially engraved PRC 200 watches to celebrate their contribution to the tournament.
WUHAN (FIBA Asia Championship) – Japan may have finished only 10th at the 2009 FIBA Asia Championship, but under new coach Tom Wismanthey are a different unit at the 2011 version in Wuhan, and United Arab Emirates (UAE) coachZoran Zupcevic is impressed.
“I like the way Japan plays. They try to play fast basketball, they try to be aggressive, they use what they have very well,” Wisman said after his team fell 101-61 to the 2011 East Asian Championship silver medallists on Day 1 of the Second Round.
“The level they play at, the style they play, I don’t think any other team in the championship can feel comfortable with that. I believe they are always dangerous.”
Japan, 4-0 in the tournament, face their biggest tests of the tournament so far over the next two days when they play a resurgent Philippines and the undefeated China.
Wisman believes his team’s comprehensive display against UAE helped greatly in the preparation for the upcoming challenges.
“We were able to manage our playing time today, no one played more than 20 minutes. This tournament is like three, three day series. You have to be good on the second and third days.
“I like the way Japan plays. They try to play fast basketball, they try to be aggressive, they use what they have very well,” Wisman said after his team fell 101-61 to the 2011 East Asian Championship silver medallists on Day 1 of the Second Round.
“The level they play at, the style they play, I don’t think any other team in the championship can feel comfortable with that. I believe they are always dangerous.”
Japan, 4-0 in the tournament, face their biggest tests of the tournament so far over the next two days when they play a resurgent Philippines and the undefeated China.
Wisman believes his team’s comprehensive display against UAE helped greatly in the preparation for the upcoming challenges.
“We were able to manage our playing time today, no one played more than 20 minutes. This tournament is like three, three day series. You have to be good on the second and third days.
"We have the Philippines tomorrow and China on the third day, so how we managed that today was important to us.”
So far Japan have looked very much like a team capable of upsetting Asian powerhouses China and Iran, and at the very least playing off for bronze and a place at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
So far Japan have looked very much like a team capable of upsetting Asian powerhouses China and Iran, and at the very least playing off for bronze and a place at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
But questions still remain about their reputed lack of interior toughness.
“We have played some teams with some size,” Wisman said. “We have been working hard with our bigs on playing with physicality, and obviously the test of that is coming up.
“Philippines have some size inside, but they’re not really that much bigger than us. China is, so we have got to deal with that physicality issue while at the same time maintaining our style of play,” the American-Australian coach added.
“We have got to attack and run and play in the full court, we don’t want to get into half court battles with teams that are bigger and more physical than us.”
When they are out and running, Japan are as talented as any team in the tournament, but can it carry them all the way to gold and a place at the London Olympics?
“The question now is how far,” Zupcevic said. “China and Iran are there, and there is always history that goes with those games.
“We have played some teams with some size,” Wisman said. “We have been working hard with our bigs on playing with physicality, and obviously the test of that is coming up.
“Philippines have some size inside, but they’re not really that much bigger than us. China is, so we have got to deal with that physicality issue while at the same time maintaining our style of play,” the American-Australian coach added.
“We have got to attack and run and play in the full court, we don’t want to get into half court battles with teams that are bigger and more physical than us.”
When they are out and running, Japan are as talented as any team in the tournament, but can it carry them all the way to gold and a place at the London Olympics?
“The question now is how far,” Zupcevic said. “China and Iran are there, and there is always history that goes with those games.
"I cannot say what (Japan’s) chances are, but I can say they will be very dangerous and nobody can take them lightly.”
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