Thrilling Qatar win means Gilas probably avoids China in quarters
Tseng Weng Ting's last-gasp triple attempt hung in the air at the Mall of Asia Arena for what seemed like an eternity.
When it clanged harmlessly off the rim and the buzzer sounded, the celebrations began for the hundreds of Pinoy fans in attendance.
But it wasn't Gilas Pilipinas who they were cheering for, but Qatar, who withstood a fierce late rally from Chinese Taipei to emerge 71-68 winners in the final Group E encounter for both teams at the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship on Wednesday.
The result, a first loss for the Formosans in the whole tourrnament, means the Philippines, with a win against Hong Kong on Wednesday night, can win Group E and will likely dodge a menacing Chinese team in the quarterfinals.
ALSO READ: Korea dumps sluggish Kazakhstan 71-47.
If the Philippines defeats Hong Kong then Gilas, Qatar, and Chinese Taipei will all sport identical 4-1 records, but the home squad will have the best goal average (derived from point differential) between the three, which gives them the group top seed and the right to face Kazakhstan in the quarters.
The Central Asians qualified fourth out of Group F despite falling to Iran 83-53 earlier, their third loss in a row in the competition.
Yasseen Musa had a monster game for the Gulf squad, finishing with 20 points and 19 rebounds, while point guard Daoud Musa Daoud, ineffective against Gilas the night before, chipped in ten big points.
Qatar's American-born star Jarvis Hayes, egged on by his family in the stands, scored nine second-half points to finish with 13.
While Quincy Davis, Taipei's naturalized center, doubled his tournament average with 23 points, Chinese Taipei's other star, Lin Chih Chieh, had a miserable day, going 0 for five from the field and finishing scoreless.
ALSO READ: Undermanned China coasts to easy win over India.
Qatar broke open a close game in the middle of the fourth quarter with a 10-0 run to vault to a 66-54 lead. The run was capped by a Hayes bank shot off the glass.
Taipei coach Hsu Jin Zhe removed the listless Lin and used both of his pint-sized guards, Chen Shih Chieh and Lee Hsueh Lin at the same time to bring some speed and quickness to the backcourt.
The ploy worked, as Chinese Taipei went on a torrid 12-0 run of their own, tying the game at 68-all after being down 68-56.
Daoud Musa Daoud's turnover allowed Tien Lei to score to pull Taipei level, but the dreadlocked guard atoned for his transgression in the very next play, driving strong to the hoop for a bucket that restored the two-point cushion.
After Tien missed in the next possession, Hayes knocked in the first of two free throws to make it 71-68 with 12.1 ticks left.
From there Tseng was unable to connect, and his team was finally defeated in the tournament after five consecutive victories.
Qatar won the battle of the boards, outrebounding Chinese Taipei 48 to 32. Taipei, usually so effective from downtown, connected on just 5 of 23 from beyond the arc. Chen scored thirteen as it was only he and Davis who scored in double figures for their team.
“You saw Yasseen today with 20 points” said Qatar coach Tom Wisman. “He's 38 years old and he's been with the national team for 20 years now. But he's still getting it done. He still gives us 35 quality minutes. You gotta respect that.”
As of press time China is leading Bahrain in their final Group F clash.
Follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333.
