Lebanon overtaken by speedy Chinese Taipei

In today's basketball, some excellent interceptions, rapid counterattacks and clever blocking gave Chinese Taipei a convincing win over the larger, but slower Lebanese team, with the match ending 86-72 in Chinese Taipei's favour.

Tseng Wen Ting was Chinese Taipei's man of the match scoring an impressive eight out of 15 attempted baskets, producing 21 points for his side. On the Lebanese side Fadi El Khatib, the well-chosen captain, racked up 15 points in seven out of 10 attempted baskets.

Likewise Lebanon's Joseph Vogel scored a daunting nine points for 19 attempts making him one of the most productive players on the court. But the quality of Lebanon's individual players couldn't make up for their lack of co-ordination as a team and above all couldn't make up for their lack of pace.

In the first half that lack of pace told strongly against the unprepared Lebanon as they went rapidly down 28-15 to the tenacious attacking style of Chinese Taipei. In the second quarter, the Lebanese became more organised and more effective in both attack and defence, yielding the quarter by 22-18 points, a much smaller margin.

Encouraged by their improved performance, the Lebanese piled on the energy and managed to finish the quarter, in relief, just one point down at 20-19 and in the fourth quarter they finally found Chinese Taipei's measure, winning 16-20. It was a consolation and an idea of what might have been had Lebanon been able to overcome Chinese Taipei's speed, opportunism and accuracy.

Chinese Taipei now goes on to face Uzbekistan on 10 December while Lebanon faces gold favourites China.

By 15th Asian Games, Doha 2006