Australia have made a formidable begin to their FIBA girls’s Asia Cup basketball marketing campaign with a large 105-34 win over the Philippines in Sydney.
Despite fielding simply three of the squad that gained a bronze medal ultimately yr’s World Cup on the identical venue, the Opals displayed their depth with a dominant efficiency towards undersized opposition.
The Philippines shot simply 19 per cent from the sphere and had been held to seven factors or much less in three of the 4 quarters.
They had been monstered on the boards 64-22, and notched simply three assists to Australia’s 31.
“We haven’t had a lot of time, together so to be able to put that sort of performance together straight off to start the tournament, I’m really proud of the girls,” Opals coach Shannon Seebohm mentioned.
The Opals unfold their scoring load with Darcee Garbin (18 factors in as many minutes) and Lauren Scherf (17 in 21) scoring inside and outdoors.
Chloe Bibby added 11 and fellow debutante Chantel Horvat tallied 10, as did Kelly Froling and Alice Kunek
All 12 Opals obtained on the scoresheet, with Seebohm blooding all three of his debutantes, Bibby, Horvat and Amy Atwell, earlier than halftime.
Australia shot 52 per cent from the sphere and Duke University guard Vanessa de Jesus was the one Philippines participant to generate offence for her group scoring 18 at 58 per cent from the sphere .
None of her teammates made multiple area aim and between them scored from simply 10 of fifty tries.
Sparked by Garbin’s eight factors and 4 boards inside the primary 5 minutes, Australia galloped to a 16-2 lead on the again of a 14-0 run.
A run of 20 unanswered factors both aspect of quarter-time, when Australia led 30-7, propelled the host nation to a 36-7 benefit.
The Philippines’ solely passage of pleasure got here within the second quarter when guard de Jesus poured in 11 factors In a 13-2 run that obtained the deficit right down to 18.
The Australians reasserted themselves for the rest of the quarter, having fun with an 18-3 benefit to guide 56-23 on the half.
The Opals continued to dominate within the second half, scoring15 of the primary 16 factors to develop their result in 47.
Australia did not overlook their defensive duties, with the Philippines taking seven minutes to hit their first area aim of the third quarter and down by 50 at three-quarter time, finally shedding by 71.
Also in Australia’s group, champions Japan commenced their quest for a sixth straight Asia Cup title with a 94-53 win over Taiwan.
In group B, New Zealand squandered a 23-point first-half lead, however Penina Davidson capped a a 24-point, 10 rebound recreation with the profitable basket 25 seconds from the tip within the Tall Ferns 66-64 win over higher-ranked South Korea.
World ranked No.2 China swamped Lebanon 80-44 within the different group B conflict taking management with a 22-2 third quarter.
Australia performs Taiwan on Tuesday.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
