JOHOR BAHRU, Malaysia (21st FIBA Asia U18 Championship for Women): Last edition’s bronze medalists Chinese Taipei continued their stranglehold over fellow East Asian rivals Korea beating them 88-71 (Game Details) in a crucial Level I game on Wednesday, that gave them the No 3 seed going into the semifinals.

Taipei have now won three successive games in FIBA Asia U18 Championship for Women, including both at the 20th FIBA Asia U18 Championship for Women at Surat Thani (Thailand) in 2010.

Wednesday’s win pits Taipei against last edition’s silver medalists Japan, the latter having won the Level I game between the two, in the semifinal slated for Friday. Korea will take on China, to whom they lost in Level I, in the other semifinals.

Lin Yu-ting (pic above) began the scoring for the game with a characteristic drive in the lane, and went on to unleash a dominating performance to lead Taipei’s win.

Lin Yu-ting reeled in 9 of Taipei’s points in the first quarter, during which they took complete charge of the proceedings, and went on to finish with 20 points, with a 7/12 field shooting.

Huang Ling-chuan played the ideal foil on the outside for Lin Yu-ting’s strong post play and led Taipei’s scoring. Huang had 5 three-pointers – the one midway through the third quarter which gave Taipei their biggest lead of the game being a sizzler – out of a dozen attempts.

Chen Yen-yu one of the more experienced players on the Taipei lent her muscle with a 16-point game.

Korea on the other hand were on the backfoot right through.

Kim Hanbi led their scoring with 18 points, but only Choi Eunsil had a satisfactory scoring rate with a 6/9 shooting on the paint for her 18 points.

“They set the early pace, we were slow a little to start. It became difficult to catch up after that,” said Korea coach No Wanki.

FIBA Asia