New Zealand Shows Toughness In Loss To Chinese Taipei At FIBA U18 Asian Champs

Despite a stirring comeback in erasing a 20 point deficit, New Zealand were eventually defeated 77-67 by Chinese Taipei in their semi-final play-in tie at the FIBA U18 Asian Championship in Bengaluru, India on Friday.

Down 27-9 at quarter time, it was the team in the black singlet who grabbed the momentum early in the second with a 16-4 surge – 6 points each from Lilly Parke and Mackenzie Chatfield.

With Maddie Morrow draining a three, the deficit was back to five before Taipei had the final say of the first half to lead 42-34 at the interval.

It was basket for basket in the early stages of the third period before New Zealand closed the quarter in style. Scores from Aria Cowley, Sydney Neale and Jyordanna Davey meant the game was tied at 54 points apiece. Although Taipei scored on the final play of the quarter, it had been a terrific fight back from the Kiwis winning the quarter 20-14.

Taipei took their advantage to 6 points in the opening minutes of the fourth but the Kiwis rallied again – a Florence Dallow layup from a Neale pass tying the game (62-62) with 6 minutes to play.

It was still a one possession game inside the final four minutes but the energy put into the comeback seemed to take its toll on the Kiwis, as they were outscored 10-4 in the closing three minutes.

Cowley (16 points), Chatfield (12 points) and Parke (10 points) were the leading scorers for the Kiwis but all the players can be proud of the resilience displayed after falling behind by such a large margin.

Chinese Taipei advance to take on Australia in the semi-finals ,with this defeat bringing the curtain down on New Zealand’s aspirations to claim a top four finish – and with it a place at the 2023 U19 World Championship.

New Zealand now face a rematch with Korea in Saturday’s 5th/6th play-off game, with this contest concluding the Junior Tall Fern’s involvement at the U18 Asian Championship.

 

New Zealand 67 Chinese Taipei 77  

New Zealand: Cowley 16 PTS & 4 STEALS | Chatfield 12 PTS & 7 REBS | Parke 10 PTS

Taipei: Yu Wen Hsiao 20 Jui Chen Sung 18

 

New Zealand Schedule: (times given are local in New Zealand).

Tuesday 6 September LOST 81-64 v Korea

Wednesday 7 September LOST 111-44 v Australia

Thursday 8 September  WON 66-63 v India

Friday 9 September Semi-Final Play-in, LOST 77-67 v Chinese Taipei

Saturday 10 September 5th/6th play-off v Korea (8.00pm tip-off)

 

The Asian Championship doubles as a qualifying tournament for the 2023 FIBA U19 World Championship. The top four teams in India qualify for the World Championship in Madrid, Spain in July 2023.

All games will be shown live via https://nz.basketball/tv/

Links to the streaming, rosters, statistics and live stats can be found here: https://www.fiba.basketball/asia/u18awomen/2022

 

NZ U18 Women’s National Team

Maia Chandler – Waikato Basketball

Mackenzie Chatfield – Harbour Basketball

Aria Cowley – Waikato Basketball

Florence Dallow – Harbour Basketball

Jyordanna Davey – Hutt Valley Basketball

Kate Herman – Canterbury Basketball

Allyah Leusogi-Ape – Basketball Auckland

Maddie Morrow – Canterbury Basketball

Sydney Neale – Waikato Basketball

Lilly Parke – Basketball Auckland

Lauren Tewhata – Wellington Basketball Association

Vitolia Tuilave – Waitakere West Auckland Basketball

Selected but unavailable due to injury: Alana Paewai – Waikato Basketball

 

Staff

Head Coach – Natalie Visger

Assistant Coach – Shay Haira

Assistant Coach – Liam Connelly

Team Manager – Katherine Wills

Physio – Shannon Spicer

Team Doctor – Jamie Lockyer