Basketball trio make top 12 at Asian Games

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(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-11-27 09:05

Syria beat Hong Kong of China 89-61 here on Sunday to lead three teams advancing into top 12 at the 2006 Doha Asian Games men's basketball tournament.

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan also emerged as winners from respective preliminary groups to join Bahrain, who had secured a top finish in Group A on Friday, in the second round competitions.

Syria, the 84-66 winner over Afghanistan on Friday, placed the first in Group C with two victories against no loss.

The Syrians jumped to a 11-2 lead in the first quarter, but Hong Kong fought back hardly with their quick offense in the second to tie it 32-all at the half time.

After the game resumed, the Chinese, who were much smaller than their opponents, suddenly lost steam to allow Syria surge away with a 31-7 run in the third quarter.

"Hong Kong played very well, especially in the first half, but we tried to take advantage of our height in the second half," said Syria coach Basel Hamwi.

"We are very happy to enter the next round and we will see how well we can do out there," he added.

Mohamad Nour Al Saman led Syria with 22 points and Wissam Yakoub,who with a height of 2.13 meter dominated the inside game, added 18 points and 14 rebounds.

In Sunday's last match, Kuwait stayed within 72-64 after three quarters, but Kazakhstan pulled away in the fourth to record its second win in two tries 102-76.

Also on Sunday, Uzbekistan defeated Palestine 78-60 to claim the top place in Group B.

Top eight finishers from the 2005 Asian basketball championship including Asian champion China have automatically qualified for the second round of the Asiad men's basketball tournament.

In the second phase of the basketball tournament, Syria, Bahrain will face Qatar, South Korea, Iran, Jordan while Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are bracketed with China, Lebanon, Japan and Chinese Taipei with top four finishers from each pool to qualify for the quarter-finals.