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The first day of the FIBA Asia Basketball Championships saw India not putting a foot wrong as they comprehensively outplayed Malaysia in their first match. The Indian hoopsters looked superior in almost every aspect as they trumped the Malaysians 102-73.
After seven-foot center Amritpal Singh won the jump ball, six-feet-nine power forward Amjyot Singh scored the first points of the game. Malaysia gained their biggest lead of the match (of two points) in the sixth minute of the first quarter, but it was short-lived. The first quarter ended with India leading by ten points, with the scoreboard reading IND 29-19 MAS.
The Malaysian team opened the second half’s scoring with a two-pointer, but were stuck in the mud for almost four minutes as the Indians gained a big sixteen point lead. The worrisome lead led to a timeout called by Malaysia, in which several substitutions were made. But this would prove no hindrance for the Indian team, as they steadily increased their lead to fifteen points at the end of the second quarter, where the secoreboard read IND 47-32 MAS.
The third quarter saw the Malaysians get on the scoreboard first with a two-pointer, but the Indians would find their stride soon after, adding point after point to take their lead to a massive thirty-three points. The scoreboard read 71-38 in favour of the Indian team when Malaysia managed to score at the fag end of the quarter. The third quarter finished with India leading 73-44.
Malaysia continued their trend of opening the scoring, in the fourth quarter as well with a free throw off a personal foul. But that would prove merely academic, as the Indians relentlessly pushed their lead to a game-high thirty-two points, courtesy of a two-pointer from captain Vishesh Bhriguvanshi. Malaysia would attempt to rally, but the Indians kept the pressure on ,with the lead never falling below twenty-seven points. The scorecard read 102-73 in favour of the big men in blue at the final buzzer.
India maintained respectably higher two-pointer, three-pointer, rebound and points-in-the-paint percentages. The only noteworthy advantage the Malaysians had was in the free throw percantage, where they led by a big margin. Amjyot Singh (24 pts and 10 rbs), Akilan Pari (18 pts & 4 assists) and Yadwinder Singh (16 pts & 9 rbs) were the Indian team’s top scorers, with center Amritpal Singh (12 pts & 9 rbs) and captain Vishesh Bhriguvanshi ( 9 points, 6 assists and 3 steals) making important contributions.
As with any sport, an initial advantage is crucial for a team, and India will look to parlay their confidence into a masterful performance against three-time defending champions Iran, whom they will face tomorrow.
Guess the Lakers players!
