
IFBA World Championships (FBA), Day 4
Day 4
JPN (2-1) - 23 24 17 17 - 81
GBR (1-2) - 25 21 17 22 - 85
So far, Team UK had underachieved in the tournament, and some thought Japan had overachieved. Team Japan wasn't about to stop trying, and Team UK wasn't about to quit. That showed in the first half as both teams played competitively and didn't give much to each other. Slightly altering their strategy, Team UK attempted to compliment Jake Turner with veteran Richard Maxwell. It paid off when he got open lanes, with his slams delighting the UK fans. Not to be outdone, Keitaro Kurosaki had success with his mid-range jumpers and rebounding. The game was even heading into the third quarter, with Japan nursing a one-point lead.
Firefox then decided to take over.
Taking it to Kurosaki and Kenta Yamashita, Turner nailed six hook shoots in a row, forcing Japan to keep pace. They were able to do so with Shirley Takamoto finally making consistent shots and Eastern dragon Tadashi Gotokuji providing inside layups.
But Firefox was just too much. Even as slow as he was, he still showed why he was the Rookie of the Year by taking over the paint in the fourth. He scored 14 points in that final frame including a hookshot in the final seconds where he hoisted it high over a leaping Kurosaki and put it cleanly through the net. Turner finished with a tournament high 34 points and 14 rebounds. Kurosaki led Japan with 20 points and Takamoto had 16. Yamashita had 10 rebounds to lead Japan and Inoue had 7 assists. For Team UK, who felt like they finally got back on track, Benjamin Durby got 10 rebounds to support Turner and surprisingly, D'Angelo MacQuilkin ended up with a double-double with 10 points and 12 assists.
AUS (2-1) - 21 24 20 25 - 90
GER (2-1) - 25 21 17 22 - 85
For one of the first times in the tournament, the Siegfried and Dirk Magic Show was halted by the high-flying Aussie Roos as Malone went on a tear in the first half, scoring 22 points, more than half of Australia's total for the periods. However Klaus Korber also lit up the scoreboard himself, scoring 18 points with four three-pointers and Gemrany had forged slightly at the half 46-45.
The second half saw the point guard fight continue, with even Frans Richter and Bobby-Rae Brine getting into the act as passers. They finished with four and five assists respectively as Australia used a surprisingly effective three-point attack to pull ahead in the third. Late in the fourth, Romanoren attempted to take control with a hard drive to the hoop but was incredibly stiffed with a hard block from Barnaby Jazz. The ball bounced down the court, backup Alan Murphy grabbed it and slammed it home, putting the exclamation point on the hard-fought win.
Malone led Australia with 28 points and Jazz had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Wayne Kirkpatrick had 14 points. Korber led Germany with 24 points and 12 assists. von Stryker led the team with 12 rebounds as well.
CHN (0-4) - 17 17 14 24 - 72
USA (4-0) - 27 26 25 18 - 96
No one expected drama for this game, and there admittedly wasn't much as the United States quickly jumped out a 10-point lead and stayed far ahead for the rest of the game. With the lead at 30, the real interest of the game came when Roosevelt put in his still-capable reserves. That meant Kelvin Hailey got to play a full quarter and he didn't disappoint, showcasing his high-flying acrobatics.
Alyssia Silvermann also headed up the backcourt with Leonard Mack at power forward, Renee Fiora at small forward and Eli Shuck at center. While they held down the fort, China showed some fight with their own backups. Eva Wong piled up six assists in the period alone with Xie Kang-Fa the primary scorer for the team as he totaled 12 points in the period. While it played very well for China's pride, it was still Team USA's game and everyone involved knew it.
Zack Tate led Team USA with 22 points and 12 rebounds, Hailey had 12 points and four other US players were in double figures. Valencia Zeraus had 9 assists, just missing a double-double. For China, Xie led with 18 points. Eva Wong had 9 assists to led the team and Cho Song-Hwa paced them with 12 rebounds.
JPN (2-1) - 23 24 17 17 - 81
GBR (1-2) - 25 21 17 22 - 85
So far, Team UK had underachieved in the tournament, and some thought Japan had overachieved. Team Japan wasn't about to stop trying, and Team UK wasn't about to quit. That showed in the first half as both teams played competitively and didn't give much to each other. Slightly altering their strategy, Team UK attempted to compliment Jake Turner with veteran Richard Maxwell. It paid off when he got open lanes, with his slams delighting the UK fans. Not to be outdone, Keitaro Kurosaki had success with his mid-range jumpers and rebounding. The game was even heading into the third quarter, with Japan nursing a one-point lead.
Firefox then decided to take over.
Taking it to Kurosaki and Kenta Yamashita, Turner nailed six hook shoots in a row, forcing Japan to keep pace. They were able to do so with Shirley Takamoto finally making consistent shots and Eastern dragon Tadashi Gotokuji providing inside layups.
But Firefox was just too much. Even as slow as he was, he still showed why he was the Rookie of the Year by taking over the paint in the fourth. He scored 14 points in that final frame including a hookshot in the final seconds where he hoisted it high over a leaping Kurosaki and put it cleanly through the net. Turner finished with a tournament high 34 points and 14 rebounds. Kurosaki led Japan with 20 points and Takamoto had 16. Yamashita had 10 rebounds to lead Japan and Inoue had 7 assists. For Team UK, who felt like they finally got back on track, Benjamin Durby got 10 rebounds to support Turner and surprisingly, D'Angelo MacQuilkin ended up with a double-double with 10 points and 12 assists.
AUS (2-1) - 21 24 20 25 - 90
GER (2-1) - 25 21 17 22 - 85
For one of the first times in the tournament, the Siegfried and Dirk Magic Show was halted by the high-flying Aussie Roos as Malone went on a tear in the first half, scoring 22 points, more than half of Australia's total for the periods. However Klaus Korber also lit up the scoreboard himself, scoring 18 points with four three-pointers and Gemrany had forged slightly at the half 46-45.
The second half saw the point guard fight continue, with even Frans Richter and Bobby-Rae Brine getting into the act as passers. They finished with four and five assists respectively as Australia used a surprisingly effective three-point attack to pull ahead in the third. Late in the fourth, Romanoren attempted to take control with a hard drive to the hoop but was incredibly stiffed with a hard block from Barnaby Jazz. The ball bounced down the court, backup Alan Murphy grabbed it and slammed it home, putting the exclamation point on the hard-fought win.
Malone led Australia with 28 points and Jazz had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Wayne Kirkpatrick had 14 points. Korber led Germany with 24 points and 12 assists. von Stryker led the team with 12 rebounds as well.
CHN (0-4) - 17 17 14 24 - 72
USA (4-0) - 27 26 25 18 - 96
No one expected drama for this game, and there admittedly wasn't much as the United States quickly jumped out a 10-point lead and stayed far ahead for the rest of the game. With the lead at 30, the real interest of the game came when Roosevelt put in his still-capable reserves. That meant Kelvin Hailey got to play a full quarter and he didn't disappoint, showcasing his high-flying acrobatics.
Alyssia Silvermann also headed up the backcourt with Leonard Mack at power forward, Renee Fiora at small forward and Eli Shuck at center. While they held down the fort, China showed some fight with their own backups. Eva Wong piled up six assists in the period alone with Xie Kang-Fa the primary scorer for the team as he totaled 12 points in the period. While it played very well for China's pride, it was still Team USA's game and everyone involved knew it.
Zack Tate led Team USA with 22 points and 12 rebounds, Hailey had 12 points and four other US players were in double figures. Valencia Zeraus had 9 assists, just missing a double-double. For China, Xie led with 18 points. Eva Wong had 9 assists to led the team and Cho Song-Hwa paced them with 12 rebounds.
Category All / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Gender Any
Size 637 x 438px
File Size 18.7 kB
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