India enter quarterfinals

Tehran, September 14

India relied on the hot hands of Talwinderjit Singh (32 points) to vanquish Kazakhstan, 100-90, at the FIBA Asia Challenge here today.

Kazakhstan actually got the jump on India in the first quarter, leading 21-19, but coach Sat Prakash’s wards turned the tables in the second and took a nine-point advantage into the halftime break. Kazakhstan rallied in the third period but, again, India had the proper counterpunch in the final quarter, eventually gaining the upper hand for good. Together with big man Amritpal Singh, Talwinderjit — better known in India as TJ Sahi — led India to their first back-to-back wins in the competition.

Turning point

Kazakhstan did a good job tying the game in the third period behind the trio of Nikolay Bazhkin, Pavel Micheev and Mikhail Yevstigneyev. Both teams entered the fourth quarter squared at 71-all. Things remained close when Yevstigneyev brought the Kazakhs within two, 77-75, but that’s when India rallied. Amritpal, Amjyot Singh and Yadwinder Singh combined for an 8-0 run to give India a 10-point lead that they sustained till the final buzzer.

Stats don’t lie

India were the bigger team here, and it showed. Coach Prakash utilised his team’s size advantage to the hilt, winning the battle of rebounds, 46-30, and scoring more points in the paint, 42-32. Most of it, of course, was anchored on Amritpal, who just waylaid Kazakhstan’s frontcourt.

Game hero

Speaking of Amritpal, the 6’8” centre recorded perhaps his best game of the tourney yet. He scored 27 points on 11-of-16 field goal shooting to go along with 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks. He was ultra-efficient in this encounter, and nobody on coach Eduard Skrypets’s roster could contain him.

The bottom line

This win officially places India in the quarterfinals, though they are seeded as the fourth team from Group E, which means they will face Iran, who beat Korea 85-47 today. India will be tremendous underdogs, but if they play this well, anything can happen. — Agencies