Chinese cage win sends RP to semis

BUSAN, South Korea – Defending champion China allayed fears of a monumental upset, blasting Japan, 104-59, Saturday and towing the Philippines to the semifinals of the basketball competition at the Geumjeong Gym.

No matter the outcome of the Filipinos’ match against the Chinese Tuesday, the RP team is safely into the semis where they are certain to meet host South Korea if China’s merciless beating of Japan would be any gauge.

Still, the RP coaching staff motored to the Geumjeong complex at the outskirt of the city to see if it could gain some insights on China by watching the carnage in the afternoon.

"We’re not looking ahead of South Korea, we want to take our shot at China," said national coach Jong Uichico. "That’s why we’re here. Bilog ang bola."

The reigning titlists’ victory completed Japan’s ouster from the semifinal race with two straight losses, the first a 74-79 setback at the hands of the Nationals in a see-sawing battle Wednesday.

That victory boosted the Nationals’ morale no end they gave Chinese-Taipei little breathing room in an 83-69 decision two days later.

Crack Japanese guard Takehiko Orimo, the man who did the most damage against the Filipinos, broke through China’s Great Wall defense for 24 points but the rest of the team was limited to a single digit output as Japan crashed out of the tourney.

Houston Rocket draftee Yao Ming led coach Wang Fei’s charges with 19 points while veteran Liu Wei and Gong Xiaobin submitted 17 and 13 points, respectively.

China and the Philippines will play for placing in the crossover semifinals on Tuesday with the winner moving on a lighter assignment probably against Kazakhstan, which was playing North Korea at presstime. The loser will meet the other group’s topnotcher which from all indications will be South Korea.

In fact, one of Uichico’s assistants, Eric Altamirano of Purefoods, has started compiling scouting notes on the South Koreans who upended the Centennials of coach Tim Cone four years ago in Bangkok, in preparation for that crucial encounter.

But there’s still the Chinese date Tuesday and Uichico thought he might gain some insights on China in its match against Japan.

"We want to see what Japan will do and see if we can apply some of the things they do but China is so strong it has all the answers," he said. — Lito A. Tacujan