FIBA-Asia: Chinese Taipei rolls anew, routs Hong Kong

LU Cheng-Ju of Chinese Taipei (light) vs LI Kim Wong PBA IMAGES/NUKI SABIO

MANILA, Philippines – Riding high on its comeback win over host Philippines, Chinese Taipei continued its winning ways following a 94-55 rout of Hong Kong in the second round of the 27th FIBA Asia men’s Championship Monday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The undefeated Taiwanese, fresh off a 84-79 triumph over the Filipinos in a game where they led and trailed by double-digits Saturday night, pulled away in the second quarter to turn a 19-all score to a one-sided affair.

Lethal beyond the three-point arc, Chinese Taipei outscored Hong Kong, 31-11, in the third quarter.

An 8-0 run late in the period courtesy of back-to-back threes by Cheng-Ju Lu and Chin-Ming Yang and breakaway layup off the steal by Chih-Shan Hung extended the lead to 33, 74-41.

Chinese Taipei connected on its last two shots from long distance late in the fourth quarter to pad on to its lead, 94-51.

Shih-Chieh Chen collected 13 points, four assists and three steals to lead a balanced charge by Taiwan.