DAVIS III Quincy (dark) of Chinese Taipe dunks over ZAGHAB Ali Jamal and BAXTER Jimmy of Jordan (Light). PBA IMAGES/NUKI SABIO
MANILA, Philippines – Taiwan showed why it’s one of the teams to reckon with after coming back to beat Jordan 91-87 to start off Group A play in the 27th FIBA-Asia Championship at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Taiwanese rallied from 57-67 down thanks to a 26-7 run bridging the third and fourth quarter before holding off Jordan’s last-minute surge.
Guard Chih-Chieh Lin displayed his all-around game with 27 points, six rebounds and five rebounds while also getting help from naturalized player Quincy Davis.
Lin and Davis posed problems for Jordan, which missed the services of its veteran guys like Sam Daghles, from inside and out.
Jimmy Baxter’s 30-point game wasn’t enough as Taiwan, which faces Saudi Arabia next, got it going just in time.
Jordan looks to bounce back against host Philippines Friday night.