Day 5: New Zealand complete four-team delegation to FIBA U17 Women's World Cup 2024

AMMAN (Jordan) - New Zealand secured the fourth and last ticket via Asia-Oceania en route to the prestigious FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2024 in Mexico.

The Junior Tall Ferns did so after beating China 95-73, to wrap up Division A Group Phase play in the FIBA U16 Women's Asian Championship 2023, Friday at the Prince Hamza Sport Hall.

Pahlyss Hokianga finished with a game-best 31 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, and 5 steals to lead in steering the program to its third consecutive appearance to the conclave, where they will be representing the region along with Australia, Japan, and Chinese Taipei.

Bailey Flavell made 24 points and 7 rebounds, while Waikimihia Douglas-Karauna added 10 markers for New Zealand, who broke away for good in the third canto toward the 22-point rout.

On the other hand, Jiayi Wang had 20 points to lead China, who won't reach the U17 Women's World Cup for the first time since 2012. It is also their first time missing the U16 Semis.

 

Australia clinch Group A top seed

Australia will head into the FIBA U16 Women's Asian Championship-Division A as the top seed of Group A after beating Chinese Taipei, 103-51, in the opening game.

Ruby Perkins finished with 25 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists to lead the Sapphires' balanced attack, which overwhelmed their counterparts right from the start as they jumped to a 33-17 lead and never let up on the way to finishing pool play with a perfect 4-0 record.

Coco Hodges delivered another double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Sophie Taylor made 13 points, 6 boards, and 7 dimes while Prasayus Notoa and Jade Crook chipped in 11 markers apiece with 9 and 8 caroms, respectively - the team as a whole collected 74 rebounds.

Australia will face the no. 2 seed of Group B in the knockout crossover Semis, which could either be China or New Zealand. The two will face later tonight in a virtual Play-Off not just for a Semis ticket but for the last trip to the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2023 as well.

Yu Chen Peng, on the other hand, had 12 points and 10 rebounds while Yu Ting Hsu added 10 for Chinese Taipei, who suffered their first loss after a 3-0 start to the tourney.

Still, they're already bound for the Semis, where they will be taking on Japan, the best team of Group B with an unblemished 3-0 record, in the knockouts set on Saturday.

 

Syria break through, remain in Division A

Syria made sure to remain in Division A by keeping Thailand winless, 64-47, to conclude their Group Phase campaign triumphantly in the second game of the day.

Aya Almohammad strapped the team on her back once again with a game-high 27 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 11 steals as she helped her side take control of the match in the second quarter before they squeezed through in the last two chapters to emerge victorious.

Elated, of course, were the entire squad as they celebrated at center court their breakthrough victory after starting out the tournament with three consecutive losses.

By proving that they belong, the Syrians will once again see action in the topflight division in 2025, with that batch definitely looking to preserve the efforts of this present-day unit.

Apichaya Khamkaew, meanwhile, finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds for Thailand, which have lost their fourth game in as many outings and are facing relegation.

 

Daily highs
Efficiency: 30.0, Aya Almohammad (SYR); Pahlyss Hokianga (NZL)
Points: 31, Pahlyss Hokianga (NZL)
Rebounds: 16, Nour Alyounes (SYR)
Assists: 9, Sienna Lehmann (AUS)
Steals: 11, Aya Almohammad (SYR)
Blocks: 4, Lilete Sarkis (SYR); Yaqi Liang (CHN)

Results
Group A
Australia def. Chinese Taipei, 103-51
Syria def. Thailand, 64-47

Group B
New Zealand def. China, 95-73

FIBA