Al Riyadi thrash listless China Kashgar for Group B top spot

CHENZHOU (FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2017) - In this rematch of last year's Champions Cup Final, Al Riyadi used a strong second half surge to thrash defending champions China Kashgar, 103-73.

The hosts shot well from long distance, making 10 three-pointers, and American reinforcement Andray Blatche finally saw action, but those hardly mattered as Al Riyadi proved to be too sharp and too aggressive in today's pivotal encounter. The Lebanese held the edge in rebounding, 49-30, and inside scoring, 62-28, to continuously frustrate China Kashgar and eventually prevail for the fourth day in a row.

Quincy Douby was sublimely efficient in this match, scoring 19 points on 9-of-13 field goal shooting while also handing out 5 assists and getting 3 steals. Ali Haidar added 23 points and Charles Tabet hauled down 14 rebounds to underscore how much Al Riyadi's frontcourt outplayed their Chinese counterparts.

The defending champs trailed early but seemed to make a game of it after one half, falling behind by only 2 points. In the third period, though, they had no answer for the Lebanese scoring barrage and never fully recovered. Darius Adams paced them with 22 points, while Makan Kelanbaike tossed in 13 points on the back of 3 triples. Blatche was on the floor for under 10 minutes and missed his 2 field goals.

This result ensured that Al Riyadi would be the first place team in Group B, while China Kashgar finish second. The Lebanese club will face Mono Vampire in the next round, while the Chinese still await the result of Day 5's final game between Chooks-To-Go and Petrochimi.

FIBA