AS SALT (Jordan) - Australia hardly broke a sweat in crushing Mongolia, 93-32, for a rousing start to the FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2024, Monday at the Arena Complex.
Jack Whitbourn showed the way with a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds as the Emus deployed a balanced attack in an apparent show of force in their aspirations of reclaiming the gold they won back in 2018 in Thailand.
Dash Daniels supplied 14 points on a pair of triples, while Jacob Furphy delivered 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field with 5 boards and 3 assists.
Furphy only sank one triple but it proved key without a doubt, as it sparked the 9-0 run toward a 17-6 lead during the first quarter that set the tone for the blowout.
Luke Fennell chipped in 12 points as all but one player scored at least 3 points, thanks to their 25 assists as a collective, in the victory.
On the other hand, only Baljinnyam Ganzorig finished in double figures for Mongolia, who are in their first U18 Asia Cup in 12 years, with 11 points and 5 rebounds.
Also winning big in Group A are Lebanon following their 97-75 conquest of Chinese Taipei later in the day, huge thanks to a solid start into the game.
Karl Zamatta top-scored in the triumph with 22 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field, together with 8 rebounds and 4 of the team's 13 steals.
Anthony Naba finished with 17 points and 6 rebounds, while Hadi El-Khatib registered 14 points, spiked by a pair of outside shots, to lead the bench mob.
Karim Oueidat nearly had a triple-double as he tallied 13 points, 12 rebounds, and 9 assists, along with 3 steals and 2 blocks in 31 minutes of play.
The quartet were responsible in Lebanon's strong first quarter, with Zamatta giving themselves the lead before Naba and Ouiedat helped keep them ahead.
El-Khatib would come in to join the fray late in the period, sinking a triple to trigger a 10-0 run as they finished the chapter ahead with a 32-17 advantage. It would be all Lebanon since, as they led by as much as 28 during the closing minutes.
Liu Geng-hao, meanwhile, top-scored for Chinese Taipei with 15 points. Chen Chun-wei and Chang Chun-huai added 10 points apiece in the loss.
FIBA