Thoughts

First, I just want to say I hope to post all boxscores/stats from this tournament. Unfortunately, they do not post well here. If you would like the excel sheet for it, I would be more than happy to send it to you...just email me at mjd36@att.net

Now to the basketball...

HONG KONG 71-78 NORTH KOREA
Hong Kong jumped to an early lead, 14-3...but North Korea fought back with three straight threes. Hong Kong led for most of the first half but after halftime, North Korea stormed back to take the lead for good. For North Korea, the were led by Pak Un Chol, who scored 19 pts (7/10 FG, 3/4 3pt) and grabbed 5 total rebounds in 29 minutes. Also playing well were Pak Myong Jin with 18 pts (5/9 3pt), 7 rebounds, and 3 assists; captain An Yong Bin hit 3 three-pointers in a 14 point effort despite fouling out; point guard Kye Kwang U, in 36 minutes of action, contributed 12 points, a team-high 13 rebounds, and a team high 5 assists. North Korea had 21 points off turnovers (18 for HKG), 13 second chance (12 for HKG) points, and shot 41% from three point land (HKG shot 32%).
Hong Kong was led by SG Liang Man Hung with 12 points, hitting three out of seven three point attempts. The other player in double figure scoring for Hong Kong was forward Chan Yik Lun, scoring 10 off the bench. Starting power forward Fong Shing Yee had 9 points and a team-high 9 rebounds.
For North Korea, they move on to Group A and their next game is against Jordan, Tusday 9:30 pm local time. For Hong Kong, they bid farewell to the tournament, but not without putting up a fight.
My HKG Best Player: Pak Myong Jin
My DPK Best Player: Laing Man Hung

PHILIPPINES 78-71 KUWAIT
Smart Gilas (Philippines) played a tough, quick team in Kuwait. It was a see-saw battle that saw 11 lead changes a tied score 6 times. Kuwait led by 5 after the first quarter, was down only 1 at the half, up 2 entering the fourth, and even up by 1 with 5 minutes to play. Marcio Lassiter was the spark as he hit a go-ahead three to put the Philippines up 64-61 with under five minutes to play and never looked back. Lassiter was the leading scorer, posting 16 points (4/9 3pt) in addition to 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 0 tunrovers, 3 steals, and 1 block in 30 minutes off the bench. Marnel Baracael had 12 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists while recent addition Kelly Williams scored 11 points (despite shooting 0/5 from the free-throw line) and grabbed 10 rebounds. Meralco Bolt rock Asi Taulava added 9 points and 8 rebounds. As a team, the Philippines hit 11 triples but allowed Kuwait to match them on the boards 41-41 and only had 28 points in the paint compared to 40 for Kuwait. With the win, the Philippines advances to Group B where they will start off by playing Iran Tuesday at 9:30 pm loca time.
Kuwait goes home but they put in a great effort for a team that has not had much practice and their participation was in doubt. The star for Kuwait today was 5'10 G Ahmad Albaloushi, who scored a well-earned 21 points on 9-for-14 shooting in 38 minutes. Center Saleh Albrahim, despite being undesized (listed at 5'11), held his own in the post as he posted 17 points, 14 rebounds (4 off + 10 def), 2 assists, 1 steal, and even 2 blocks in 33 minutes of action. Forward Abdulaziz Mohammad added 10 points and 5 rebounds off the bench.
My PHI Best Player: Marcio Lassiter
My KUW Best Player: Ahmad Albaloushi