U19 WC - Russia, Brazil and Taipei make statements on Day One
PUERTO MONTT (2011 FIBA U19 World Championship for Women) - Russian survived a withering Argentinean run to claim an important scalp in the march to the Eight Finals, as action tipped off at the FIBA U19 World Championship for Women in Chile.
The Argentines stormed back from a 20-point half time deficit at Puerto Montt Arena to close to within 40-46 at three quarter time. Point guard Melisa Gretter led the way with a sizzling 17-point, 3-assist performance, and sparked the full court defence that dragged the South Americans back into the contest.
The Russians steadied in the final quarter, though, recording a 70-51 victory behind Ksenia Tikhonenko's dominant performance in the paint, where she collected 18 points and 10 rebounds.
In perhaps the game of the day, Brazil and Spain fought out an entertaining and see-sawing affair. Spain jumped to a 26-17 lead early in the second quarter, but when the brilliant Damiris Dantas sparked Brazil's open court game the Spaniards had few answers.
A Carina Martins triple gave Brazil a 47-37 lead midway through the third quarter, and while Spain applied immense pressure down the stretch, the double figure margin was too much to overcome, Brazil claiming a 71-64 victory.
Dantas was simply outstanding for Brazil with 19 points, 13 rebounds and 2 blocks, and Spain were led by the relentless Queralt Casas who recorded 16 points, 8 rebounds and 3 steals.
The first major upset of the tournament came when Chinese Taipei defeated Slovenia 83-73 in Puerto Varas to put one foot in the Eight Finals.
Yu Ting Lin led the way with 17 points as Chinese Taipei extended their lead across the first three quarters, before holding on for a comfortable 10-point win over the talented Europeans.
The tournament began with Canada facing China, and the North Americans' speed and pressure defense was too much for their opponents. Canada raced to a 41-16 half time lead, and despite a tighter second half they ran out comfortable 76-49 winners.
Canada guard Nirra Fields was dominant at both ends, leading a full court trapping defence that forced 14 Chinese turnovers in the first two quarters. Fields would finish with 22 points and 9 rebounds.
While China went into the game with a height advantage, the athleticism of the Plouffe twins and Wumi Agunbiade (7 rebounds each) turned the frontcourt battle in Canada's favour as they won the rebound count 47-29. Jiamei Liang (12 points, 5 rebounds) was China's best player.
The second game saw the USA fight off an audacious Japan team, who fought from 25-45 down late in the second period to close to within eight points in the shadows of three quarter time. While the USA closed the game out 85-63 with a late run, the story of the game was Japan.
The Asian runners up pulled in 17 offensive rebounds despite giving up size at every position, and forced 21 turnovers from the tournament favourites.
Excellent crowds were a feature of the opening day, the most impressive being the 2000-plus in attendance to see France play hosts Chile. While the French burst out of the blocks quickly, leading 22-4 at quarter time.
The home crowd did not relent and Chile rallied, locking down defensively to win the second quarter 10-8 and containing France to a 59-36 victory. France coach Jerome Fournier was full of praise for the host nation, who are competing in their country's first world championship.
"I thought Chile played a very good game in defense, and we found it very hard to find good shots and score a lot," he said.
The final game of day one say Italy make light work of Egypt, establishing a 17-point quarter time lead, after which both teams traded basket to deliver the European champions a 74-56 win.
Francesca Dotto led the way for the victors with 15 points, and Hagar Amer was excellent for Egypt with 22 points, 22 rebounds and 2 steals.
