Preview

There are just 6 teams competing on this EABA Championship which formed
2 groups of 3 teams and they were fighting for top 5 spots which allow
playing next Asia Championship in August this year. Since only one team
will be left out it will be for sure Macau which is weakest from all and
today will Hong Kong just confirm this. So all top guns were never in
doubt about qualification for Asia championship and now after end of
group stage starts their fight for title. Japan is host of the
tournament and they have big expectations wanting to be first team that
will won the title beside Korea which is only team that won this East
Asia championship so far and they did it 3 times. Japan already won
Korea in group stage 78:72 in first round while second round was easy
practice and big demolition of Macau 119:47. On the other side Chinese
Taipei didn’t had good start since were surprised by young China team
and destroyed 63:96 in first game. I say surprised since they were
considered as big favorite. We know who is China in Asian basketball but
on this tournament they sent very young team with 19 years on average
and bookies underestimate them big time making Taipei even double digit
favorites. But this young China team is extremely talented and playing
very motivated, not to mention they are highest team on the tournament
with 200cm on average. After they destroy Taipei bookie started to
underestimate now Taipei thinking they are weak, which is not true since
they are with almost same team from last year Asia Challenge cup. They
just had bad display against very motivated China youngsters which was
probably little underestimated by more experienced Taipei players which
paid the rpice for such approach. They also could not handle China size
which force almost 60% efficiency for 2pt but CHian was also higher than
50% from long distance. On the other side Taipei was just 40% for 2pt
and just 25% from 3pt which was reason to loose the game big time beside
more attempts. With Japan I don’t expect such drastic difference in
stats since oth teams are of similar caliber. Both teams players average
is 27-28 years and average height is 193-194cm. Both have one
naturalized player in veterans Brown for Japan and Davis for Taipei
both with 34 years being leaders in teams, so only advantage for Japan
will be home field. The teams tradition show equality also splitting
last 6 meetings with 3 wins each but last two were Taipei wins. They
have more meetings in the past but I could not find any Japan win higher
than today spread, while Taipei has some. I think home field advantage
is not justifying 17 points spread and here reason is big Taipei defeat
from China which is misleading. Taipei immediately raise its form
winning easy Hong Kong team which is not that weak like Macau which was
easy destroyed by Japan and actually Hong Kong are on this tournament
with one of their best teams in recent years with all top players
selected but still were dominated by Taipei both in offense and defense.
Japan and Taipei as said played many times each other so have some
rivalry with mostly games finishing close and I expect another similar
battle today. Being such underdog is more suiting Taipei since they have
nothing to loose, while all pressure is on Japan from which is expected
title and definitely place in final. It will be not that easy as spread
suggest.