Roundup: Chinese Taipei eliminated after two games at FIBA Asian Championships

With three players fouled out, Chinese Taipei lost to Kazakhstan 84-73 on Thursday, swallowing the second straight loss and becoming the first seeded team to say goodbye to the 2015 FIBA Asian Championships.

In Group D, all of Kazakhstan, Qatar and Lebanon had recorded at least a victory, leaving Chinese Taipei the only team in the group still expecting a win.

In the other Group D game on Thursday, Qatar defeated Lebanon 105-100 after two overtimes. As a result, Qatar advanced to the last 12 with two wins.

Lebanon and Kazakstan were listed second and third with one win and one loss. Chinese Taipei stayed at the bottom with two losses. Chinese Taipei will take on Qatar on Friday.

Since both Lebanon and Kazakhstan had winning record against Taipei, it will be a sure thing that Taipei will be eliminated as the number four of Group D.

Chinese Taipei was a member of the final four at the 2013 version of the tournament. However, too many fouls and turnovers made them spend the first two days of 2015 Asian Championships without a victory. Taipai players Wu Tai-Hao, Quincy Davis and Hung Chih-Shan were fouled out in the fourth quarter.

"We lost the first two games, so I consider Taipei team below the top 12 in Asia," said Taipei head coach Chou Chun-San after the game.

Once down by 20 points, team China found a way out and edged another Asian basketball powerhouse South Korea 76-73 in a Group C game. It was the second victory for China, who are trying to win their first Asian Champion in four years.

19-year-old center Zhou Qi had a team-high 21 points for China, and his 13 points in the fourth quarter made an important role in China's surpass. Former NBA player Yi Jianlian had 20 points and 11 rebounds for the host team. Captain Zhou Peng added 14 points, including two three pointers.

"I think it's a mental challenge to us," said Chinese head coach Gong Luming. "We have many young players in the team, and the team is progressing."

"However, we can't go further if we don't pass the phycological test, like today's game. I think the victory was a big step forward for us."

Defending champion Iran defeated India 88-66. It wasn't quite an easy win for Iran who was challenged until the last minute.

Four Iranian players had double figures, with Hassanzadeh Saberi leading the team with 16 points. Veteran point guard Mahdi Kamrani finished with 13 points. Hamed E. Haddadi and Nik Khah Bahrami had 11 and 12 points respectively.

Indian forward Amjyot Singh collected a game-best 26 points.

In Thursday's other games, the Philippines recovered from their loss to Palestine by beating Hong Kong, China 101-50. Japan whitewashed Malaysia 119-48. Palestine defeated Kuwait 90-69. Jordan outnumbered Singapore 98-68. Endi