India bowed out of the FIBA Asia Cup men’s basketball championship at Jeddah on Saturday, with a third-straight defeat in Group-C, losing 59-84 to host Saudi Arabia. China finished first in the group and directly entered the knockout (quarterfinals) while Saudi Arabia finished second and Jordan third.
India put up a really good fight in the first quarter, 24-25, with Palpreet Singh Brar playing a major role in defence and scoring two-pointers at regular intervals.
The host raced away in the second quarter and from there it never looked back as it took a 14-point lead (41-35). Poor turnovers didn’t help India’s cause as Saudi continued to pile pressure with consistent scoring, both 2-pointers and 3-pointers.
If at all India had to fight and reduce the lead, it had to be in the third, and here, too, the visitor fell short as the host’s defence was top-class. A three-pointer from Harsh Dagar did raise some hopes at 36-47 early in the quarter.
Much was expected from forward Pranav Prince and he disappointed. Saudi took a 19-point lead when Abdur-Rakhman scored a three-pointer. India just went through the motions in the fourth and final quarter.
The results:
Saudi Arabia 84 (Marzouq Almuwallad 12, Abdur-Rahkman 14, Abdel Gabar 10, Md. Alsuwallem 15, Musab Tariq Kadi 10) bt India 59 (Palpreet Singh Brar 20).