It was a efficiency of pure grit and dedication because the Indian males’s basketball crew pulled off an upset by beating higher-ranked Kazakhstan 88-69 within the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 qualifiers on the Nehru Stadium right here on Monday.
Pranav Prince was the standout performer for the aspect, with 17 factors, six rebounds and 7 assists to his identify whereas Vladimir Ivanov led the scoring charts for Kazakhstan with 15.
With this, India stored itself in rivalry for a spot within the 16-team Finals, happening in Saudi Arabia subsequent August.
Pranav Prince was the standout performer for India, with 17 factors, six rebounds and 7 assists to his identify.
| Picture Credit score:
Particular Association
Pranav Prince was the standout performer for India, with 17 factors, six rebounds and 7 assists to his identify.
| Picture Credit score:
Particular Association
Sahaij Pratap Singh Sekhon began the continuing for India, swishing the ball from the three-point line. The aspect seemed way more strong in defence, forcing the customer to commit errors and provides away the ball one too many instances within the first quarter.
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With 4 minutes remaining within the first quarter, Vadim Chsherbak scored a three-pointer to carry Kazakhstan again into the sport. Amjyot Singh responded with a triple to stage issues up, however Askar Maydekin and Vladimir scored 12 factors in between to present Kazakhstan a nine-point lead on the finish of the primary quarter.
In contrast to the earlier match towards Qatar, the Indian aspect attacked the basket extra however did not convert the plethora of possibilities, with the rim denying the gamers on most events. India completed the quarter with a poor offensive exhibiting, changing solely three out of its 18 makes an attempt at scoring.
Kanwar Gurbaz Singh Sandhu gave India a much-needed enhance at first of the second quarter, draining back-to-back threes to chop the lead down to 3. Each groups grew to become more and more bodily as the sport progressed, dispensing fouls at both finish because the scoreboard stored ticking.
Halfway via the quarter, Pranav bought into the groove, capitalising on a few unfastened balls to attract India stage at 29-29. With lower than two minutes remaining, veteran Amjyot took duty and scored two three-pointers to present his aspect a 37-33 lead on the break.
Initially of the third quarter, native expertise Baladhaneshwar Poiyamozhi and Sahaij Pratap discovered the ring from behind the three-point line to present India a 12-point lead, a lot to the joy of the followers within the stands.
Kazakhstan captain Shaim Kuanov tried his finest to stage a comeback for his aspect, scoring seven factors in lower than two minutes. Chsherbak then went on to chip away at India’s lead with consecutive threes.
Nevertheless, Indian coach Scott Flemming’s fixed substitutions labored like a appeal as Kushal Singh got here off the bench for the primary time within the event to finish a driving layup and rating from the free throw line within the dying seconds of the quarter.
Heading into the ultimate quarter with a nine-point lead, India didn’t let its foot off the fuel, going at Kazakhstan from the ends of the court docket. Kanwar scored 5 factors in 24 seconds to set India heading in the right direction to a well-known victory.
“Kanwar’s back-to-back 3s within the second quarter had been undoubtedly a turning level within the recreation,” Indian coach Scott Flemming stated through the post-match press convention
“We had been sort of struggling at that time, attempting to get again into the sport. He hit these photographs and it energised the crew and we sort of took off from there,” he added.
With 4 minutes left within the recreation, Palpreet Singh Brar slammed the ultimate nail into the coffin, dunking the ball into the basket after receiving the ball from Pranav.
Regardless of the win, India stays final in its group, however the win will enhance its confidence forward of the ultimate two matches of qualifiers towards Iran and Qatar in February subsequent 12 months.
India wants to complete within the prime two of its group to ensure a spot within the 16-team Finals. If India locations third, it’ll enter a playoff spherical with the opposite 5 third-placed groups for the remaining 4 spots.