2013 FIBA Asia Championship: India beat Bahrain 75-65; finish 11th overall

India beat Bahrain 75-65 in their final game of the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship, which is being held at Manila, Philippines, to finish in 11^th place. This game was seen as a grudge match by Coach Scott Flemming’s men as Bahrain had edged India 82-80 in overtime, when they played each other in the first round.

India had not won a single game since the group stages where they beat Thailand. They lost their last game in the first round to Kazakhstan and lost all their games in the second round against Iran, China and Korea. They had a chance to finish in the top ten but failed to beat Japan yesterday, despite having a 16-point lead before halftime.

India had a healthy 27-13 lead at the end of the first quarter but Bahrain pulled their way back by halftime, thanks to some good defending and poor shot conversion from India to cut the lead to just one point (39-38).

Bahrain took the lead at the start of the third quarter but India’s centre Amjyot Singh came into the game to score some quick points and regain the lead. Bahrain were guilty of committing a lot of fouls that sent India to the free throw line on more than one occasion. India made up for their poor field goal conversion with a healthy 76% free throw conversion.

The fourth quarter was where India held their nerve as they used their size in the lane and blocked plenty of shots to deny Bahrain, who were restricted to only one basket in the first seven minutes. Bahrain got into foul trouble (including technicals), which allowed India to extend the lead from the charity stripe.

India’s top performers were Vishesh Bhriguvanshi (19 points, 7 rebounds), Prathnam Singh (16 points) and Amjyot Singh (9 points, 7 rebounds). Hussein Al-Tawash (20 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists), Yunes Kawaid (12 points) and Mohamed Al-Derazi (11 points) kept Bahrain in the game.