Game Photos. Game Details and Stats

BEIRUT, Lebanon (23rd FIBA Asia Champions Cup): Turkmen outfit Belent Asgabat unleashed a 23-6 run towards the end of the second quarter to pull away from an even-keeled position and went on to beat Mongolia’s Falcons 96-68 on Wednesday, a result that might go a long way in deciding the play-off position.

Uzbek import Samender Juginisov (left in the combo pic above) scored a dozen points, including three three-point plays, to lead Belent’s run and went on to share the scoring honors with Pavel Averyanov (right in the combo pic above), both with 18 points each for the Turkmenistan club, who can now look for a semifinal finish on debut.

“Things came together rather well when push came to shove,” said Belent Asgabat coach Ridvan Velishayev.

“And more importantly, we were a lot better than we were on the opening day,” he added. Belent had lost to host Al Riyadi on Monday.

Averyanov had 18 rebounds and Juginisov 11 collections as Belent won the battle of boards 50-29, which Velishayev called the crucial factor.

“We wanted to cut down the turnovers and control the rebounds. I think we did both rather well today,” the coach said.

Falcons began rather well, even marginally ahead on the scoreboard for the better part of the first quarter, but withered when Belent applied pressure.

Battulga’s 18 points was their highest.

Falcons coach Amarjargal Misha rued the missed opportunities.

“Our outside shooting was way below our expectations,” Misha said about the 9/38 shooting in three-pointers.

“Our chances now look very bleak. May be none. But we are happy for the experience,” he said after Falcons lost their third successive game in as many outings.

FIBA Asia