24th FIBA Asia Champions Cup: ONGC India lose second match in a row

ONGC Basketball Club (File Photo)

ONGC India, the South Asian Basketball Association (SABA) representative lost their second match in a row on the third day of the ongoing 24th FIBA Asia Champions Cup at Amman, Jordan. After losing their first match to BC Kapshagay (Central Asia Basketball Association representative) of Kazakhstan 79 -72, ONGC India lost to Duhok of Iraq, 99-70.

Duhok took the first quarter 25-22 to take a three-points lead at the end of first quarter. Duhok also took the second quarter 23-20 to take a six-points lead going into the half-time break. After the break, Duhok came out even stronger to take the third and last quarter 25-15 and 26-13 respectively to win the match 99-70. R. Taylor Jr and R. Marsh scored 28 and 19 points respectively for Duhok, while V. Bhriguvanshi and Trideep Rai netted 26 points and 15 points respectively for ONGC India.

The standing of the group B looks like below.

GROUP B

1. Al Rayyan (QAT): 4 points (2 win /0 loss)
2. Duhok (IRQ): 3 points (1 win /1 loss)
3. BC Kapshagay (KAZ): 3 points (1 win /1 loss)
4. ONGC (IND): 2 points (2 Loss)

India’s ONGC, Duhok of Iran, Al Rayyan of Qatar and Kazakhstan’s BC Kapshagay are in Group B while Group A consists of Al Hala (BRN), ASU (JOR), Foolad Mahan (IRI) and Al Jaish (SYR).

The FIBA Asia Champions Cup, previously known as the Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) Champions Cup until 2002, is Asia’s premier club level basketball competition, involving the champion clubs of Asian countries. It is organised by FIBA Asia and takes place once a year. A total of 10 professional basketball clubs qualify every year from the sub-zones of FIBA Asia. After Khas Bronchos (MGL) and San Miguel Beermen (PHI) pulled out of this year’s championship, only 8 clubs are participating in the 24th edition of Asia’a premier club level basketball competition.