It was always considered a game of eight quarters for the Bank of Guam Men’s National Team vs. Chinese Taipei, so they knew it was too early to celebrate after picking up a big 77-72 win in Game 1 on Thursday. Chinese Taipei made the necessary adjustments and held on to defeat Guam 85-77 on Saturday in Game 2, coming out to a final tally of 157-154.
The loss ends Guam’s run in the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Indonesia Qualifiers.
Guam shot a rough 11/23 from the free throw line while committing 17 total turnovers. Leading Guam in scoring was Mark Johnson with 18 points followed by Tai Wesley’s 16 and Takumi Simon’s 15.
Coming into the game short handed with only a 10-man roster, Guam also suffered early adversity with starting point guard Daren Hechanova getting injured in the opening quarter. Hechanova would make a return later in the 2nd quarter, but a 10-0 sparked by Taipei’s Ting-Chien Lin had erased Guam’s lead by halftime.
Chinese Taipei held a double-digit lead for majority of the second half until a late really in the 4th from Guam. Down 82-73 with 1:13 remaining, a free throw from Johnson and a Galloway dunk off a Tai Wesley feed would get Guam within striking distance 82-76. Lin convert on a big jumper to go up 84-77 with 20 seconds remaining.
Takumi Simon would get one last shot to tie the overall tally, but a highly contested look wasn’t able to convert giving the win to Taipei.
Listen in on the press conference from Team Guam’s Head Coach EJ Calvo and Takumi Simon.
Team Guam Box Score
PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
Guam’s Ben Borja drives down the paint. (Photo by Michael Blas)
Guam’s Daren Hechanova powers his way towards the basket. (Photo by Michael Blas)
Chinese Taipei’s Ying-Chun Chen fires for three. (Photo by Michael Blas)
Guam’s Christopher Conner finds a seam through Taipei’s defense. (Photo by Michael Blas)
Guam’s Captain Daren Hechanova takes an early injury in the first quarter. (Photo by Michael Blas)
Guam’s Christopher Conner and Taipei’s Ying-Chun Chen go head to head in the paint. (Photo by Michael Blas)
Guam’s Tomas Calvo runs a play in the first quarter. (Photo by Michael Blas)
Guam’s Mark Johnson Jr. sinks in a three pointer. (Photo by Michael Blas)
Guam’s Takumi Simon drops a three over Taipei’s defense. (Photo by Michael Blas)
Guam’s Tai Wesley floats one in against Taipei’s Te-Wei Lee. (Photo by Michael Blas)
Guam’s Tai Wesley gets set for the second half of the game. (Photo by Michael Blas)
Guam’s Mekeli Wesley looks for an opening against Taipei’s Te-Wei Lee. (Photo by Michael Blas)
The Wesley brothers attempt a play against the tight Taipei defense. (Photo by Michael Blas)
Guam’s Mekeli Wesley finds a shot against Taipei’s Te-Wei Lee. (Photo by Michael Blas)
Guam’s Daren Hechanova gets fouled by Taipei’s Ting-Chien Lin. (Photo by Michael Blas)
Guam’s Jonathan Galloway fights his way for two points. (Photo by Michael Blas)
Guam’s Tai Wesley shoots an open three pointer. (Photo by Michael Blas)
Guam’s Ben Borja breaks through Taipei’s Te-Wei Lee defense. (Photo by Michael Blas)
Chinese Taipei’s Te-Wei Lee sinks in a three pointer. (Photo by Michael Blas)
Guam’s Mark Johnson Jr. drives in for a shot. (Photo by Michael Blas)
Chinese Taipei’s Long-Mao Hu finds a shot against Guam’s Jonathan Galloway. (Photo by Michael Blas)
Guam’s Takumi Simon sets up in the outside perimeter after a time-out in the fourth. (Photo by Michael Blas)
Guam’s Johnathan Galloway gets fouled in the paint by Taipei’s Zong Rong Hsieh. (Photo by Michael Blas)
Guam’s Christopher Conner brings down the ball in the fourth. (Photo by Michael Blas)
Chinese Taipei celebrate after defeating Guam 85-77 to advance in the FIBA Asia Cup. (Photo by Michael Blas)
Guam’s Jonathan Galloway looks down as Guam is eliminated from the FIBA Asia Cup after an 85-77 defeat from Chinese Taipei. (Photo by Michael Blas)
Chinese Taipei celebrate after defeating Guam 85-77 to advance in the FIBA Asia Cup. (Photo by Michael Blas)
Chinese Taipei celebrate after defeating Guam 85-77 to advance in the FIBA Asia Cup. (Photo by Michael Blas)
