NAGPUR: Playing a competitive game after a gap of five months took its toll on the Indian men's team as they failed to get into the groove to go down tamely 61-80 against hosts Saudi Arabia in their first outing of the final qualifying event for FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah on Friday.
After losing the first quarter 8-20, India fought their way back to take the second period 22-16 and bring down the lead to just six points at the breather.
The change of ends, however, turned the things in home team's favour, ranked 87 in the world. After blocking most of the Indian attempts in the initial phase of the third quarter, the home team switched their defensive approach with an all attacking display to take control of the things.
Young Indian forward Sahaij Pratap Singh. Pic credit: Fiba.com
Saudi Arabia's strategic play took the Indian cagers by surprise as the 78th ranked visiting team failed to find timely baskets to lose the third and fourth quarters 16-20 and 15-24 respectively to suffer a humiliating 19-point defeat.
While Saudi Arabia out rebounded India 48-32, they recorded more steals 12-7 and were way ahead in assists 16-12 than their higher ranked rivals.
Blocking as many as eight Indian attempts boosted the morale of the home team as after taking a handy lead they never looked back. While five Saudi Arabia hoopsters scored in double digits, of all the experienced Indian cagers, Joginder Singh (17) and young Sahaij Pratap Sekhon (15) made some notable contributions.
Indian coach Veselin Matic. Pic credit: Fiba.com
"They dominated the game from the beginning and our start was not the right way as we expected. So we tried some young players. In fact, rebounding cost us the game. At the end they had 16 more rebounds than us and all our planning failed as they got more second chance attempts which eventually outscored us," India's Serbian head coach Veselin Matic told TOI.
On Saturday, India play their must-win game against Palestine.
RESULT: Saudi Arabia (Khalid Gabar 17, Mohammed Alsuwailem 16) bt India (Joginder Singh 17, Sahaij Pratap Singh Sekhon 15, Amritpal Singh 9, Muin Bek Hafeez 8, Vishesh Bhriguvanshi 6) 80-61 (20-8, 16-22, 20-16, 24-15)
