In the previous edition we took a look at the first and the second games of the FIBA U18 Asian Championship. Here`s the story of the third and the fourth games in numbers.
Game 03 – Sri Lanka v Singapore
Full time: Sri Lanka – 40 Singapore – 50 (HT – 17-22)
The third match of the tournament was a must win game for Sri Lanka. Singapore weren’t going to be an easy opponent but going into this third match both teams were on equal footing mentally. Singapore too had lost both their starting matches and had a nightmare of a start to the tournament. Sri Lanka did have a chance here to turn the tables but in the end they were denied a win by 10 points.
Lapses in defense cost Sri Lanka third game
Sri Lanka took on Singapore in their third match of the FIBA U18 Asian Championship 2016.
Scoring Percentage
2 Pointers – Sri Lanka 24.19% Singapore 27.45%
3 Pointers – Sri Lanka 0.00% Singapore 13.04%
Free-throws – Sri Lanka 66.67% Singapore 36.36%
The only factor that Sri Lanka has improved on from the previous matches is swishing the free-throws in. A clear cut 30% difference is why Sri Lanka even came close. The three point percentage in the match remained at 0. In forty minutes of game-play they couldn’t get the ball into the hoop even once from outside the perimeter. What does this say about the offense?
Defensive rebounds – Sri Lanka 38 Singapore 28
Offensive rebounds – Sri Lanka 23 Singapore 19
Steals conceded – Sri Lanka 18 Singapore 04
Points via fast breaks – Sri Lanka 00 Singapore 02
In defense Sri Lanka did have the edge Singapore but again as the previous matches Sri Lanka was behind the opposition in the offensive aspect. Sri Lanka possessing 3 six footers, including one player who is 6.1` and the other being 5.9’, how can they be behind the rebound count? With this height advantage, converting the offensive rebounds into points should be at easy.
Sri Lanka had two eight second violations in the match, so it isn’t` really a question as to why Sri Lanka couldn’t score any points via fast breaks. The offense was just scattered. The bad run in conceding steals continued but most importantly in defense where was the hustle Sri Lanka needed to steal the ball off the Singaporeans? Isn`t three matches enough to find touch?
Starting 5
Shereen Preena played the entire match since the start and scored only one free-throw. If Preena hadn`t found form, even after a couple of games the coach should have re-strategized his plans and replaced her on the starting lineup. Is the team that bad that the coach couldn’t pick a player to replace her? Chalani Perera who started the game only played for 05:40min and was substituted out for the rest of the game.
It was Nirma Samarasinghe who top scored for Sri Lanka with 19 points but after playing 38:46min her field goal percentage remained at 23.08% as she converted only 6 shots out of 26 attempts.
Dilumi Goonerwardene played for 39:04 min in the game, scored only 03 field goals out of the attempted 19 shots. Manthila Gallassage converted 03 of the 11 chances she took at the hoop. The percentage of scoring in the starting line-up for Sri Lanka is below 30% not even a near 50%.
The Bench
The Sri Lanka bench only managed 07 points in the game. It is not fair to blame them though as the starting five have played 30+ minutes in the game even when they were failing. Hence, the rest of the players wouldn’t have had the chance to settle in the game.
In a must win game, the coach should have rotated his players more. Starting Shereen Preena shows that no home work was done as she has not up to the form in the last two games.
Game 04 – Sri Lanka v Malaysia
Full time – Sri Lanka – 46 Malaysia – 71 (HT-24-35)
Head-to-Head
1996 – Malaysia beat Sri Lanka 79-65
2007 – Malaysia beat Sri Lanka 96-54
2014- Malaysia beat Sri Lanka 50-58
It was tough ask for Sri Lanka to register a win against Malaysia with the form they were in in the previous three matches. Malaysia stepped into the court unbeaten having won all their three previous encounters. It`s bad romance between Sri Lanka v Malaysia in the head-to-head count but from losing to Malaysia by 08 points the last time they met how did we come down in standards to lose from 25 points?
Sri Lanka loses 4 in 4; Malaysia remains unbeaten
Sri Lanka played the fourth match against Malaysia in the FIBA U18 Asian Championship.
Scoring Percentage
2 Pointers – Sri Lanka 38.64% Malaysia 29.41%
3 Pointers – Sri Lanka 21.43% Malaysia 21.43%
Free-throws- Sri Lanka 75% Malaysia 50%
Sri Lanka improved themselves in the 2 pointers and free-throws but it was the 3 pointers that hurt them once more. Sri Lanka had 14 attempts and only 3 of them swished the nets. That was a clear impact on the deficit.
Defensive rebounds- Sri Lanka 37 Malaysia 22
Offensive rebounds- Sri Lanka 12 Malaysia 21
Steals conceded- Sri Lanka 22 Malaysia 04
Turnovers – Sri Lanka 40 Malaysia 11
It is surprising as to why Sri Lanka were on top of the defensive rebounds but could not to repeat that in the offensive aspect. The ambush in conceding became a norm for Sri Lanka as 22 possessions were halted and Sri Lanka had 40 turnovers in the game.
Starting 5
Shereen Preena played for 39:23mins and scored 07 points as she converted 3 out of her 11 attempts. Again Chalani Perera started the match was substituted after 03:17mins of play and was on the bench for the rest of the game.
Nirma Samarasinghe converted 07/17 field goals while she had 15 rebounds and 03 assists; a decent performance by the skipper. Manthila Gallasage had a total of 10 rebounds after playing for 23:13min and scored 06 points. Dilumi Goonerwardene went on to score 12 points, with 03 assists and rebounds.
On a general aspect the performance from the starting five improved in this match as the total field goal percentage remained at 34.48% converting 28 out of the total of 58 shots attempted. The heavy number of steals and turnovers are which made the difference in the end.
The Bench
Malaysia rotating its players made sure that everyone got their A game out. They scored 36 bench points and Sri Lanka only managed 06. The starting five for Sri Lanka came up with a decent performance but the rotation of players in general during the tournament for Sri Lanka was not the best.
Stay logged on to ThePapare.com as we analyze the Sri Lanka v Kazakhstan match in the next edition together with an overall analysis of the tournament for Sri Lanka.
