Olympics Basketball Pre-Qualifiers: India beat Indonesia 90-74 to stay unbeaten
2-0 India is now one win away from progressing to the semifinals. India next faces Kazakhstan on Monday, August 14 at 5:30pm
Damascus, August 14, 2023 - The Indian men's basketball team showcased their prowess once again, securing an impressive double-digit victory for the second consecutive game, maintaining an unblemished record in the ongoing 2024 Olympics Pre-Qualifying Tournament. This tournament is being held at the Al Fayhaa Stadium situated in Syria.
In the latest match held on Sunday, August 13th, India triumphed over Indonesia with a score of 90-74, capitalizing on their superior size, well-rounded scoring, and steadfast defensive tactics. The team executed a strategy reminiscent of their first game against Syria, as they surged ahead during the opening quarter, creating a comfortable nine-point lead of 25-16. The skilled "Bigs" of India, led by the capable Palpreet Singh Brar, effectively curtailed Indonesia's Marques Bolden to a 23-point performance. Notably, Bolden had previously achieved a remarkable 40 points in Indonesia's prior victory against Kazakhstan.
A total of seven Indian players made their mark, contributing between eight to 15 points each, with four players achieving double digits. Impressively, India dominated the boards with a substantial 47-30 rebounding advantage, coupled with a 46-30 lead in points scored in the paint, and a notable 30-10 differential in fast break scoring.
A significant turnaround for India was witnessed in the form of Muin Bek Hafeez, the starting point guard, who showcased his renewed shooting prowess. Fellow point guards Arvind Kumar Muthu Krishnan and Sahaij Pratap Singh Sekhon further bolstered India's efforts, offering substantial contributions off the bench. Collectively, India's substitutes outperformed Indonesia with a score of 37-21, underscoring the team's depth which is expected to play a pivotal role as the competition progresses.
Having achieved a flawless record of 2-0, the Indian team now sits atop the tournament standings, sharing this distinction with Bahrain, which dominated Kazakhstan with a resounding 104-67 victory. Both these teams are now just one win away from securing their spot in the semifinals, elevating the stakes and intensifying the competition.
Final Score: India: Muin Bek Hafeez (15 pts, 5 ast, 3 stl), Sahaij Pratap Singh Sekhon (14 pts, 4 ast), Arvind Kumar Muthu Krishnan (13 pts), Pranav Prince (12 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast) bt Indonesia: Marques Terrell Bolden (23 pts, 9 reb), Yudha Saputera (17 pts, 4 ast) 90-74 [25-16, 25-20, 19-19, 21-19]