The Indonesian national basketball team stood still and fell 53-78 to Australia in the final Group A match of the FIBA ​​Asia Cup 2022 at Istora, Senayan, Jakarta on Saturday (16 /7) evening.

Due to this loss, the national basketball team was ranked third in Group A with four points. Milos Pejic’s side will automatically face the Group B runners-up in the last eight play-offs after being confirmed qualified following Saudi Arabia’s loss to Jordan.

Wearing the new red and black uniform, the national basketball team started the game aggressively. Australia’s attack was muted, but two three-point attempts failed. The same thing happened in Australia.

The deadlock was finally broken thanks to Abraham Damar Grahita’s tripoin followed by Andakara Prastawa’s hat-trick. But Australia could catch the equalizer at 6-6.

In the last two minutes of the first quarter, Indonesia had a 12-6 lead. Attack after attack can be countered and the player can still earn the rebound or close out the move.

Derrick Michael Xzavierro stood out with six rebounds. Until the end of the first quarter, the Indonesian national basketball team managed to maintain the advantage with a 16-11 position.

The second quarter was tighter. Australia kept the defense tighter from outside the perimeter area. This strategy worked so that the points could be tied at 18-18.

After trailing 18-20, the national basketball team took a 21-18 lead thanks to the action of Brandon Jawato. Unfortunately, Australia can add points with the 21-25 position.

Subsequently, Australia took the lead. Indonesia will only be able to reduce the delay once. Until the end of the second quarter, Indonesia trailed by a difference of 10 points, 24-34.

Not developing in the second quarter, the national basketball team attempted to play more clinically in the third quarter. Marques Bolden opened the third quarter with two runs followed by a free throw.

However, after that Australia played a more disciplined and solid defensive strategy. By stemming this attack, numerous violations were created, resulting in free throws.

Australia’s increasingly hot game engine is finally unstoppable. In the third quarter, the Indonesian national basketball team was 15 points behind, with a 42-57 position.

Going into the fourth quarter, Australia and Indonesia immediately pressed. Indonesia won four points, but Australia responded with a three-point shot.

Indonesia’s three-point shot is indeed problematic. Until the third trimester, for example, there were 19 tripoin trials, but only three were successful. The negative percentage continued into the fourth quarter.

Indonesia also had to lose to Australia in the third match of Group A. The red and white team lost 53-78 to Australia.

(abs/jal)