Chinese Taipei Women opened their Asian Games campaign with a statement, defeating Philippines Women 83-71 in a hard-fought group-stage contest at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games. A decisive third-quarter surge turned a two-point halftime edge into a double-digit cushion, and the Taiwanese side managed the closing minutes with the composure of a team that expects to be playing deep into this tournament.

Match Overview

Played in front of a lively, flag-waving crowd that split its support almost evenly between the two nations, the game was billed as one of the most evenly matched fixtures in the women's basketball draw. Both teams arrived with ambitions of reaching the knockout rounds, and for twenty minutes it looked like the kind of contest that would be decided by a single possession.

Chinese Taipei's ball movement and outside shooting ultimately proved the difference. They shot better than 40 percent from beyond the arc and forced 17 Philippine turnovers, converting those extra possessions into 19 points — a margin that neatly accounts for the final 12-point gap.

• Final score: Chinese Taipei Women 83, Philippines Women 71
• Competition: Asian Games – Women's Basketball, group phase
• Date: 24 September 2026
• Quarter scores: 22-18, 40-38, 64-53, 83-71

How the Game Unfolded

The Philippines started the brighter of the two, attacking the rim through their frontcourt and drawing early fouls to build a 12-7 lead midway through the first quarter. Chinese Taipei responded the way good shooting teams do: with patience. Two corner three-pointers in the closing three minutes of the period flipped the momentum and gave them a 22-18 advantage at the first break.

The second quarter was a grind. Philippines Women tightened their perimeter defense, switched aggressively on screens and held their opponents to just 18 points — their best defensive stretch of the night. A late driving layup in transition sent the teams to the locker room at 40-38, with the game very much alive.

Then came the run that decided it. Chinese Taipei opened the third quarter with a 12-2 burst, built on two steals in the backcourt and a pair of quick-hitting fast breaks. The Philippines called timeout, but the rhythm had already shifted. A 24-15 third quarter put the game at 64-53, and from there the cushion never fell below eight points.

Key Moments

• First quarter, 2:40 remaining: Back-to-back three-pointers turn a five-point deficit into a lead Chinese Taipei would never fully surrender.
• Third quarter, opening four minutes: A 12-2 run, sparked by full-court pressure, breaks the game open at 52-40.
• Fourth quarter, 6:10 remaining: Philippines Women cut the lead to eight, but a mid-range jumper and a put-back on the next two possessions settle the contest.
• Final minute: Chinese Taipei run the clock down professionally, closing out the win without a single rushed shot.

Tactical Story

Chinese Taipei's coaching staff made a clear decision early: concede size inside and win the game on the perimeter. Their guards pushed the tempo at every opportunity, hunting early offense before the Philippine defense could set, and when the game slowed down they leaned on high pick-and-roll actions to create open catch-and-shoot looks.

The Philippines, by contrast, were at their best when they played through the post. Their interior scoring kept them in touch for three quarters, and their offensive rebounding generated a steady stream of second-chance points. The problem was the turnover column. Pressure defense from Chinese Taipei's guards disrupted entry passes and forced several rushed decisions in transition, which repeatedly erased the gains made on the glass.

Defensively, Chinese Taipei's willingness to switch every screen neutralized the Philippine pick-and-roll game in the second half, and their help rotations arrived a step faster than they had in the opening twenty minutes.

Standout Players

• Liu Hsi-yeh (Chinese Taipei): A game-high 21 points on efficient shooting, plus four assists. She was the calmest player on the floor in the closing minutes.
• Huang Ling-chuan (Chinese Taipei): 17 points and three steals, including two that directly produced fast-break baskets during the decisive third-quarter run.
• Chen Wei-an (Chinese Taipei): A double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds, anchoring the interior against a physically imposing frontcourt.
• Jack Animam (Philippines): 18 points and 13 rebounds in a battling performance that kept her team within reach for three quarters.