Mongolia saw off Vietnam 98 to 64 in the FIBA Asia Cup on Thursday, a result that leaves the hosts well clear of their opponents after a dominant display. The victory came despite a run of heavy defeats in recent months, and here's the thing — the shooting range provided the answer. Mongolia's long-range accuracy was simply too much for Vietnam to handle.
The hosts started brightly and never got out of second gear, building an early cushion that Vietnam could never close. By then it was clear they would not be chasing the game, and Vietnam's defence looked stretched from the opening minutes. Mongolia's ball movement was crisp, with 27 assists showing the team found each other consistently.
What stood out was the three-point shooting. Mongolia made 13 of 30 attempts from beyond the arc, while Vietnam managed just five from 18. To be fair, the visitors had more free-throw attempts — 22 compared to 19 — but that margin did not bridge the gap. Mongolia's field-goal percentage was also superior, hitting 35 of 65 shots.
The rebound battle told another story. Mongolia pulled down 39 boards to Vietnam's 24, with 12 offensive rebounds giving them extra possessions. Vietnam managed only six in that category, and the difference showed in the second-chance points. Mongolia also won the turnover battle, committing just 13 compared to Vietnam's 15.
Recent form has not been kind to Mongolia, who have lost to Japan, China and Guam in their last five games. Vietnam's record was mixed, with a win over Singapore but defeats to Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia. This result changes the picture, if only temporarily, and Mongolia are now the team in control of their own destiny.