CHENNAI (23rd FIBA Asia Women Championship) - China played hide-and-seek with Chinese Taipei before notching a clinical 70-59 win in the second semifinal on Wednesday.

China’s triumph also marked their 100th win in FIBA Asia Women Championship for the 2008 Beijing Olympics semifinalists along with taking them to the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Women.

China, playing their fifth straight final – 16th overall – will attempt for their 10th gold.

Chinese Taipei take on Japan for bronze, with the winners also qualifying for the 2010 FIBA World Championship for Women.

Chen Xiaoli and Bian Lan scored eight points each – the former with a 100% field record (4/4) and fired in a sizzling three-pointer to put her team in control – as China went ahead 27-17 at the end of the first quarter.

China did not have worry too much after that although Taipei kept clipping off the lead.

Taipei even managed to take a 43-42 lead early in the third quarter when Ma Yi-hung capped her brisk fast break.

But China unleashed an all-round scoring show and shot back with vigour and vengeance outscoring their rivals 14-2 during the rest of the period.

Thenceforth, China did not bother to take any huge lead nor did they have to bother too much.

Chen Xiaoli and Liu Dan shared the scoring honours for the game with a dozen each – the latter adding another game-high of seven rebounds.

Bian Lan and Chen Nan chipped in with 10 points each.

Chen Hui-yun was the highest scorer for Taipei with 11.

FIBA Asia