Australia survived a late comeback by Japan to win the FIBA Girls’s Asia Cup for the primary time on Sunday.
The Opals, runners as much as Japan in 2017, triumphed 88 – 79 on the Shenzhen Sports activities Centre in southern China.
Australia, which beforehand defeated its Japanese rival 79 – 67 within the group levels, led from the beginning and constructed an 11-point lead by half time. However six-time Asian champion Japan rallied within the remaining quarter — with energy ahead Yuki Miyazawa at one stage netting three unanswered 3-pointers in a row — to degree the scores with seven minutes on the clock.
A pair of missed free throws by Japan and essential baskets from Australian stars Alexandra Fowler and Alex Brooke Wilson helped the Opals edge away as time ticked away for an more and more determined Japanese facet.
Australian celebrations started with the buzzer because the workforce ranked second in FIBA’s world rankings lastly ended its Asia Cup trophy drought.
Fowler, named the match’s Most Helpful Participant, top-scored for her facet with 15 factors, whereas Wilson and level guard Stephanie Reid chipped in with 14 and 13 factors respectively.
Teenage sensation Kokoro Tanaka, who made 27 factors in Japan’s semifinal downing of hosts China, needed to accept silver regardless of one other spectacular show the place she ended with 21 factors and 9 assists.
China’s Zhang Ziyu managed 18 factors and 7 rebounds because the host maintained its file of consecutive podium finishes on the biennial occasion, a run which stretches again to 1976.
| Photograph Credit score:
AFP
China’s Zhang Ziyu managed 18 factors and 7 rebounds because the host maintained its file of consecutive podium finishes on the biennial occasion, a run which stretches again to 1976.
| Photograph Credit score:
AFP
Earlier on Sunday, a robust efficiency from 2.26m (7ft 5in) Zhang Ziyu helped China thrash South Korea 101 – 66 within the third-place playoff.
The enormous 18-year-old centre managed 18 factors and 7 rebounds because the host maintained its file of consecutive podium finishes on the biennial occasion, a run which stretches again to 1976.