Opals lose to hot-shooting Japan in Asia Cup basketball

Australia’s hopes of a primary FIBA ladies’s Asia Cup basketball title have nose-dived after they had been thumped 91-66 by a hot-shooting Japan in Sydney.

Coming off two massive wins, the Opals scored the primary eight factors and had been up 15-6 on Wednesday, however Japan took management of the sport after a rare second quarter surge.

Japan scored the final 17 factors of that quarter and Australia missed their final 13 makes an attempt from the sector.

The Opals had been outscored 22-2 within the final seven-and-a-half minutes, with Japan nailing six three-pointers over that point as they turned an eight-point deficit right into a 44-32 halftime lead.

Australia could not get the deficit under 9 within the second half, with Japan pulling away to steer by 19 at three-quarter time and by as a lot as 30 within the fourth.

Japan hit 17 three-pointers at 51 per cent and shot 54 per cent general from the sector, whereas conserving Australia to simply 39 per cent.

The Opals had simply two double-digit scorers, Maddison Rocci with 12 and Alice Kunek 11, as Australia struggled to take care of Japan’s stress, slick transition recreation and long-range capturing.

Japan, who’ve gained the final 5 Asia Cups, took high spot within the group and booked a semi-final spot.

Australia must take the longer path to the final 4, needing to win a classification match towards Korea on Friday to face Group B winner China, who completed with a 3-0 report after a 87-81 additional time win over Korea.

“Japan turned up the stress in that second quarter, we had been bit surprised after they began hitting all these threes and subsequent recreation we have to be means higher at regrouping loads faster,” Opals captain Tess Madgen mentioned.

Australia’s top benefit did not translate into dominance on the boards as they had been out-rebounded 33-31 and in addition made 4 extra turnovers than Japan.

“As the sport went on, they floor us down with their stress and physicality,” Opals performing head coach Shannon Seebohm mentioned.

“They managed the boards and we in all probability simply weren’t disciplined sufficient on defence to get sufficient stops and generate any straightforward factors out of our transition recreation.”

The Opals burst out of the blocks, scoring the primary eight factors, with Darcee Garbin notching 5 inside the primary minute, whereas Japan missed their first 4 subject purpose makes an attempt.

Mai Yamamoto triggered Japan’s comeback with 4 second-quarter triples, ending with 19 factors, one behind.Monica Okoye.

In one other match, Australian-born guard and Australian age-group consultant Tahlia Tupaea scored 20 for New Zealand of their 76-45 win over Lebanon.

The victor of Friday’s match between the Tall Ferns and the Philippines, who beat Taiwan 92-81 on Wednesday, will face Japan within the semi-finals.

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