Another China-Japan battle for the top spot

MEDAN (2015 FIBA Asia U16 Women's Championship) – Defending champions China and last edition's runners-up Japan entered the finals of the FIBA Asia U16 Championship for the third time in four editions after the two consummated convincing wins in the semi-finals on Saturday.

China – champions of 2009 and 2013 editions of this event – overpowered Chinese Taipei 89-46 and Japan, the 2011 FIBA Asia U16 Women's Championship titlists, got the better of Korea 64-55.

The win also puts the two as the first teams from Asia to book their berth in the 2016 FIBA World U17 Women's Championship to be played in Spain.

Korea and Chinese Taipei have another opportunity to qualify for the international event when they face off in the third place game tomorrow.

In Level I Qualifying Games Hong Kong rode on India's errors and won 66-42 to earn their maiden entry into Level I and Thailand retained their position in the elite level beating a feisty hosts Indonesia 74-60.

China did nothing special in their approach, and they didn’t need to.

"I just asked them to stick to basics," said China coach Li Xian Jing.

"Not sure if we achieved that," he added pointing to the 17 turnovers his side committed.

Fortunately for him, his rivals too were none too perfect – Taipei turned the ball over 20 times – and China's overall advantage of size proved sufficient.

Yueru Li had a game-high 20 points and missed a double-double by two rebounds. All Chinese players, except Song Feng put their names on the scorers' list.

Meng-Hsin Chen's 10 points was Taipei's highest.

Japan scored 10 out of the first 11 points in the second quarter to stop Korea in their tracks. And then went on to outscore Korea 18-6 in all taking a firm grip on the game.

Korea had begun in a flurry, but once Japan tightened his zone defense, Korea found the going getting tougher.

Korea braved their way, despite losing spearhead Jiwoo Lee to two unsportsmanlike fouls midway through the third period, but Japan far too adept in controlling the second chance points.

"This is certainly not the way I expected us to play," said Japan coach Tatsushi Isshiki.

"We left a lot of loose ends on the defense," he added.

"But the important thing we've put factor of pressure (of qualifying to the 2016 FIBA U17 Women's World Championship) out of our mind. That should help (in the final against China)."

Haruki Takahara's 14 points was the highest for Japan.

Sohee Lee, who gallantly managed the absence of Jiwoo Lee led Korea with 18 points.

Hong Kong scored the first four points of the game and never trailed. Closing the first half with 10 continuous points Hong Kong opened the scoring in the second to take a double-digit lead for the first time in the game.

India, who were crippled by numerous turnovers and mispasses, came up with a series of three-pointer to cut the gap to three.

Sheung Hok Lau and Christie Wong took charge of the proceedings at this stage to pull Hong Kong ahead and the East Asian team never looked back.

Lau finished with 14 points behind Wong 18 points.

India, who committed 27 turn overs, had Rutuja Pawar as their highest scorer.

Thailand and Indonesia went neck-and-neck in the all-SEABA clash till Thailand found their surprise leader in Kanyawat Saraban.

Saraban, who had averaged 6.2 points per game going to today's encounter, accounted for 8 points when Thailand unleashed the 13-0 run midway through the second quarter which sealed the fate of the game.

She went on to lead the game in scoring with 21 points, in an impressive 9/17 field shooting.

Ni Febiananda and Clarito Antonio paced Indonesia with 10 points apiece.

FIBA