Japan shoot their way past Qatar and into Semi-Finals

CHANGSHA-HUNAN (2015 FIBA Asia Championship) - Japan were efficient at both ends of the court in their 81-74 Quarter-Final win over Qatar at the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship on Thursday.

With veterans Yuta Tabuse and Takatoshi Furukawa playing heavy minutes - and, more importantly, weighing in with key contributions - Team Hayabusa led from start to finish in their romp over Al Annabi, which came into this game slight favorites by virtue of their 4-2 win-loss record.

Tabuse started the game and played nearly 37 minutes for Japan, scoring a dozen points and handing out 6 assists in a masterful playmaking effort. Furukawa also impressed with a team-high 22 point performance that included four three-pointers, while big man Joji Takeuchi flirted with a double-double, scoring 15 points and grabbing 8 rebounds.

Qatar's star player Trey Johnson had a relatively quiet game, finishing with 16 points on 5-of-11 field goal shooting. He also had 3 turnovers. Hassan Mohamed and Mohammed Yousef added 13 and 12 points respectively for the Qataris who just couldn't get much going throughout the contest.

Turning Point: Japan head coach Kenji Hasegawa's side got their first double-digit lead of the game at the 2:22 mark of the first period when Furukawa hit his second three-pointer. He made three attempts from beyond the arc in the first quarter alone, helping Japan jump out to a commanding 28-13 advantage and never relinquishing the lead.

Stats Don't Lie: Japan's defense, speed and shooting gave Qatar fits all game long. Team Hayabusa forced 13 turnovers from their Gulf opponents and limited Qatar to just 41.8 percent shooting. In contrast, Japan coughed the ball up only 10 times and shot 48.2 percent. Japan were also better in transition, scoring six fastbreak points and not allowing a single point in transition from Qatar.

Game Hero: Spitfire guard Makoto Hiejima once again showcased his all-around brilliance. The 1.90m wingman from Fukuoka recorded 17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals to spearhead Japan's attack. The Nippon five will definitely look for him to continue his stellar play in the next round, where they await the winner between Philippines and Lebanon.

The Bottom Line: Without a naturalized player and several other key players, Japan weren't among the favorites to make it to the Semi-Finals of the competition but Hasegawa's men would not be denied. With fluid play and sharp execution, Team Hayabusa are now in the Last Four for the first time since 1997. Qatar, meanwhile, fail to finish among the top four teams for the fifth straight edition of the championship, and, with most of their stars in the twilight of their careers, Al Annabi look to rebuild.

FIBA