JPN - Final day of Preliminary Round a rehearsal for semis

OMURA-NAGASAKI (FIBA Asia Championship for Women) - Thursday’s last day of the Preliminary Round at the FIBA Asia Championship for Women will serve as a dress rehearsal for Saturday’s semi-finals after the last four teams - as well as the match-ups - were identified on Wednesday.

Korea’s 104-75 drubbing of Lebanon, combined with China’s 72-63 win over Chinese Taipei’s and Japan’s overwhelming 79-51 triumph against India ensured the East Asian quartet reached the semi-finals for the 14th time in a row at the FIBA Asia Championship for Women.

Korea take on Taipei to round off their Preliminary Round and, irrespective of the result, the two teams will meet again in Saturday's semi-finals.

The Koreans are guaranteed to finish as the top-ranked team while Taipei is locked in the fourth place in the Level I standings.

Also on Thursday, defending champions China will face hosts Japan in an encounter that will decide places two and three in the standings and also serve as a teaser for Saturday's other semi-final.

On Wednesday, Japan simply overwhelmed India, handing them their fourth defeat in as many games.

That leaves the Middle Asian nation playing in the Level I Qualifying play-offs for the third FIBA Asia Championship for Women in a row.

Moeko Nagaoka made her maiden appearance in Japan's starting five and finished with game-highs of 22 points and 14 rebounds and Yoko Nagi added 15.

The home side raced ahead 14-5 in the first quarter and were never really bothered after that.

Starters Yuko Oga, Asami Yoshida, Ai Mitani and Ramu Tokashiki sat out as their replacements proved sufficient.

Geethu Anna Jose led India’s scoring with 16 points.

Meanwhile, Taipei belied their underdog status and worked hard against China, but the latter tightened the screws at the right time.

Taipei breathed hard down China’s neck throughout the game, but the latter - seeking their 11th FIBA Asia Championship for Women gold medal - led from start to finish.

Nan Chen led all scorers with 24 points on 10 of 14 shooting in the paint, and collected 10 rebounds.

Korea, winners of this tournament a record 12 times, became the first team to score 100 points or more in beating debutants Lebanon.

Kang Ajeong led the Korean attack with 23 points and Kim Jung Eun added 19 points.

Choi Youn-Ah and Kang Young-suk were rested as the remaining 10 players all got on the court with each one of them getting in the scoresheet.

Korea accounted for the first eight points of the game and only grew in strength as the game progressed.

Lebanon’s naturalised center Brittany Denson had a game-high 25 points.

FIBA Asia