Lim Yeonseo (Photo FIBA)
Lim Yeonseo starred as Korea hacked out a pulsating 74-71 victory over New Zealand in the FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup-2026 Division A competitions on Sunday at the Karisma Arena in Seremban.
The 1.7 M (5’6″) guard dropped 31 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 6 steals, as she maintained order for the East Asian side in the midst of the Junior Tall Ferns’ upheaval toward joining Australia as the early winners in Group A.
Seeking a ‘three-peat,’ the Gems opened the tourney with a 102-47 romp over the debuting Philippines, in the process extending their winning streak to 12 which dates back to the 2018 contest in India.
Lee scored 6 of the Koreans’ last points, including 4 in a row capped by a crucial trifecta to push their lead back to 5 with 2:24 to go after the opposition got to within 66-65 – that, after being down by as many as 16.
The Kiwi hoopers got to within a point again at 71-70 with 1:33 to go but it proved to be their final stand as Kim Damhee scored through a foul, before Lim split her shots with 8.9 seconds left to seal the deal.
Kim herself was crucial in the triumph, finishing with 6 points alongside 19 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals. Song Eunji and Cho Heewon supplied 13 points apiece and combined for 8 rebounds for Team Korea.
The 7-time champions will look to follow up this thrilling win with another one when they take on Gilas Youth (0-1) tomorrow at 14:00 local time.
On the other hand, all 12 players of Coach Kristi Harrower scored against the Philippines in the wire-to-wire win, with Sophie Richardson leading the way with a game-high 18 points behind a 5-of-9 clip from deep.
Isabel Smith made 17 points. Olivia Olechnowicz contributed 15 points, while Madison Ryan had 14 points. Lily Mapp added 10 and 12 rebounds for the Aussies, who had 60 rebounds, 25 assists, and 17 steals.
Only Tiffany Reyes and Zaydhen Rosario were in double figures for the Philippines with 10 points apiece.
Japan, China start out strong
Japan and China aced their assignments for a dominant start to their respective campaigns in Division A.
Japan opened Group B play with an 83-55 conquest of Chinese Taipei, before Team Dragon flat-out dominated host nation Malaysia, 116-30, to conclude the opening day of competitions.
Six players finished in double figures for the Japanese, with Miya Takeuchi showing the way with 14 points. Moe Sakata supplied 12 points, while Marin Koike, Rio Matsumoto, and Kako Otsuki added 11 apiece.
Riko Katsube chipped in 10 points as all of these pieces contributed to their fiery 25-10 third-quarter barrage, which broke the game away for good after they held a narrow 34-32 entering the halftime intermission.
Koike herself powered a crucial 11-0 run that wiped out a 4-point deficit and turned it to a 45-36 lead for themselves. Otsuki and Takeuchi helped push the spread to 55-41, marking the start of the rout.
It was a massive second half overall for the Japanese, as they poured 51 points while limiting their East Asian rivals to only 21.
Ava Chang led Chinese Taipei with 11 points, with Chen Jou-An and Huang I-Chen the only players who backed her up with 10 each.
In the other game, in clearly an embarrassment of riches from the 16-time champions, all 12 players scored in the lopsided win, half of which finished in twin digits led by Sun Hanyun with 22 points and 8 rebounds.
Li Yuanshan supplied 15 points. Pang Yunshu made 13 points, with Chen Yuxin delivering 12. Zhao Zirui had 11 points and 6 rebounds, as He Siyao notched a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds for China.
China and Japan will try to go 2-0 today, as they switch opponents. China will take on Chinese Taipei in a rivalry affair followed by Japan’s meeting with Team Harimau.
