(Photo FIBA)
Japan strung together a decisive run during the payoff period en route to beating China, 73-68, to head straight into the FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup 2026 Semi-Finals, at the Karisma Arena in Seremban.
Riko Katsube and Moe Sakata nailed a triple each, before Miya Takeuchi scored the next 5 points for an 11-0 assault toward a 68-57 lead with 5:11 remaining, putting themselves in control all the way to the end.
Another 3-point play conversion by Takeuchi for the 73-66 lead with 42.3 seconds left to play proved to be the knockout punch that allowed the AKATSUKI JAPAN to complete a three-game sweep of Group B.
The charges of Coach Yoshikazu Suzuki clinched the top spot in the group, which not only merits an outright Semi-Finals berth but a qualification ticket to the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2027 as well.
Takeuchi, MVP of the FIBA U16 Women’s Asia Cup 2025 that was held in this very city, top-scored for the Japanese with 16 points, which he laced with 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 of the team’s 12 steals.
Katsube finished with 14 points, spiked by a pair of triples. Sakata also knocked down two from deep and supplied 11 points, while Kako Otsuki contributed 10 points and 5 assists as the duo bannered the bench support.
Making the win all the more sweeter for Japan is that it snapped their 2-game skid against the 16-time champions, toppling their East Asian foes for the first time since a 76-59 rout during the 2022 Group Phase.
Li Yuanshan had 16 points to lead China, who settled for second in the pool with a 2-1 record and will be taking on Group B’s No. 3 team in the Philippines in the Qualification to Semi-Finals on Thursday, October 8.
Gilas Youth beat New Zealand earlier, 69-64, for their first win in Division A, coming back from down 39-30 at the half for a historic victory for a program that once toiled in Division B before earning the promotion in 2024.
Forwards Zhao Zirui and Sun Hanyun backed her up with 13 points apiece. Chen Yuxin added 10 points and 5 rebounds in the loss.
Li, Chen, and Sun Ruiyang tried to tow Team Dragon back into the ball game and they did manage to chop the deficit to just four, 70-66, following Li’s split from the free throw line with 1:03 to spare.
But Japan could no longer be denied, with Takeuchi getting the hoop and the harm, serving as the exclamation point to a strong showing personally as she scored 10 of her points in the deciding chapter alone.
Aussies first to reach 2027 U19 Women’s World Cup
Australia advanced to the Division A Semi-Finals outright following a wire-to-wire 92-56 victory over Korea.
The ‘three-peat’ seekers leapt to a 16-3 start into the match before finishing the opening period with a huge 34-9 lead, and that was all they needed to eventually notch their third win in as many outings.
Coach Kristi Harrower and her charges clinched the no. 1 spot in Group A, in the process booking a direct flight to the Semi-Finals on Friday – indeed a significant step toward their bid of winning another gold.
And by reaching the Semi-Finals, the program is also assured of a spot in the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2027 in China, where the top four teams from the U18 Women’s Asia Cup will qualify.
Madison Ryan led the Gems with 19 points and 10 rebounds. The FIBA U16 Women’s Asia Cup 2025 All-Star Five member nearly matched their foes’ first-half output as she already had 17, leading her side to a 59-19 lead.
Olivia Olechnowicz supplied 18 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. Isabel Smith made 16 points, while Sophie Richardson and Taryn Bond added 10 points apiece as a total of 10 players scored in the triumph.
Team Korea, on the other hand, were led by Lee Yeonseo again with 16 points in the defeat, their first after starting out the tournament with back-to-back wins against New Zealand and the Philippines, respectively.
Lee Sohee was the only other player in double digits with 11 points for the 7-time champions, who finished at no. 2 in Group A with a 2-1 record and will play in the Qualification to Semi-Finals on Thursday.
Division A newcomers Philippines notch historic breakthrough
The Philippines proved that they belong after earning their first win by coming from behind to beat New Zealand, 69-64.
Rhiane Perez came through with the most important play of the bout, converting a layup off a foul for the 65-64 lead with 49.8 seconds left to put themselves ahead for good as the opposition struggled to respond.
Key stops and free throws by Zaydhen Rosano and Grace Curley inside the game’s final 24.0 seconds sealed the deal as Gilas Youth went on to give the program its first-ever victory in Division A competitions.
And in just their debut campaign at this level, the team of Coach Sandy Arespacochaga are headed to the Qualification to Semi-Finals on Thursday, as they clinched the 3rd spot in Group A with a 1-2 record.
Rosano top-scored for the Philippines with 23 points and 7 rebounds, while Perez submitted a full line of 13 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 1 block as they bannered the fightback from down 39-30 at the half.
The two powered their 11-0 start to the third quarter to take the 41-39 lead, before the others such as Ruiza Olmos and Grace Curley helped out as the crew completely owned their foes from Oceania in the said period, 20-4.
Gilas Youth would even lead by as many as nine points, 52-43, after Curley cleaned up Olmos’ missed layup to open the deciding chapter, before the Junior Tall Ferns staged a comeback of their own.
They even regained the upper hand at 64-63 with 55.4 seconds to go after Keija Miringaorangi’s perfect trip to the line, but it proved to be their final stand as Perez and the rest of the Philippines finished much stronger.
The Southeast Asian side will now turn their attention to the Semi-Finals’ play-in, where they will be taking on the No. 2 team in Group B which could either be Japan or China, both of whom are playing as of this posting.
Miringaorangi, on the other hand, led New Zealand with 17 points and 7 rebounds. Madelin Eliadis made 14 points and 6 rebounds, while Gia Vukona added 10 points and 6 rebounds for a team that fell to 0-3.
By finishing at 4th in the pool, the Junior Tall Ferns will play in the Classification 7-8 game on Thursday as well, against the team finishing 4th in Group B. The losing side will get relegated to Division B in 2028.
