SYDNEY, July 2 (Xinhua) — China broke a 12-year title drought and ended Japan’s stranglehold of the FIBA Women’s Basketball Asia Cup with a 73-71 victory in a basic last on Sunday in Sydney.
In a nerve-jangling decider, world No. 2 China completed strongly to win their first Asia Cup since 2011.
Han Xu capped off a dominant match with 26 factors and 10 rebounds, whereas WNBA participant Li Meng hit clutch pictures to complete with 17 factors and 6 assists.
Maki Takada top-scored with 17 factors for Japan, whose bid for a record-extending sixth straight title fell simply quick.
China’s possibilities of a record-equalling twelfth title have been made more durable with out captain Yang Liwei who suffered a leg damage late within the semifinal towards Australia.
It was a high-quality begin as each groups traded baskets in a frenetic first quarter, which ended with the scores tied at 17.
Han took over early within the second time period as China scored the primary seven factors to realize management.
But Japan hit again when Han went to the bench and stormed to a 35-26 halftime lead on the again of scoring 16 straight factors.
Having gone via a scoring drought, China emerged within the third quarter renewed with Han rediscovering her dominance. But Japan steadied to take a 51-48 lead into the fourth quarter because the twists continued in a tense end.
China, nevertheless, held their nerve a lot to the delight of their robust contingent of followers within the stands.