In a commanding performance, China triumphed over Japan with a staggering 100-58 victory during the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers held in Shenzhen's Guangdong Province on Thursday. This decisive win ensures China's advancement to the main draw of the continental tournament well ahead of schedule.
Japan, despite their best efforts and having already secured their place in the Asia Cup after winning four qualifying games, faced a tough challenge against a now formidable Chinese team. In their previous encounter in February 2024, Japan edged out China with a score of 76-73, making Thursday's rematch all the more significant.
The game commenced with China taking immediate control. Zhu Junlong kicked off the scoring with a smooth layup, quickly followed by Zhao Rui and Xu Jie adding consecutive buckets. This early momentum gave China an 8-0 lead. Zeng Fanbo's three-pointer further extended China's advantage to double digits by the second quarter, setting the tone for the rest of the game.
Japan struggled to penetrate China's robust defense, managing only a brief scoring streak midway through the third quarter. Meanwhile, China maintained relentless pressure, scoring an impressive 31 points in the final quarter to close out the game decisively.
Standout performances came from China’s Hu Jinqiu and Japan’s Ryusei Sasaki, who both tallied 17 points each. Zhao Rui also contributed significantly with 16 points for the hosts.
Reflecting on the game, China’s coach Guo Shiqiang remarked, \"Both teams gave the fans an exciting game. Our focus, defensive strategy, and fastbreaks were on point.\"
Earlier in the day, Mongolia celebrated its first qualifying victory in Group C by defeating Guam 74-63, adding to the competitive spirit of the qualifiers.
Looking ahead, China is set to face Guam on Sunday, while Japan will take on Mongolia. The 2025 FIBA Asia Cup is scheduled to take place from August 5-17 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, promising thrilling basketball action for fans across the globe.
Reference(s):
China cruises past Japan to secure qualification for FIBA Asia Cup
cgtn.com
