In a thrilling showdown at Xi'an's Shaanxi Provincial Gymnasium, China edged out Japan 101-92 in the third game of their FIBA Women’s Asia Cup warm-up series on Wednesday.
The frontcourt power duo delivered standout performances: Han Xu put up 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while Zhang Ziyu matched that stat line with 18 points and 10 boards. Guard Yang Shuyu chipped in 17 points, showcasing China’s depth. Japan’s Mai Kawai led her team with 13 points.
Last year, China fell twice to Japan in Xi'an warm-ups. Determined to flip the script, Li Yuan and her teammates came prepared. A tight first quarter ended 26-25 in China’s favor, then Zhang Ziyu poured in 10 points in the second, pushing the hosts to a 49-44 halftime lead.
Momentum swung further when China opened the third quarter with a 10-4 run to extend the gap to 14 points. Japan fought back with five three-pointers to cut the deficit to 10 heading into the final period.
Despite a late Japanese surge that trimmed the margin to seven, China closed the game on a decisive 9-2 run, sealing a nine-point victory.
“Japan is a fast-moving team with sharp shooters beyond the arc,” said China coach Gong Luming. “We capitalized on our height and strength, and our offense clicked. But we need to tighten up perimeter defense and will make adjustments before the next game.”
The two sides will meet again on Friday in Hefei, the capital of east China's Anhui Province, with both teams eager to fine-tune their lineups ahead of the Asia Cup.
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China defeat Japan in FIBA Women's Asia Cup warm-up series in Xi'an
cgtn.com
