Japan uses muscle, hustle to thwart hard-fighting Hong Kong
Wanting to get into the win column after dropping a heartbreaking game to Qatar yesterday, Japan used superb running attack and dominant inside plays to clobber a gritty Hong Kong side, 76-59, in Day 2of the 27th FIBA Asia Championship at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Japanese stepped on the gas at the start of the third period to break away from a tight contest with Hong Kong in the first 20 minutes and stage a 23-13 run from a slim 41-40-halftime lead. In the third canto alone, Japan scored 10 fast break points and six second-chance baskets to widen the gap after a seesaw battle in the first half that had four lead-changes and three deadlocks.
Naoto Tsuji unloaded four triples to lead Japan with 17 markers, while big men Kosuke Takeuchi and JR Sakuragi combined for 22 points and 19 rebounds in a dominating performance inside the paint. In fact, Japan scored 34 inside points against Hong Kong’s 16. The bronze medalists in the East Asian Championship also used their superior bench to outlast Hong Kong in the game, with a commanding 47-9 bench scoring.
Wong Chun Wai tried to carry the fight for Hong Kong as he exploded for 23 points, followed by Reid Duncan and Li Kim Wong with 10 and 9 points respectively.
In the East Asian Championship that determined the qualifiers from that region in this event, Japan beat Hong Kong, 87-71, in the battle for third place. Curiously, Hong Kong star Lo Yi Ting, who sizzled for 31 points in that game, is not in the current roster here in Manila.
Turning Point of the Game: From a 50-49 advantage just four minutes into the third quarter, Sakuragi and Takeuchi starred in a 12-4 blast to put Japan up, 64-53, to enter the last period. In that run, the twin towers of Japan imposed their will inside the shaded area with post moves and timely put-backs. They also controlled the boards during this stretch to ignite a furious transition game for Japan.
Man of the Game: With ace gunner Kosuke Kanamaru, who finished with 27 points against Qatar yesterday, heavily guarded, Tsuji stepped up and hit 4 out of 8 from beyond the arc en route to 17 points. With Tsuji’s deadly sniping, the Hong Kong defense opened up, allowing Takeuchi and Sakuragi to shine in the post. Kanamaru settled with 10 points.
Japan is now 1-1, with idle Qatar still leading Group B with a 1-0 card. Hong Kong, despite a 0-1 record can afford to lose to Qatar in their 330pm match-up tomorrow and still enter the second round due to the suspension slapped on Lebanon after efforts to unite its basketball federation failed.
