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JPN / PHI – Japan keep hopes alive
TEHRAN (FIBA Asia U18 Championship for Men): Japan kept their hopes of making the semifinals for the first time in a decade with a clinical, compact and composed 86-78 win against an enthusiastic Philippines in a Group II Quarterfinal round game on Monday.
Japan, now need a win against Korea on the morrow, to make the last four grade.
Both Korea and Japan are locked 1-1 in win-loss, both having lost to Iran and beaten Philippines – and the winners of Tuesday’ game will join in all probability Iran as the semifinal qualifiers from this Group.
Japan seemed to have recovered well from the morale-shattering loss they suffered against Iran on Sunday.
Guard Yusoke Karino led the Japanese all-round attack with a game-high 25 points, scoring all his floor points from behind the arc.
Karino was 4/4 from the stripe to go with his 7/9 from behind the arc.
Japan maintained a steady scoring rate through out the game – a factor that Philippines did not have consistently.
The six-time former champions did make a spirited fight back, starting from towards the end of the third quarter, but the early deficit proved vital.
Philippines led Japan in almost all the departments, but their failure to maintain pressure let them down.
Philippines now play hosts Iran and even a win can not take them into the semifinals.
Scores
Japan 86 (Yusoke Karino 25, Makoto Hiejima 22, Kaito Ishikawa 14, Daichi Taniguchi 12) bt Philippines 78 (Norberto Torres 24, Matthew Wright 17, Joseph Tolentino 11). Quarterwise Scores: 21-18, 46-39, 64-59.
S Mageshwaran
FIBA Asia
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