Japan's women's basketball team delivered a thrilling 90-81 upset against defending champions China in the FIBA Women's Asia Cup semifinals on Saturday. The victory in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, propels Japan to a championship clash with Australia while ending the host nation's title defense.
Rising star Kokoro Tanaka electrified the court with 27 points, including 21 in a dominant first quarter where Japan capitalized on China's early turnovers. Veteran Yuki Miyazawa added 18 points, while Japan's 16 three-pointers proved decisive against China's interior strength led by Yang Shuyu (19 points) and Han Xu (18 points).
Despite a second-quarter resurgence fueled by Zhang Ziyu's paint dominance, China struggled to contain Japan's perimeter shooting in critical moments. Five third-quarter three-pointers extended Japan's lead to eight points entering the final period, a gap China couldn't close despite late efforts.
The result sets up Sunday's final between Japan and Australia, while China will compete for bronze against New Zealand. The tournament continues to highlight Asia's growing competitiveness in women's basketball.
