In a dramatic reversal of fortunes, China's national basketball team clawed back from a 14-point halftime deficit to secure an 87-80 victory over Japan in Okinawa on Thursday. The win marks China's first triumph in Asian Group B of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Qualifying campaign, injecting fresh hope into their tournament prospects.
Japan dominated early play through Yuta Watanabe's precision shooting and capitalizing on China's defensive miscues, which resulted in 14 free throw attempts for the hosts in the first quarter alone. Despite flashes of brilliance from guard Liao Sanning, China trailed 47-33 at halftime.
The second half saw a transformed Chinese squad. Aggressive defensive switches and tightened perimeter pressure sparked a 13-0 third-quarter run, with the visitors outscoring Japan 25-9 during the period. Center Hu Jinqiu anchored the comeback with 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Zhao Jiwei's clutch three-point play in the final minutes sealed the victory.
Five Chinese players scored double digits in the physical contest that saw multiple technical fouls. The result sets up a crucial Sunday matchup against Chinese Taipei, where China will look to build momentum in Group B standings.
