YOKOHAMA (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers) - A brave Chinese Taipei thrillingly defeated winless Japan to open their account in the Asian Qualifiers and stun the sell-out crowd in Yokohama.

Amid the loud Japanese crowd, Chinese Taipei looked in major trouble trailing by five points early in the last quarter before a 14-2 run stunningly flipped the game. They survived five free throw misses by a nervous Japan in the dying stages to memorably claim the important road victory in the second window of the Asian Qualifiers.

Chinese Taipei were led by Ying-Chun Chen’s 15 points, while naturalized center Quincy Davis dominated inside with 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Naoto Tsuji was heroic for Japan off the bench with 8-of-13 from deep to finish with 26 points. He almost rescued his cold shooting teammates as he was the only Japanese player to hit a three.

Both teams started sluggishly and the early going was blighted by poor shooting. Helping them end their frosty shooting, spark plug Tsuji reversed Japan’s fortunes connecting on four shots from beyond the arc in a 12-point first half.

Tsuji appeared set to be the hero as he scored back-to-back threes to trim the deficit to 51-49 heading into the last quarter. He then scored  another triple to start the fourth to restore Japan’s lead and they stretched it out to 56-51 with seven minutes left before Chinese Taipei roared back into the contest and held on in a frantic finale.

Chinese Taipei travels to Melbourne to face unbeaten Australia on Sunday, while Japan plays Philippines.

FIBA