Motokawa shines as Japan down Opals
BALLARAT (2015 FIBA Asia Women's Championship) - Australia have been reminding everyone this week that they have one of the best teams in women's basketball.
Twice the Opals beat Japan as part of their warm-ups for the FIBA Oceania Women's Championship, which is to be played against New Zealand on 15 August in Melbourne and two days later in Tauranga.
On Friday, however, Japan served up a reminder of their own.
Even without Ramu Tokashiki, their star center who is in the middle of her rookie WNBA campaign with the Seattle Storm, the Japanese are a dangerous team.
And that is especially so if Sanae Motokawa puts the ball in the basket the way she managed to on Friday against one of the best defenses in the international game.
Her basket with 1.4 seconds left lifted the defending champions of Asia to a 76-75 victory.
The small forward made nine of her 11 shots from the floor, including one of her two three-pointers.
She was five of six at the free-throw line.
Motokawa scores on a lay-up to give Japan back the lead! 1.4 seconds remaining for the Opals #AusvJpn3 #GoOpals
— Basketball Australia (@BasketballAus) July 31, 2015
The Opals did have a chance to go back in front but Stephanie Talbot's potential game-winner rimmed out.
"Japan played really well," Australia coach Brendan Joyce said.
They’re a good team and if you don’t bring it consistently throughout the game, they’re going to beat you. - Joyce
Japan had five different players drill shots from beyond the arc.
Motokawa's performance was especially an encouraging development for the Japanese.
The reigning Asia women's champions need players like the standout who played at the 2011 FIBA U19 Women's World Championship to step up and challenge China and Korea if they want to finish top of the podium in Wuhan, China (29 August-5 September) and clinch a spot in the Rio de Janeiro Games.
The Japanese were disappointing at last year's FIBA Women's World Championship in Turkey, failing to progress from the Group Phase, although the side did have some good moments.
If Japan end up second or third at the FIBA Asia Women's Championship, they will play in next year's FIBA Olympic Women's Qualifying Tournament (WOQT).
In 2012, the country lost in a do-or-die game to Canada at the WOQT and did not make it to London.
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