SEREMBAN (Malaysia) - Japan booked their first trip to the FIBA U18 Women's Asia Cup Final in nearly a decade by clobbering Korea anew, 80-43, in the 2026 Semi-Finals, Friday evening at the Karisma Arena.
The one-time champions broke the game wide open as early in the second quarter and were in cruise control since en route to giving the program a chance to vie for the gold after bronze finishes in the last two editions.
Team Japan last made it to the Big Dance of this biennial competition in 2018 in Bengaluru, India, where they settled for a fifth straight runner-up finish behind China, who then completed a 'five-peat' for title No. 16.
Now, they will wait for the winner between Team Dragon and reigning two-time champions Australia in the other bracket later tonight for their foes in the Final tomorrow, Saturday, October 10, at 19:00 local time.
"We lost in the Semi-Finals of the U16 last year and we have three players from that team. That was one of the reasons why our players have been playing really well," said head coach Yoshikazu Suzuki.
Four players finished in double figures in the win, with Marin Koike leading the way with 15 points and 5 steals. Riko Katsube supplied 13 points, with Moe Sakata supplying 12 points and 6 rebounds off the bench.
Yuuka Mizuyabashi came close to a double-double with 10 points and 9 rebounds as a total of 10 players contributed at least 2 points in the victory that also extended their mastery of Korea in this tilt, 10-5.
Cho Heewon, on the other hand, was the lone bright spot for Korea with 14 points in the loss, which denied the program of advancing to the Final for the 10th consecutive time as the harrowing wait continued.
The seven-time champions last reached the Final in 2004 in Shenzhen, China, where they fell to the hosts and settled for a runner-up finish.
"The senior team had a great result recently, so this team will also try to do its best," said Coach Lee Younghyun as Korea will play in the Third-Place Game tomorrow against the losing team between the Gems and China.
FIBA