BENGALURU (India) - It's as if everything fell into place as Denso blew out Sichuan Yuanda Meile, 81-63, to rule the FIBA WBL Asia 2026 before a solid crowd at the Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium on Sunday night.
The Iris wanted more rim pressure against their bigger foes and did just that, but caught a break so big when Chennedy Carter got ejected just before the second quarter in indeed a tough blow to the Pandas.
Of course, that meant one less problem to deal with for the W League titlists, and they went on to execute the game plan to near-perfection that the championship bout was all but settled as early as the third canto.
From a workable 7-point gap, the charges of Coach Vladimir Vuksanovic put together a searing 15-4 assault - capped by a Manami Okada trifecta - to build a commanding 66-48 lead at the end of the said period.
Eventually, all of Denso - and the sea of red that turned up in the classic venue - erupted in jubilation, as they emerged as the new queens of the premier women's club competition in the continent owned by FIBA.
The Iris have also become the first team outside of China to win the prestigious event after Sichuan ruled the 2024 inaugurals in Chengdu and Dongguan New Century conquering the 2025 meet at their home soil.
"It's always a special feeling when you represent a country in any way, whether with a national team or in a club competition," said Vuksanovic.
"Four years ago, we had zero trophies. Now we won a cup, a championship, and this is the cherry on top," he added. "I feel good. Still tired but tomorrow, we will celebrate. And in three days, we'll continue for our league."
The usual suspects came to play in the historic win for Japan, with former Olympian Maki Takada leading the way with 23 points in yet another proof of how valuable she remains even at 37 most especially in big games.
Haruna Kasagi came through with 15 points, including 6 in the third quarter alone to help out in the breakaway. The fearless PG shot 6-of-8 from the floor and also tallied 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 of the team's 9 steals.
Mai Kawai delivered 13 points alongside 4 rebounds and 6 assists, while Senegalese forward Sokhna Sylla supplied 10 points and 5 rebounds as their efforts helped Denso complete a 4-game sweep of the Bengaluru meet.
"This is the title that we've always been looking forward to winning ever since we won our league," offered the 27-year-old Kasagi, who won MVP honors. "We're glad that we have become champions of WBL Asia tonight."
Sara Blicavs, on the other hand, finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds as she tried to regroup and lead Sichuan amid the unfortunate predicament they got into, but could only do so much as the rest played dejected.
Song Gao was the only other player in double figures with 12 points and 7 rebounds as the Pandas, needless to say, badly missed the service of Carter, who was undeniably one of the league's best performers.
That was evident right in the opening frame as she already had 11 points and a rebound to her tally, but that flagrant foul she got slapped with proved to be the beginning of the end for the former WNBA veteran.
And she would go on to hit the showers after being assessed with a technical foul, as Carter pleaded what she felt was a foul committed while trying to beat the first-quarter buzzer although no call was made whatsoever.
FIBA