SEREMBAN (Malaysia) - India found their rhythm just in time to beat Indonesia, 65-53, and book the first trip en route to the FIBA U16 Women's Asia Cup 2025-Division B Final, Thursday at the Karisma Arena.
Mahek Sharma made one from close range before Reva Kulkarni nailed one from deep, and those hits sparked the 11-0 run that completely altered the game's complexion as it led to a 57-44 lead with 3:23 to go.
Nethra Birudavolu hit a triple of her own to make it a 60-45 gap with 2:18 left, and that proved to be the dagger that the South Asian side needed to finish the job - and ensure that their redemption story continues.
Team India are headed to their first Final in eight years, or since reaching the said stage in 2017 in Bengaluru in which the squad won it all by way of a five-game sweep, thus earning the promotion to Division A.
Now, they're a win away from replicating as much, and the charges of Coach Anitha Pauldurai are hoping to do that against either Iran or Hong Kong, China in the title bout set Friday, September 19, at 18:00 local time.
Viha Jonnalagadda led India with 22 points and 12 rebounds, netting an efficiency of 27 as she also had a hand in their strong fourth-quarter closeout. She also had 2 assists plus a steal and a block for a full line.
Kulkarni finished with 17 points, spiked by three triples, and 8 rebounds while Sharma came through with her own double-double outing with 12 points and 12 rebounds as the three starters bannered the attack once more.
Inez Welly, on the other hand, had 13 points for Indonesia as she and her squad struggled to put the ball through the hoop, as evidenced by their 23.75-percent clip from the floor - a far cry from India's 41.5-percent.
They were still in the game, though, when Kayla Adiutomo sank a jumper to pull themselves within two, 44-46, with 7:38 to go in the fourth but their offense stagnated, allowing India to pull off the aforementioned run.
Indonesia would never recover as their foes just can't seem to do any wrong, showing the same form that enabled them to finish as the no. 1 team in Group A with an immaculate 3-0 win-loss record.
The young Timnas, though, can still salvage a bronze-medal finish when they take on the losing side between Iran and Hong Kong, China in the Third-Place Game also on Friday, to be played prior to the promotion game.
FIBA