SHENZHEN (China) - Japan overcame a gallant stand by the upset-seeking Lebanon by way of a 72-68 decision in a pulsating start to the FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2025-Division A, Sunday at the Shenzhen Sports Center.
Kokoro Tanaka calmly sank both of her charities with one-tenths of a second left and that proved enough for the traditional powerhouse to escape with a narrow win against a team that just couldn't go away.
Those shots, furthermore, saved the efforts of Yuki Miyazawa and Ramu Tokashiki inside the game's final two minutes as the seasoned tandem knocked down crucial shots that kept the hungry Cedars at bay.
Big thanks to the troika, the Japanese have now taken the early lead in Group B (1-0) and will look to sustain their winning ways against another tough team in the Philippines tomorrow, Monday, July 14, at 19:30 local time.
"We didn't play well. We didn't play to our standard," offered head coach Corey Gaines. "Those things happen with teams. It's basketball. It's life. You're gonna have some times where you're not gonna play well."
Minami Yabu top-scored for Team Japan with 19 points, 12 of which she made in the first half as she helped lead their second-quarter assault to take the lead for good after finding themselves trailing by 10 early.
The team of Coach Corey Gaines did start slow in the match no thanks to the Lebanese' solid showing behind Rebecca Akl but composure spelled the difference when they retaliated after the game's first 10 minutes.
From a 26-16 deficit, the 2023 runners-up went on a 17-6 scoring tear - capped by a Tanaka split from the free throw line - to take the 33-32 lead with less than five minutes remaining in the second chapter.
But it wasn't until Yabu nailed another trey where they'd seize the driver's seat permanently, hitting one from deep for the 38-36 lead approaching the period's last three minutes as Lebanon played catch-up ball since.
Tanaka finished with 11 points in her senior debut as she indeed played a critical role in securing the character-testing win, which saw Japan nail a total of 15 threes and dish 21 assists - 14 more than their what their foes had.
And easily the biggest trifecta they swished in was their 15th, courtesy of Miyazawa from the corner, with exactly two minutes left to play as it gave them a 68-60 cushion - good enough to hold off a late surge by Lebanon.
Akl led the Cedars with a game-high 27 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the floor alongside 5 rebounds as the veteran floor general tried to will her side to a massive upset, most especially down the stretch.
From down eight, Akl took it strong inside for a layup and then made a triple from the top, before splitting her freebies with 3.2 seconds left - she intentionally missed her second try for her teammates to haul down.
Amar Mansour got the ball and would sink a short floater, thus cutting the gap to just a field goal at 70-68 with about two seconds to spare. But it proved to be the closest they'd get, as Tanaka closed it out.
Mansour finished with 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, and also added a pair of steals to her line. Jillian Archer notched a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds for a solid FIBA debut albeit in a losing effort.
Lebanon will also see action on Monday opposite Australia at 16:30 local time.
FIBA