BENGALURU (India) - Minami Yabu struck the dagger to help Denso repel a hard-fighting Cathay Life side, 86-78, to advance to the FIBA WBL Asia 2026 Final, Saturday at the Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium.
The former Japan youth team stalwart finished with 10 points on a 3-of-4 clip from deep, none bigger than her last of the night for the 86-76 lead with 16.6 seconds left to douse cold water on the Tigers' threat.
It was a shot so badly needed from the 22-year-old as their offense went stale down the stretch, allowing the opposition to cut an 18-point gap to just 83-76 with 41.2 seconds to spare after Hsu Yu-Lien got in rhythm.
But then, poise proved to be the biggest difference, with Yabu calmly swishing in the outside shot from the right wing that enabled all of Iris to heave a huge sigh of relief for overcoming a sloppy closeout to the bout.
We're here representing Japan so we're relieved, we're happy that we get to go to the Final.
With the escape, the W League champions have arranged a title showdown with Sichuan Yuanda Meile on Sunday, October 25, as teams from China and Japan will duke it out for the tiara for the second straight time.
The Pandas were the first to advance after beating Cheongju earlier, 93-74, with the troika of Chennedy Carter, Sara Blicavs, and veteran forward Gao Song combining for 75 points to headline the victory.
"Many things could've been better," offered head coach Vladimir Vuksanovic after his charges needed to withstand a bad start and a tough endgame. "But it's just our third game. I hope we have spent the bad day."
"And I hope tomorrow is a new day and we could come with fresh minds and legs, start from zero, and compete in the Final," he added.
Maki Takada top-scored for Denso with 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Haruna Kasagi supplied 15 points as the two led the attack that hiked the lead to 18 during the deciding chapter before the retaliation.
Sokhna Sulla made 9 points, highlighted by timely hits from midrange, while Mai Kawai chipped in 6 points and 11 of the team's 30 assists.
"We're here representing Japan so we're relieved, we're happy that we get to go to the Final and challenge for the league championship," said Takada, who earned Player of the Game honors by match's end.
Put to naught by the tough loss was the 30-point effort of Penina Davidson, which was easily her best game of the competition thus far. She went 13-of-15 from the floor and also tallied 5 rebounds and 3 assists.
Shelby Cheslek, on the other hand, was just an assist shy of a rare triple-double with 14 points, 14 rebounds, and 9 assists as the reinforcements carried much of the load offensively for the long-time WSBL powerhouse.
The Tigers will look for a spot at the podium when they face the Stars in the Third-Place Game tomorrow as well, to be held just before the title match.
FIBA