Australia’s Opals Survive Late Japan Comeback To End Eight-year Title Drought

Australia’s Opals survived a precocious comeback by Japan to triumph nan Women’s Asia Cup for nan first clip connected Sunday.

With a breakthrough Asia Cup title now nether their belt, nan Opals tin move their attraction to adjacent year’s Women’s Basketball World Cup successful Germany afloat of confidence.

At nan 5th clip of asking since their debut astatine nan tourney successful 2017, a new-look squad yet stood atop nan podium connected Sunday nighttime successful China aft an 88-79 triumph complete Japan.

After topping Group A pinch 3 wins and past beating South Korea successful nan semi-finals, nan undefeated Australians proved excessively beardown for nan 2nd clip successful a matter of days against Japan astatine Shenzhen Sports Centre.

The Opals, which antecedently defeated their Japanese rivals 79-67 successful nan group stages, led from nan commencement and built an 11-point lead by half-time successful nan decider.

But six-time Asian champions Japan rallied successful nan last 4th – pinch powerfulness guardant Yuki Miyazawa astatine 1 shape netting 3 unanswered 3-pointers successful a statement – to level nan scores pinch 7 minutes connected nan clock.

A brace of missed free throws by Japan and important baskets from Australian stars Alexandra Fowler and Alex Brooke Wilson helped nan Opals separator distant arsenic clip ticked distant for an progressively hopeless Japanese side.

The 88-79 triumph complete nan world No 9 Japanese, daze winners complete hosts China successful their semi, yet clinched nan golden badge aft a 2017 metallic and bronze successful nan adjacent 3 editions.

The Opals observe aft Australia defeats Japan successful nan Women’s Asia Cup final. Photograph: Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images

“Really happy and proud of nan squad for their efforts this full week,” Opals coach Paul Goriss said. “We knew coming successful that Japan had a immense triumph ... against China and that they’re going to beryllium a formidable opponent.

“I deliberation that our squad and nan players really bought into nan crippled plan.”

Alex Wilson provided nan spark for nan world’s second-ranked Opals, nan 31-year-old spearheading a decisive precocious fourth-quarter 12-2 tally for an 85-75 advantage.

One time earlier her 24th birthday, Townsville Fire guardant Alex Fowler top-scored for Australia pinch 15 points, pulled down six rebounds and went connected to gain nan tournament’s Most Valuable Player award.

Point defender Stephanie Reid added 13 points successful nan title lucifer while centre Zitina Aukoso went adjacent to a double-double pinch 11 points and 8 boards.

Superstar defender Kokoro Tanaka led Japan pinch 21 points, 19 of which came successful nan opening term.

The Opals subordinate hosts Germany, AmeriCup winners nan USA and EuroBasket champions Belgium arsenic automatic qualifiers for nan expanded 16-team September 2026 World Cup successful Berlin, aft a 24-team qualifying tourney takes spot successful March.