Host Japan pulled off the second quarterfinal stunner in the FIBA Asia Cup, defeating China 60-50 Thursday to advance to the semifinals against Qatar.
Star forward Kosuke Takeuchi bannered Japan with 23 points and 10 rebounds, while spitfire Ryota Sakurai added 19 points and seven rebounds for the home team, which has lost just once in the tournament, to undefeated Iran.
Teenage center Wang Zhelin led the fight for China with 18 points and 14 rebounds, but struggled from the field shooting just 6-of-16. China was held to just 32 percent shooting as a team and was woeful from the three-point line, making just two of nine attempts (22 percent).
Japan advances to the semis against Qatar, which pulled the rug from under Lebanon in an earlier match. The two teams met on opening day, with Japan eking out a 73-69 victory.
With the ouster of China and Lebanon, the SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national team remains the only team from Group A in the semifinals. The Philippine side, which suffered its only loss in the competition at the hands of China, faces Iran on Friday, with the winner taking on the victor of the Japan-Qatar matchup on Saturday.
Sept 20 Game Results (QUARTERFINALS)
QF1 - Iran def. Uzbekistan, 79-37
QF2 - Philippines def. Taipei, 75-68
QF3 - Qatar def. Lebanon, 79-72
QF4 - Japan def. China, 60-50
SEMIFINALS: (Sept. 21)
SF1: (3:30pm) Iran vs. Philippines - Live on AKTV
SF2: (6:00pm) Qatar vs. Japan - Live on AKTV
FINALS: (Sept. 22)
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