TOKYO, Japan (4th FIBA Asia Cup): For the second game running, Kosuke Takeuchi provided the spark for hosts Japan to pull away from a tantalizing position, taking the hayabusa to a 73-66 win against GCC champions Qatar and enter the finals of the 4th FIBA Asia Cup.
The win ensured Japan’s second successive entry to the gold medal game of this event – Japan having lost to the then hosts Lebanon in the finals of the 3rd FIBA Asia Stankovic Cup at Beirut (Lebanon) in 2010. Incidentally, Japan were then coached by Tom Wisman, who was the coach of Qatar tonight.
Qatar did extremely well to defying their ageing line-up – with most of them on the wrong side of the 30s to keep pace with Japan for a good part of the first two quarters.
Mohammed Yousuf Mohammed, who had played a stellar role in Qatar’s unexpected, but well deserved quarterfinal win against Lebanon, was once again in the vanguard of their campaign with some crisp baskets and brisk drive ins.
But Qatar’s challenge last only as long as Japan gave them the room and space.
Takeuchi, Japan’s hero in their quarterfinal win against China, slammed dunked and squared open the rival defense after Daiki Tanaka had burnt the basket from downtown, and in tandem with Makoto Hiejima helped Japan close the first half with an 11-0 run.
That in effect took left Qatar fighting an uphill battle for the remainder of the game. A task that got steeper as the game progressed.
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