Women’s U18 Japan National Team start with a win with all scoring and all playing basketball
Yuzuyu Yasogawa made a 3-point shot that changed the course of the game
Postponed by one day due to water leakage at the venue due to heavy rain“FIBA U18 Women’s Asian Championship 2022”will open safely from September 6th (Tuesday). The first match once morest Chinese Taipei won 90-77. Yuzuyu Yasogawa (1st year student at University of Tsukuba) scored 23 points and Haru Owaki (1st year student at Tokyo University of Health Sciences) scored 16 points.
With no possession of the ball, Japan counted four turnovers, and their shot success rate was 42%, falling short of Chinese Taipei’s 50%, taking the lead. In the 2nd quarter, Yasogawa scored one goal following another, drawing momentum to Japan. The Japanese side showed off their strengths by taking eight turnovers on defense and turning to fast attacks, ending the first half with a 14-point lead of 52-38.
Chinese Taipei’s center, #11 Yu Wen Hsiao, 184cm, took control under the goal and caught up once more. However, it was Yasogawa who cut off the bad flow. At the end of the 3rd quarter, it was 65-60 with a 5-point lead, but Yasogawa scored 4 consecutive goals early in the 4th quarter, including two 3-point shots. They pushed away Chinese Taipei with a 15-point lead, but Japan managed to hold on and win the first match 90-77.
I gave Hsiao 39 points, which is something I have to reflect on, but I will continue to make adjustments as the match progresses. They will face Indonesia tomorrow at 14:45. This will be their first match once morest Indonesia, who have been promoted to Division A since the previous tournament.