Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, October 13, 2002
China beat Japan for Asiad women's basketball final
Reigning Asian champions China beat defending Asian Games titlists Japan 92-69 here on Saturday to make the final of the Busan Asian Games women's basketball tournament.
Reigning Asian champions China beat defending Asian Games titlists Japan 92-69 here on Saturday to make the final of the Busan Asian Games women's basketball tournament.
China, who beat Japan 100-87 a week ago in the round-robin preliminaries, opened the fourth quarter with a 19-8 run to store an unshakable 82-60 lead with two minutes and 50 seconds remaining.
"I am satisfied with our performance today," said Chinese head coach Gong Luming, who led the Chinese women to a sixth finish at September's world championship in Jiangsu, China.
"Japan is a strong team in Asia, the victory over them will boost our morale and help us do better in the final."
In the other women's semifinal later on Saturday, South Korea will play Chinese Taipei.
Japan, final winners over China at the Bangkok Asian Games fouryears ago, trailed 45-32 at the half time but pulled within 63-52 after the third quarter.
"We played a good game," said Chinese team manager Xin Lancheng."But our players were a little bit tight in the third quarter whenwe were outscored 20-18."
South Korea, fourth-placers at the recent world championship, and China were considered title favorites for the women's basketball of the regional games being held at the South Korean port city of Busan.