SEREMBAN (Malaysia) – Japan made sure not to go home empty-handed as they copped the bronze medal by repeating against China, 71-58, in the Third-Place Game of the FIBA U16 Women’s Asia Cup 2025.
While they would’ve preferred to be fighting for the crown, the seven-time finalists simply turned all their effort on the task at hand and got rewarded so sweetly as the program kept its streak of podium finishes alive.
Miya Takeuchi was front and center yet again as she starred with 25 points alongside 7 rebounds and 4 assists, anchoring her side’s strong fourth-quarter surge to leave their East Asian rivals biting the dust anew.
The crafty playmaker scored the last six of an 11-0 run early in the said chapter toward a 58-48 lead with 5:48 remaining, completely changing the game’s complexion in their favor to eventually secure a podium finish.
Momoka Kaji, who also contributed in the aforementioned rally with a corner three-pointer, came through with 15 points, spiked by a trio of triples. Honoka Yasui chipped in 12 points plus 4 of the team’s 12 steals.
Leading Team Dragon, on the other hand, was Li Yuanshan with 16 points. Sun Hanyun was her lone backup with 13 points in the defeat that once again foiled the former three-time champs’ bid of ending a medal drought.
China last stood at the podium when they won the bronze in 2017.
*This article will be updated.
AloJapan.com