Breaking: Japan Storms Back to Rout Syria 99-68 in FIBA Asia Cup Opener! Japan has kicked off their FIBA Asia Cup 2025 campaign in style, overcoming a shaky first half to dominate Syria in a second-half blitz, winning 99-68. Joshua Hawkinson put up a monstrous performance with 26 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks, while Hirotaka Yoshii contributed 17 points in the commanding victory. The turning point came in the third quarter, where Japan outscored Syria 31-14, fueled by Hawkinson and Yoshii’s dominant performances. The win sets up an exciting encounter against Iran on Friday, while Syria faces Guam in their bid to rebound.
Japan’s Asia Cup Opener: A Tale of Resilience and Dominance
Japan storms back to trounce Syria in Asia Cup Opener
Jeddah – Japan, led by the monstrous double-double from Joshua Hawkinson (26p, 13r, 4a, 2b), erupted after a shaky first half to secure a commanding 99-68 victory over Syria in their Group B opener at the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 on Wednesday.
First Half Struggles
The game started brightly for the Japanese, with crisp ball movement leading to a 9-0 lead. However, Syria found their rhythm midway through the first quarter and used forced turnovers to trail by just one, 14-13, after the first 10 minutes. Yuki Togashi’s late triple gave Japan an 18-13 edge heading into the second.
The second quarter belonged entirely to Syria. Keron Deshields caught fire, scoring 12 of his game-high 21 points, as Syria went on a 19-4 tear to stun Japan and take a 32-22 lead at halftime.
Second Half Surge
Everything changed in the third quarter. Hirotaka Yoshii opened the half with eight straight points, and Hawkinson’s finish in the paint capped a 10-0 Japan run to reclaim the lead. Japan’s offense flowed freely, hitting shots from all over the floor and holding Deshields scoreless in the quarter.
By the end of the third, Japan led 60-51, and the rout was on. Syria briefly stopped the bleeding to open the fourth, but Japan answered with a 13-0 burst that broke the game open for good. With Hawkinson dominating inside and the bench providing a spark, Japan cruised through the final minutes, extending their lead to 31 at its peak.
Looking Ahead
With the victory, Japan (1-0) will next face a much-anticipated clash with Iran on Friday. Syria (0-1) will look to bounce back against tournament debutants Guam on the same day.
FIBA
FAQs
A: Joshua Hawkinson led all scorers with 26 points, while also grabbing 13 rebounds.
A: Syria, who scored just 27 points in the second half after tallying 34 in the first.
Did You Know?
Japan’s third-quarter surge of 67 points was the most by any team in the first round of the 2025 Asia Cup.
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