FIBA Asia 2015: India outclassed by Japan 65-83, but go through to round of 12

The Indians’ tenacity wasn’t enough to overcome the fluent Japanese

India’s third match of the FIBA Asia basketball championships proved a losing effort against Japan. This is India’s second loss on the trot, after yesterday’s defeat to defending champions Iran.

India started out strong in the first quarter, with Amritpal winning the jump ball and captain Vishesh Bhriguvanshi nailing a three-pointer to put India on the scoreboard. India took an early six-point lead, but Japan opened their account with a free throw and steadily caught up. India kept its foot on the pedal and ended the quarter with a three-point lead. At the end of the first quarter, India lead 18-15 Japan.

Japan overcame their slow start and drew level with India in the sixth minute of the second quarter. From then on, they slowly increased their lead, but did not break away from India, who were snapping at their heels. At the end of the second quarter, Japan led 32-39 India.

The third quarter saw Japan getting into their stride as they extended their lead to double digits. The Indian offense seemed laboured and their post was left exposed as Japan scored at will, taking a dominant sixteen-point lead just before the end of the quarter. Amjyot and Bhriguvanshi scored in the last minute to reduce the lead to eleven points, but Japan still finished with a sizeable lead at the end of the third quarter. IND 52-63 JAP

India started the fourth quarter seemingly reinvigorated, scoring quickly to reduce the lead to seven. This would prove a final surge, as Japan imposed their will and raced ahead with a twenty-point lead. The Indians were left floundering as their gameplay was coming apart at the seams. An uncoordinated offense and foraminous defense wilted away in the face of the fluid Japanese. At the final buzzer, the scoreboard read 65-83 in favour of Japan.

The only talking point of the Indian gameplay was captain Vishesh Bhriguvanshi’s top score of twenty four points, of which eighteen were three-pointers. The defeat, though disheartening, does not spell doom for India, as they have qualified for the next round of the tournament by virtue of their lone group-stage victory against Malaysia, who have lost all their matches.