Japan National team. Photo from Fiba.com
Japan outmuscled Qatar, 81-67, and advanced to the semifinals of the 2015 Fiba Asia Championship Thursday at Changsha Social Work College Gym in Hunan, China.
The Japanese found their stride in the second quarter and pulled away to lead by as much as 20, 57-37, in the third quarter.
But the Qataris came back and trimmed the lead to as low as nine, 74-65, before running out of time.
Takatoshi Furukawa led Japan with 22 points on a 4-of-9 shooting from three, while Makoto Hiejima contributed 17 markers, six rebounds, and four assists.
Joji Takeuchi missed out on a double-double with 15 points and eight rebounds for Japan.
Clinton Johnson topped Qatar with 16 points in the defeat.
Team Hayabusa now awaits the winner of the quarterfinal duel between Gilas Pilipinas and Lebanon. Randolph B. Leongson