China U18 Women’s Basketball vs Japan Preview: Battle for Group Title as Zhang Ziyu Faces Tough Test

On June 26, the U18 Women’s Basketball Asian Cup group stage concludes with a showdown between China and Japan, a match that will decide the group winner.

China’s U18 women’s team has secured two convincing victories over Indonesia and New Zealand in their previous matches, securing a 2-game winning streak. The spotlight has been on Zhang Ziyu, standing at over 2.20 meters tall, who has dominated the court with ease, leaving opponents helpless. In the first game, she went 9 for 9, scoring 19 points, followed by a 16 for 20 performance in the second game, notching 36 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Her towering presence has proven too much for the opposition to handle.

After these two outings, Zhang Ziyu has garnered widespread praise, both domestically and internationally, with even American media wondering, “Who can stop her?” So far, it’s evident that besides her height advantage, she possesses good coordination, basketball IQ, and a soft touch around the rim, demonstrating clear progress.

Despite the back-to-back wins, head coach Wang Guizhi remains unsatisfied, commenting that “the players are too tense, they need to loosen up.” This concern is understandable, given the team’s fluctuating form. Following their victory over New Zealand, the squad was kept on the court for extra practice, which was deemed necessary, considering the significance of the upcoming match against Japan. Both teams have secured 2 consecutive wins, making this a battle for the top spot in the group.

In this tournament, China is grouped with Japan, New Zealand, and Indonesia. The group winner advances directly to the semifinals, while the second and third-placed teams will face off against the corresponding teams from the other group in crossover elimination games. China’s U18 team aims to secure a spot in next year’s World Cup (by reaching the semifinals) and reclaim the championship title, which they lost to Australia in the previous edition, ending their five-title streak.

The Japanese team is formidable, having also dominated their first two group matches against New Zealand and Indonesia. Known for their strong outside shooting, they hit 13 threes in their opening game against New Zealand and 8 against Indonesia. This long-range prowess presents a challenge for Zhang Ziyu, who may struggle to defend out that far, putting additional pressure on her teammates to stay focused.

Historically, China’s women’s basketball team has faced Japan six times in the Asian Cup, securing a 5-1 record, with their lone defeat coming in the last edition’s group stage. However, they later avenged that loss in the elimination rounds. Heading into this encounter, China’s U18 team cannot afford to underestimate Japan and must give their all.

>>”>For more predictions on this match, please click>>>