It took 88 years but Akatsuki Japan finally beat China again in a major international basketball competition.
It’s only window 1 of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers and history is already being made.
Japan scored a sensational home win over China Sunday, 76-73, to sweep the first window of the continental qualifiers.
The result is significant as it’s the first time the Akatsuki beat the mighty Chinese in almost a century.
Japan’s 76-73 win is the country’s first over China in a major basketball competition since the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, when they won 35-19. In a FIBA Asia setting or higher, China won 18 straight against Japan from 1975 to 2021.
Yudai Baba was the game hero for Akatsuki Japan, firing 24 points. Naturalized center Josh Hawkinson poured 14 points and 13 rebounds, while B.League MVP Yuki Kawamura added 12 points for the home team.
Hu Jinqui led China with 23 points and 12 rebounds in a losing effort. China drops to 1-1 in Group C.