ULAANBAATAR (Mongolia) – Jack Shiratani and Zen Hawkins starred as Japan trounced Iran, 86-67, to book the first ticket to the FIBA U16 Asia Cup 2025 Quarter-Finals, Tuesday at the MBank Arena.
Shiratani dropped 24 points and 16 rebounds with 3 blocks, while Hawkins notched 20 points and 12 rebounds as the two took turns in leading a big second-half surge toward sweeping Group D with a 3-0 card.
Hawkins himself scored 12 of his points in the third canto, just four points shy of matching their entire foes’ output in the said chapter to help stretch a precarious lead to 60-52 entering the game’s final 10 minutes.
Shiratani then came through in the fourth, scoring eight to lead their breakaway to completely leave their West Asian counterparts behind on the way to securing one of the four direct flights to the last eight.
The Quarter-Finals are set on September 5 also at the MBank Arena – the venue of the entire Final Phase – where Japan will face the winner between the no. 2 team of Group B and Group A’s third-ranked side.
Keiji Koshi made 14 points while Shunsuke Miyazato had 12 points and 7 assists for the Japanese, who are headed to the QF for the eighth time in as many editions of the biennial continental tournament.
*This article will be updated.