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FIBA: Big 4th quarter pushes Japan past Finland

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Keisei Tominaga of Japan celebrates after scoring against Finland. FIBA." src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/sports/08/27/082723_fiba_jpn-keisei-tominaga.jpg"/><figcaption>Keisei Tominaga of Japan celebrates after scoring against Finland. FIBA.</figcaption></figure></div>Japan claimed an impressive triumph over Finland on Sunday night, 98-88, at the Okinawa Arena for their first win in Group E of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.In front of a big home crowd, Japan erased a 10-point deficit by out-scoring Finland, 35-15, in the final quarter. The win kept alive their hopes of qualifying to the knockout round of the tournament.It was also their first-ever win over a European team in the World Cup.Joshua Hawkinson earned Player of the Game honors after tallying a massive 28-point, 19-rebound double-double.But it was the tandem of Yuki Kawamura and Keisei Tominaga who sparked Japan&#x27;s fourth quarter rally, as they found their rhythm from long distance to cut into Finland&#x27;s 73-63 advantage.Kawamura&#x27;s and-1 midway through the fourth period gave Japan a 79-78 lead, and he added a triple in their next possession to make it a four-point game, 82-78.Buoyed by the home crowd, Japan poured it on from there with Tominaga converting a layup for a 10-point spread, 96-86, with 40 seconds left.Lauri Markkanen led Finland with 27 points and 12 rebounds, while Mikael Jantunen had 13 points. For more stories on the FIBA World Cup, click <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/fibaworldcup2023" target="_blank">here</a>.

Japan claimed an impressive triumph over Finland on Sunday night, 98-88, at the Okinawa Arena for their first win in Group E of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.