Japan beat South Korea 88-68 in a friendly international match on Friday. The game took place in Tokyo, and the hosts took control early before maintaining their lead through the final period. It was another meeting between two Asian rivals with plenty of history between them.
And here's the thing — Japan's recent form suggests they were ready for this kind of challenge. They had won four of their last five matches, including victories over Chinese Taipei and Guam. The only blemish in that run was a defeat to Iran, but they bounced back strongly against their neighbours.
South Korea came into this game with a different pattern. They had beaten China twice in December and November, but those wins came against a side that wasn't at full strength. Their record against Guam and Lebanon showed promise, but the quality of opposition varied considerably.
By then, the scoreline told you everything about how the match unfolded. Japan dominated from the opening tip, building a comfortable cushion before South Korea could mount any real response. The visitors fought for the final fifteen minutes but never looked like closing the gap.
To be fair, both sides showed flashes of their attacking intent. Japan's defence tightened when it mattered, forcing South Korea into difficult shots in the closing stages. The visitors managed to score freely in the second half, but the damage had already been done.
The result leaves Japan sitting comfortably in their group standings, while South Korea will need to regroup before their next fixture. Eight points separate the two sides now, and Japan are the ones calling the shots in this tournament.