Lebanon defeats Japan 97-73, advances in FIBA Asia Cup with Lawson's standout performance

Lebanon, slapped by Korea, took its revenge on Japan. The Japan men's basketball team suffered a shocking defeat against Lebanon, losing 73-97 in the FIBA Asia Cup Men's Basketball 2025 quarterfinals held at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on the morning of the 13th, resulting in their elimination. Lebanon will face New Zealand in the quarterfinals, vying for a spot in the semifinals. If Korea defeats China in the quarterfinals, they will meet the winner of the Lebanon vs. New Zealand match. Before the match, predictions favored Japan to win. NBA players Rui Hachimura (203-F-1998, college: Gonzaga) and Yuki Kawamura (172-G-2001) were absent. A veteran trio consisting of Yuki Togashi (170-PG-1993), Judah Baba, and Keisei Tominaga (188-G-2001, college: Nebraska), who participated in the NBA Summer League, formed an elite roster. Lebanon's MVP Wael Arakji (193-G-1994) was still unable to play. Upon opening the lid, Lebanon’s size and strength overwhelmed Japan. From the first quarter, Lebanon took the lead with a score of 23-19 and decisively pressed Japan with a score of 30-22 in the second quarter. Japan launched a fierce pursuit in the third quarter, but Tominaga's three-point shots did not connect. Japan, losing rebounds to Lebanon at crucial moments, ultimately collapsed. Naturalized player Josh Hawkinson (15 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists) struggled alone in the paint, but it was not enough. Lawson Dedric (206-F/C-1997, college: Kansas), who struggled with 7 points against Korea, showcased his skills worthy of the KBL MVP with 24 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block shot. The passes given by Lawson Dedric connected to fast breaks and three-pointers through consolidation. Lawson Dedric successfully executed a block shot and a dunk at the end of the fourth quarter, confirming the victory. The 205cm tall forward Youssef Kayat also overwhelmed Japan with his strength and height, scoring 14 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. Karim Zeinoun (188-G-1999) added 19 points, while Ali Mansour (185-G-1998) provided perfect management with 15 assists, 4 steals, and 2 turnovers. After advancing to the Tokyo Olympics, Japan dreamed of escaping Asia with a spot in the Paris Olympics. However, their chronic weakness of excessive reliance on naturalized players and a lack of strong tall players ultimately tripped them up. Japan was significantly outdone in rebounds, 29-43. They conceded 11 offensive rebounds, most of which resulted in scoring opportunities for the opponents. Japan's shooting prowess also faltered, with three-point shots (7/27, 25.9%) and free throws (16/23, 69.6%) both performing poorly. Forward Yoshi Hirotaka at least showed potential with 16 points.
Courtesy of: biz.chosun.com