Australia Beat Japan Anew, Achieve Unprecedented Three-peat

(Press Release)

Australia defeated Japan, 80-74, to claim the FIBA U16 Women's Asian Championship 2023 title, Sunday at the Prince Hamza Sport Hall.

Jesse-May Hall finished with 21 points, while Sienna Lehmann delivered 20 as the two spearheaded the Sapphires' comeback from a four-point deficit late in the fourth quarter on their way to becoming the only team in competition history to win the gold medal three times in a row.

Sophie Taylor and Ruby Perkins contributed 12 and 11 points, respectively, as plenty of heroes came through to help Australia keep their mastery of Japan for the third straight time.

The latest chapter to the rivalry ended up as the biggest win of Australia margin-wise, as their previous two Finals encounters were both decided by a mere point.

Kokona Abe had 22 points to lead Japan, who have yet to win their first gold since 2011. Otoha Goto had 18 points while Kokona Suzuki added 11 for the now six-time silver medalists.

Meanwhile, New Zealand took home the bronze medal for after overcoming Chinese Taipei, 66-63, in the Third-Place Game that went down the wire.

Bailey Flavell led the way with 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Pahlyss Hokianga and Jennifer Malei added 10 points apiece as the Junior Tall Ferns finished in the podium for the first time.

The final standing of the FIBA U16 Women’s Asian Championship 2023:

1. Australia
2. Japan
3. New Zealand
4. Chinese Taipei
5. Korea
6. China
7. Samoa
8. Syria
9. Thailand