Taiwan Blue finishes second in Jones Cup after losing to Japan in final

Taiwan Blue secured the runner-up position in the 45th William Jones Cup International Basketball Invitational after a hard-fought 66-75 loss to Japan in the women's final. The Japanese team clinched their fifth consecutive title in the tournament with this victory.

The game saw Taiwan Blue facing an uphill battle from the start, scoring a mere 4 points in the first quarter and trailing 4-16. Their struggles continued into the second quarter, with a team shooting percentage of only 25.8% in the first half, compared to Japan's 40.0%.

Despite the early deficit, Taiwan Blue demonstrated significant resilience. They mounted a comeback in the second half, with Chen Yen-yu hitting two consecutive three-pointers and completing a three-point play to tie the game at 45-45. However, a subsequent series of turnovers allowed Japan to regain a lead.

In the final quarter, Taiwan Blue again showed fighting spirit, with Peng Shih-ching scoring on a fast break and Lin Yu-ting adding five points to level the score once more. Nevertheless, Japan responded with crucial three-pointers and capitalized on Taiwan Blue's late-game errors to extend their lead and secure the win.