(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Despite not being the favourites in this match-up, Japan are still capable of springing a surprise when they face Qatar today in the quarter-finals of the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship.
The last time these two teams met was in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship's preliminary round. Japan led most of the way in that encounter before Qatar rallied in the fourth period to win 75-74. Al Annabi outlasted Team Hayabusa, which got 27 big points from Kosuke Kanamaru. Now Kanamaru is absent and the stakes are much higher for both teams.
Japan have relied heavily on the dynamic duo of Joji Takeuchi and Makoto Hiejima in this tournament with both expected to continue spearheading the Nippon quintet's charge in the Quarter-Finals. Veterans like Yuta Tabuse and Takatoshi Furukawa will need to step up, though, especially against Qatar's vaunted backcourt. Head coach Kenji Hasegawa's relatively small frontline will be a concern, but if they can step up, Japan have a chance.
For the most part, Qatar have been carried by former NBA player Trey Johnson, who is the team's best scorer and playmaker. He will give Japan's backcourt a lot of problems, but he alone may not be able to win it alone for Qatar. Mohamed Yousef, Erfan Ali Saeed and Saad Abdulrahman Ali are among the players expected to provide strong support as Qatar hope to advance to the Semi-Finals.
Makoto Hiejima has been a revelation for Japan. The 25-year-old 1.90m guard has impressed with his ability to score and make plays for his teammates. On the other end, veteran wingman Saad Abdulrahman Ali has also been solid, reprising his role as one of Qatar's best outside threats. If Hiejima can put the clamps on Ali, that will be a handicap for Qatar, while Japan's chances of moving on are heavily dependent on whether Hiejima's production continues to be at a high level.
Meanwhile, Asian powerhouses Iran and South Korea face off in a sure-fire classic.
With a berth in the semi-finals at stake - and moving a step closer toward the goal of qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics - these two traditional powerhouses will face each other in what should be a very exciting and tight ballgame.
Iran have won three of the last four editions of the FIBA Asia Championship and have lost just one game so far, while Korea, top four finishers in all but one iteration of the FIBA Asia Championship, carry a 4-win, 2-loss record into this knockout affair.
Much of Team Melli's success has hinged on their team play. Even with the big four of Hamed Haddadi, Oshin Sahakian, Samad Nikkhah Bahrami and Mahdi Kamrani, no one individual stands out head and shoulders above the rest. Youngsters Mohammad Jamshidi and Mohammad Hassanzadeh have also had their shining moments, and they will need to continue being effective for Iran to prosper. Head coach Dirk Bauermann's squad got rattled in the second half against the Philippines, but if they can remain composed against Korea, they should have the upper hand.
Korea looked mighty fine in their first three games, baffling their foes with fluid offense, stingy defense and sweet shooting. Things were different in the Second Round though as their level of play became inconsistent. This team certainly have the tools to win this game and march deeper into the next phase, but their margin for error is very small.
Point guard play will be highly critical in this encounter. For much of the tournament, Yang Dong-Geun has been the most efficient player out there, and he will need to be at his best against Iran's highly-touted playmaker, Mahdi Kamrani. Whoever runs his team better and gets his teammates involved more should see his squad move on to the competition's Final Four.
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