Japan 🇯🇵 vs Netherlands 🇳🇱 | Women | Full Semi-Finals Game | FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup 2025

...that medal game over the last two years, picking up a silver, last year picking up a gold, two years ago. Japan's been a while for them, 2019's the last time they were in the medal rounds, that was a gold medal for them, silver in 2018 as well. Here we go, here we go, the semi-finals on deck from Shanghai, China, it's a Japanese first. Iha, on the move, a foul called on the block, as Wunderpluss gets tangled up with Tanaka. The Dutch will take a foul, Japan will set up shot with another 12 seconds to go on the shot clock. Backspin action, they get it to Iha, on the way to Iha, no space, Tanaka's down, Hanashima pulls up for two and it's down. The Japanese continue to reign from beyond the arc, van Kruijsum, lefty scoop, the Dutch stick with him. Back to Iha, that's that speed I was talking about, van Kruijsum sticks with him, gets a mid on him, now there's a mismatch, this is what the Dutch want, they go into the post and they get a score, they tie things up, you can see the styles contrasting already, as van Kruijsum will take the seed, so Hanashima, Okondo will make it out onto the half court. The Netherlands with that mismatch game, they're so good at recognizing them, and they try to beat you to the spot every time, Tanaka another two, that wasn't good. Van Schijndel, a fresh shot clock for the Netherlands, she'll try a two, that's no good. Okondo stops on a dime, that turn around jumper right in the eye of van der Blas, van der Blas on the move, shares it, van der Blas midy, and that's cash for Kottwijk. Two balls good for Japan, front of the rim, van Schijndel has it, but almost passes it to the wrong team. Go, no, van der Blas, back to Koepick, a pop game for the Netherlands, it's sped out. Van der Blas on a run around, and eventually is caught with a bucket underneath. So the rebounding game so far has gone in favor of the team with the most length, we've probably cricketed that before, Piha no, but she is fouled on the take. The Dutch here with a couple of offensive boards, they'll get a score. Two minutes in, a one-point game in favor of the Netherlands, they got two fouls to show for their defensive acumen as well, trying to stick with that speed. Tanaka, a fakery, but he fill up sticks with it, a rejection on Tanaka. Offensive foul, and van Kruissel is trying to tell the referees who's being held up, but it ends up possession to Japan, a third Dutch foul. High post play here for Japanese, they hand it off, Iha, looking at a shot, instead drives, hangs and hits, rocket that credo is Iha. Van Kruissel whips it good, no, Van Kruissel to the crowd, gathers herself, quick hands, hangs and hits, the Dutch will stick with it, Iha used her quick hands to poke it away, but Van Kruissel ends up with the Dutch fifth point. Kondo, side-eyes, she'll track it down, offensive rebound for Japan, amongst the trees. Van Kruissel, how good has she been to start this game? The leading scorer for the Netherlands in the tournament, number two on the rankings overall, four out of six for the orange lines for Lotte Van Kruissel. She's got two medals to her name in this event already, four away from being the top scorer in the tournament, but I'm sure she's not caring about that. Some of the work that these teams have put in so far, Dutch with a double high post, looking to get it to Moskaino, down to another plus, big and long game for the Netherlands to click it. Iha now on the move, Iha hands, can't hit, Netherlands take over again, and they get the streak going, game going right away, they're not waiting to get that ball screen up, and they got a three-point lead because of Iha. To Tanaka, who's now on the move, Tanaka with the scoop, the Dutch will take it again, Van Kruissel, gets it back, Van Kruissel in the paint, corner clock, the flow came off the mark, and now a foul on Moskaino, reaching in on Hanashima, fourth on the Netherlands, Japan's been clean so far. This is what's proven to work for the Dutch, screen and roll, three x-three fundamentals here for the Orange Lions, Kondo, uh-uh, Tanaka throws it to Koch, big and pop game this time, Moskaino against two Japanese defenders, and Tanaka with the foul, she can't believe it. Screening action for Moskaino, she tries to put up a two, she's fouled again, now Japan's getting hands. Moskaino here pulls up, and it's Kondo with a reach in, hits the wrist of Moskaino, who will now flick her wrist from the free throw strike to get the Dutch up by four. Moskaino in that quarterfinal area, she gets going here with two. Hanashima, sidestep and a high archer, and the great equalizer comes into effect yet again, Japan within three, they look to shoot the Dutch out of it, Netherlands trying to join that, Van Kruistum secures a two, seven points for Lotte Van Kruistum, and then another Dutch foul. And Lotte Van Kruistum is all one in this one, scoring from two and from one, we saw a shot from Hanashima go down as well. Halfway through the game, the Dutch hold a five-point lead. Hanashima spinning away from contact, that spin, had her pick up a pin. Another one of those sets for the Netherlands. Kulp, the pass is overshot, it goes out of bounds, and Lotte Van Kruistum will take a seat. Japan, they will put Kondo on the bench. Iha against Kulp, and a double dribble as Iha lost a lot, picked it back up again, but tried to make a move. Dutch with it, screening action, corner plus is open, and Japan has had no answer for this. The Dutch stopped themselves though with a miss. Iha, and a couple of tries here for Japan, it rolls off the rim. Van Kruistum with a misdirection, an offensive foul this time. Sixth foul on the Orange Lions, at the brink of the bonus. We've seen Japan fight back from a large deficit before, when they came back in the last minute against Italy, from down five to up one. They're going to try to do the same thing here. Kondo, left to right cross, Kondo does scoop, and then a whistle against Japan. Screening action for Van Schijndel, the misdirection, Kulp can't squeeze it. Van Schijndel, deep two ball, that's cash. Van Schijndel continuing her ways here, at the half-court in Chang'an, and possession is poked away by the Dutch. Gwynda van Schijndel has been on one today, lines up a deep two ball, and with a flick of the wrist, the Dutch are up six. TV timeout, shout out to MC Benk for being out here entertaining the crowd. He hasn't hyped them ready for these last couple of minutes, as both teams try to make it into that gold medal game. It'll be the Netherlands with possession, a kickball violation on Japan. It's Van Kruistum working on Anashima, spins, stops, scoops, and that'll be a free throw coming up for Lotte van Kruistum. Van Kruistum getting swifty. Yeah, you heard that right, a Rick and Morty reference here. Average height for the height difference in favor of the Netherlands based on that average is almost nine centimeters taller than Japan, and that size so far has proven to be the difference maker as Japan to get a bucket here. The Netherlands up by a ton. Kulp, that pass no good. It's Kondo with the scoop that gets Japan back within six. Kondo will get it again with a fake this time. She gets another one of those layups. The speed is just a blazing, but the Netherlands take over again. Van Schijndel trying to force one up there. Volleyball, Anashima holds up. End of action, Kondo will get it. She scored the last two, makes that the last three as the Netherlands cannot play physical defense anymore. They're at the brink of the bonus with six fouls. Van Schijndel kicks out, pick and pop, but Lucille Kulp can't get it. On the plus, body's on the floor. Japan get it to the side of the court. Anashima is off the mark, a box out. We'll let that ball go out of bounds. They'll get the Dutch to bring van Kruijswijk back. The Japanese will get Iha, but with Tanaka on the bench, these are vulnerable because they are very short, and this is their shortest lineup. Rough screen action for their plus. System basketball for the Netherlands. Not cleared yet by Japan. It takes a long time to do it. Iha down to Anashima. So Japan stuck with the Netherlands as far as scoring. It's only a two possession game here. Two minutes on the clock. Van Kruijswijk, there goes that screen again. The Dutch offense, smoother than Froyo. I know somebody all had some frozen yogurt. Two balls, good for Japan, and Kondo brings in the great equalizer to pull Japan within three. It's a good one here in with some sorcery. Spinning free. Van Kruijswijk will take over here down to the block when the plus is there. Sticks with it. It's off the mark again, and it's a foul, and a foul goes against the Netherlands. This is the great equalizer for Japan. The shot to beat the size. 14-18 game. A couple of free throws coming up for Japan after the Dutch woman handled them in the rebound, and we've gotten a timeout with a minute 25 left. The Netherlands have played this screening game almost to perfection, but Japan have stuck with it for now. Two possession game could be a one possession game after some free throws for Anashima. Both teams have the capabilities to go on huge runs. Will the Netherlands close it out? Anashima misses the free throw. That's an expensive one. Will the Dutch go on a run to close it out, or can Japan find anything? Anashima has been superb in this one. Five out of Japan's 14 points. Anashima will get another try here. Three-point game. Van Kruistum on the move. Behind the screen, Van Kruistum is held up by Anashima after a hesitation. Pezzi here for Van Kruistum, hit by Anashima. That's the fifth foul in Japan. Time off the clock for the Netherlands. Another run screen. Van Kruistum sets up shot, patient with it, and Japan has no answer for the size of the Netherlands for now. Tanaka. Van Kruistum's got 10 in the game. She's up to 44 points for the tournament, leading away in the entire competition for the women's. Three-point game remains. Under a minute to go. The Orange Lions can close it out on a two-ball. Van Kruistum working on Tanaka, hanging and heading, continuing her dominance. She is her flying curls and all. Tanaka. Japan gets a bucket. They're not out of it yet, but they need to stop here. Do Van Schijndel. Van Schijndel working behind the back. Van Schijndel stepping through, flips it up. It's off the mark. Oh, but Tanaka's on the floor. Van Schijndel dives on it, is wrapped up. A jump ball situation will give the Netherlands possession back. Van Schijndel here, good defense on Kondo, and then Tanaka takes a spill over her teammate, and there's that jump ball forced by the Orange Lions. They get another try at things, a score. We'll get another win. We're under 20 seconds in this one. There's Van Schijndel working off the screen. Van Schijndel with the heads of Iyaz, held her up. It's out of bounds for Japan. Is that a Japanese stop is the question. Will they get possession here, or is there time left on the clock for the Netherlands? No, Japan will get it. Fair time left though, 8.9. Tanaka down, and Hanashima finishes, but the clock will run out on Japan here. They try to foul. It is not called. This one is done and over with. The Dutch puts their ticket to the gold medal game, and the Orange Lions roar. Japan could quite figure out the mismatch in the screening game for the Netherlands, and they reign supreme here.