No champions were crowned in the second day of the four Far East basketball tournaments in Japan and Okinawa.
Tuesday’s play did, however, offer a clearer picture of which teams will battle it out for titles Wednesday.
And there weren’t a lot of surprises.
D-I girlsThe Kubasaki Dragons knocked the Seoul American Falcons out of the five-team tournament at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan. And for that, they earned a semifinal spot against a very familiar foe, the top-seeded Kadena Panthers, who breezed through round-robin play - winning by an average of 31 points.
Kubasaki coach Jermy Walker said his team needs to play much more efficiently on offense and stay disciplined in its team defense philosophies to beat Kadena.
Host Nile C. Kinnick will play reigning champion American School In Japan in the other semifinal.
“They’re tough to play, we’re about 5’3” on average, they average about 6-1,” Kinnick coach Mike Adair said. “Obviously, we’re gonna pack the paint, we’re gonna front the bigs and if they get it inside, we’ll have to double or triple them. But I want to make them beat us from the outside.”
D-I boysIt could be Kubasaki and Kadena for the eighth time this season if both teams win or lose their semifinal games at Camp Foster, Okinawa.
In order for it to be an all-Okinawa final, though, the Dragons will have to beat St. Mary’s, and the Panthers must defeat ASIJ.
Kubasaki, seeking its 12th Far East title, earned the top seed after two days of round-robin play and a bye in the first round of the knockout phase. St. Mary’s topped Seoul American 33-29 for the right to play them behind 16 points from Eamon Collins.
Kadena routed Nile C. Kinnick 91-48 to advance. Jamario Harris and Justin Wilson scored 14 points each to lead five Panthers in double figures. ASIJ topped Christian Academy Japan 67-34, sparked by 13 points from Ian McGuire.
D-2 boysMatthew C. Perry topped heavily favored Yokota in the first round of double-elimination play, but both teams are still alive at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan.
Perry, Robert D. Edgren and Osan have clinched spots in the semifinals. Yokota and Daegu square off in the day’s first game to determine whom the Eagles must beat to get to the championship.
Yokota and Edgren were both unbeaten in pool play, handing Edgren and Perry their only pool losses.
D-2 girlsOsan meets surprising Zama and Edgren takes on Yokota for the right to play in the championship game at Camp Zama, Japan.
Zama went unbeaten in pool play, including wins over favored Yokota and Osan. Edgren was unbeaten in the other pool. Zama and Edgren earned byes in the first round of the knockout portion of the tournament. The Trojans then topped Perry 40-23, and the Eagles took care of Okinawa Christian 50-12 to advance.
Staff writer James Kimber at Yokosuka Naval Base contributed to this report.