Opals claim silver, Kelsey Griffin MVP at FIBA Asia Cup women’s basketball

THE Opals have come away with a world championships spot and Kelsey Griffin a MVP award but not the gold medal at the Asia Cup

Opal Kelsey Griffin was named MVP at the Asia Cup.

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THE Opals have come away with a world championships spot and Kelsey Griffin a MVP award but not the gold medal at the Asia Cup.

The Opals fell at the final hurdle at the tournament in India, beaten for the gold medal by one point in a thriller with Japan.

The sharp-shooting Japanese overcame a six point halftime deficit to take the gold medal match 74-73.

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Kelsey Griffin on the defence for her WNBL team Bendigo.

Kelsey Griffin with her MVP award at the Asia Cup.

Japan, who Australia beat in the quarters, set up their win by outscoring the Opals 26-14 in the third with Sam Mizushima lethal in offence with an extraordinary seven three pointers.

Mizushima ended the match with 26 points but it was Australian MVP Kelsey Griffin who topscored with 30 points and 15 rebounds.

The top four finishers at the Asia Cup have now qualified for the world women’s basketball championships in Spain next year with China finishing third and Korea fourth.