The Japanese superiority became even more pronounced as the game progressed in the fourth quarter and the Indians all but gave up the fight against their better-organised opponents.

Meanwhile, Malaysia scrambled to a 78-77 win against Uzbekistan to chalk up their fourth win and round off the Level-II league with a 4-1 win-loss record and qualify for the play-offs along with Lebanon who defeated Kazakhstan 83-58.

Malaysia, relegated two years ago, came up with a Houdini act in the final five minutes after trailing 54-70 midway through the fourth quarter.

During the blitz, Malaysia scored mostly through Yong Shin-min who scored six of her game-total of 13 during this period and Goh Beng Fong who knocked in seven while Pee Yann Yann five.

Kazakhstan thus finished third in Level-II, followed by The Philippines who outplayed Sri Lanka 70-55. The Lankans yet again finished at the bottom without a win, behind Uzbekistan.

The results:

Level-I: Japan 108 (Yoshie Sakurada 26, Al Mitani 20, Kumiko Yamada 15) beat India 58 (Geetu Anna Jose 30, Raspreet Sidhu 10, Anitha Pauldurai 7). Ht: 55-31.

Chinese-Taipei 76 (Liu Chin-yi 16) beat Thailand 66 (Juthamas Jantakan 22).

Level-II: Malaysia 78 (Kew Suik-may 18, Yong Shin-min 13, Pee Yann Yann 11) beat Uzbekistan 77 (Irina Polunina 19, Yelena Khusnitdinova 18).

Lebanon 83 (Chantelle Anderson 23, Chada Nasr 13, Sandra Najem 13) beat Kazakhstan 58 (Nataliya Kuzmicheva 15, Nadezhda 14).

The Philippines 70 (Merenciana Arayi 23) beat Sri Lanka 55 (Premila Beruwalage 12, Inoka Juwan Pedige 12).