For the Japan men’s basketball national team, a stellar all-around effort against host Saudi Arabia produced a 28–point victory on August 27 in Jeddah. Japan delivered an even better performance in its next game.
On Monday night, August 31, Japan opened its FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers second-round match against Qatar with an 11-0 scoring spurt. This included three consecutive 3-pointers to begin the run, the first by Yudai Baba, then two more by Rui Hachimura.
Japan led 29-11 entering the second quarter, and coach Dai Oketani‘s club took a 53-34 advantage into the intermission.
Any hopes Qatar had of mounting a comeback in the second half, vanished in the third quarter, when world No 22 Japan outscored the visitors 40-11.
Final score: Japan 123, Qatar 70.
Qatar, ranked 76th in the world, trailed by as many as 59 points in the fourth quarter at Toyota Arena Tokyo, where an enthusiastic crowd of 9,153 spectators cheered from start to finish.
Rui Hachimura is interviewed after the game. (©FIBA)
An Enjoyable Experience for Hachimura
“The Japanese national team is improving as a unit, and basketball is a sport where winning together as a team is what makes it fun,” Hachimura said in a post-game TV interview on the court. Addressing the fans, he added: “I hope you’ll all continue to cheer us on.”
Hachimura, who scored 29 points against Saudi Arabia, shared his thoughts on the experience of playing in front of the home crowd.
“It was fun,” he said. “I was happy to play in Japan again after such a long time, and I’m really glad we were able to win in front of everyone.”
Rui Hachimura shoots a 3-pointer in the second quarter. (©SANKEI)
Key Statistics for Japan
Hachimura paced Akatsuki Japan with 30 points on 9-for-15 shooting, including 6-for-8 from 3-point range. The Los Angeles Clippers forward, who had 19 points in the opening half, added six rebounds, four assists, three steals and three blocks in nearly 29 minutes.
Dictating the tempo on offense, point guard Yuki Kawamura handed out 10 assists in 18-plus minutes. The former B.League star will compete for a roster spot with the Clippers in the NBA preseason.
Backup guard Keisei Tominaga contributed 23 points and four assists in just under 19 minutes of court time.
Veteran big men Josh Hawkinson (16 points, eight rebounds) and Yuta Watanabe (12 points) and shooting guard Yudai Nishida (11 points) also scored in double figures.
Rui Hachimura dunks in the fourth quarter against Qatar. (©SANKEI)
Energetic and laser-focused at both ends of the floor for the full 40 minutes, Oketani’s squad utilized its bench, which put 58 points on the board in the rout.
In addition, all 12 Japan national team players scored in this basketball contest.
On defense, Japan played aggressively, pressuring Qatar’s ball handlers and challenging its opponent’s shots.
Led by Hachimura and Baba, who matched Hachimura for the game-high total in steals, Japan forced 21 turnovers.
What was significant about that statistic?
Japan scored 33 points off turnovers.
Capitalizing on its speed, the hosts also held a 29-7 edge in fast-break points.
Small forward Hirotaka Yoshii takes a 3-point shot against Qatar. He finished with six points, making 2 of 3 from long range. (©FIBA)
Japan shot 59.2%, including 22-for-33 from 2-point range. And the hosts knocked down 20 of 38 3-point attempts.
In the game against Saudi Arabia, Japan chalked up 29 assists against two turnovers, a stunning display of passing accuracy.
Four days later, Oketani’s men had 39 assists against nine giveaways.
Coach Dai Oketani and Rui Hachimura communicate during the third quarter. (©SANKEI)
Reactions to the Basketball Blowout
Speaking to reporters after the game, Oketani commended his players for their determination and teamwork.
“It was a great game,” he told a news conference, “from the beginning to the end, because everybody was doing their own work, and everybody fulfilled their own position. So that’s the result we are looking at now.”
Oketani added, “We opened the game with a dominant start, and it’s been the case with the Japan team in the past couple games. And it’s become our strength to open the game with a dominant start.”
Analyzing the second half, the basketball tactician noted that his team only committed two turnovers, which was one of the factors leading to the runaway score.
Qatar assistant coach Cengiz Karadag, whose team was missing some key players for this game, spoke to the media afterward. Head coach Hakan Demir was ejected in the second half after picking up a pair of technical fouls.
“They started very well,” Karadag said of Japan, “and also we made really easy mistakes, especially at the beginning of the game. So, OK, I also congratulated my players who tried to do their best. But it’s not easy against the Japan team.”
Yuki Kawamura in action against Qatar. (©FIBA)
A Dynamic One-Two Punch
Kawamura and Hachimura produced tone-setting performances for Japan. The game’s assist and scoring leader showcased their synergy and talent.
Oketani described that impact this way: “Obviously, Rui and Kawamura are the gravity to open up the floor and for the other players to move freely.”
Watanabe, who didn’t travel with the team for the Saudi Arabia game, shared his impressions of the duo’s influence against Qatar.
“Yeah, like the head coach mentioned, Rui and Kawamura joined the team, which makes us really happy, and they gave us a really big impact,” the former NBA forward said.
The team’s strong chemistry was also an important factor, according to Watanabe.
“We became one team and everybody did their own job,” he commented. “So that was very good.”
Yuta Watanabe (©SANKEI)
Striving for Excellence
After the basketball game, this reporter asked Hawkinson to give a letter grade for his team’s performance.
“B+ or A-,” he said, standing in front of a crowd of reporters.
Why not a higher grade?
After all, Japan reached 80 points before Qatar crossed the 40-point mark. It took an 80-34 lead on Hachimura’s catch-and-shoot 3 with 4:03 remaining in the third quarter.
The Washington State alumni said he’d never evaluate a game as an A or an A+, because “there’s always something to improve.”
As for Hachimura, who rejoined the national team this summer after a two-year absence, Hawkinson said it is a big deal that the Toyama native is back.
Hachimura’s on-court energy is important, the naturalized Japanese citizen observed. Hawkinson also said “the way he got everyone involved” on offense and defense also shined through in Monday’s match.
Baba, a longtime member of the men’s national team, told reporters that the squad’s “running basketball” was a key factor. In other words, its speed was essential at both ends of the court.
Of course, he pointed out, the team wanted to win, and made it happen with a strong performance on defense.
“I enjoyed the game,” said Baba, a star for the reigning B.League champion Nagasaki Velca.
A Look Ahead
Japan (6-2) returns to action in the next batch of FIBA World Cup qualifiers in the autumn with away games against Lebanon (November 26) and Qatar (three days later).
Lebanon has the same record in the qualifying campaign as Japan, while Qatar is 4-4.
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Author: Ed Odeven
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