Chot, Gilas surprised by Japan's upset of Australia in FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers
MANILA, Philippines — Japan notched its first win in the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers at the expense of the mighty, Group B leader Australia, Friday night at the before their home crowd at the City Arena in Chiba prefecture.
Naturalized cager Nicholas Fazekas figured as the spearhead of the “Akatsuki Five,” weathering a Boomers team riding high on a four-game winning streak and the reinforcement of two National Basketball Association cagers in Thon Maker and Matthew Dellavedova.
Christopher Goulding paced the cagers from down under with 22 points. Maker accounted for 13 while Nicholas Kay chimed in 12. Dellavedova finished with four.
The Japanese also relied heavily on Rui Hachimura, who tallied 24 points in the victory that avenged an embarrassing 58-82 loss in their first meeting last year.
Ryusei Shinoyama scored a breakaway layup late in the game that provided the separation from their foes.
????????The most important bucket in @JAPANBASKETBALL history ????? #FIBAWC #ThisIsMyHouse @shinoyama7 pic.twitter.com/8jDCx1bf0K
— Basketball World Cup (@FIBAWC) June 29, 2018
The victory came at the most opportune moment for Japan, which has been long struggling for a win. The upset proves that the Aussies are beatable, and it affords the Akatsuki Five a chance at survival as they take on Chinese-Taipei for the right to advance to the next round.
Gilas will have its turn on the Boomers this Monday in a tussle slated at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan to end the first round.
“They found out [about the upset] toward the middle of the fourth quarter,” Philippines head coach Chot Reyes said. “We knew Japan is a much stronger team now with younger players and a new naturalized player. But I admit it (came as) a surprise.”
“I can’t say how optimistic we are because coming here, our sole focus was on Chinese-Taipei,” the longtime Gilas head coach added in an interview with ESPN5, shortly after scoring a dominant win over their hosts.
“Now, after dinner, we go back to the hotel. We’re going to start thinking about Australia. But I can’t really tell the level of optimism.
“There’s no quit in this team,” he noted. “We’ll see what happens.”
Gilas Pilipinas bowed to the Boomers in their first meeting, 84-68, in Melbourne, last February. The Nationals will have a crack at taking the top spot when they square off with the Aussies.
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