SAITAMA (Japan) - Japan just made an emphatic statement ahead of the FIBA Basketball World Cup after defeating a star-studded Germany, 86-83, at the Saitama Super Arena on Saturday.

The tremendous triumph saw young star Rui Hachimura toss in 31 points for the Akatsuki Five. The Japanese Basketball Association also used the game as part of the ongoing Test Events for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 

"THIS GIVES US ENORMOUS CONFIDENCE, AND I THINK THE EXPECTATION LEVEL FOR US WILL RISE."- Yuta Watanabe

Hachimura, dubbed by many as the face of the new generation of Asian basketball stars, combined with another youthful Japanese star, Yuta Watanabe, who tallied 20 points, to tow the home team to the victory over the visiting European powerhouse squad in front of more than 18,000 screaming fans at the Saitama Super Arena.

 
"Everybody played hard," Hachimura said after the win. "We buckled down in the end, both offensively and defensively, and I'm glad we ended up winning."

It was the front end of a massive double-header at the venue that also hosted the Final Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2006. The second game featured the Japan women's national team, which also emerged winners over Chinese Taipei, 91-59.

Among those in attendance to witness both games was FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis, who was impressed by the atmosphere and the scale of the event.

 
Japan will use this win over Germany to buoy their spirits heading into the World Cup, where they have been drawn with Turkey, Czech Republic and Team USA in Group E. There is no doubt it will be among the most competitive groups in the tournament, though the Akatsuki Five have been impressive in their tune-up contests, underscoring their remarkable potential to find success on the world stage.

"This gives us enormous confidence, and I think the expectation level for us will rise," added Watanabe. "But we're not satisfied with this. We are going to have to work even harder because we will face tough opponents at the World Cup."

 
Japan are aiming to advance past the group stage and surpass their best finish at the World Cup, which was eleventh place way back in the 1967 edition in Uruguay.

FIBA