JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) - Rui Hachimura was simply the difference as Japan rolled past Saudi Arabia, 106-78, for a rousing start to their Window 4 campaign in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers, Thursday.
The incoming Los Angeles Clippers wing in the NBA exploded for 29 points, highlighted by a perfect start into the ball game, which enabled the East Asian contenders to seize control before breaking away wide.
"Rui not missing a shot especially in the first half, it's because he puts in a lot of work in shooting the ball; he has great skills. But not only that, we did a great job as a team to get him good shots," said Coach Dai Oketani.
Perfect start
He went 4-for-4 from the field, including a triple, for 9 points to lead his side to a 25-18 lead with 2:35 to go in the opening period before being subbed out, and the others would maintain their position while he's out.
And when the home team chopped the gap to a single digit, he was brought back in and contributed to the pullaway, scoring 5 straight to give themselves a 51-36 advantage with 2:15 to go before the intermission.
Hachimura already had 18 by the break behind a 6-for-6 clip - including 2-for-2 from deep - and 4-of-4 from the charity stripe alongside 1 rebound, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block, doing all that without a single turnover.
The 28-year-old, though, would miss for the first time after his stepback jumper only grazed the front rim at the 9:13-mark of the third, but was quick to rebound by scoring consecutively to push their lead to 61-42.
It would be all AKATSUKI JAPAN since as the Saudis struggled to find any answer, ultimately allowing the visitors to cruise to their 5th win - and give the star forward a truly triumphant return to national team duties.
Hachimura, who also scored the game's first basket, shot 11-of-14 from the floor and also tallied 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. He did not only commit a TO, but he also ended the night without any foul.
Balanced
But it wasn't all about the former Gonzaga Bulldog. In fact, 3 more players finished in double figures. Josh Hawkinson, for one, scattered 21 points, on top of 4 rebounds and 4 rebounds - all without an error.
Keisei Tominaga delivered 14 points to lead the bench mob, while Yudai Nishida chipped in 13. And the 4 mentioned also combined for 10 of the team's 15 3-pointers in the victory with a 37-percent shooting accuracy.
All in all, the Japanese shot 53-percent of their field goals and that display of efficiency was thanks to their efforts in finding the best possible shots - either by running the floor or making sure everybody gets touches.
They finished with 29 assists, 9 of which came from lead playmaker Yuki Kawamura, who only had 4 points and 3 assists as he found much more satisfaction in setting up his teammates in positions to score better.
Only 2
Japan made that many dimes almost without any mistakes. For the entirety of the bout, they only had a pair of turnovers, which shall go down as one of the fewest ever by a team in a World Cup Qualifiers game.
To have accomplished as much even while ramping up the pace during most stretches makes it all the more impressive - the same fast pace that allowed the squad to register 29 fastbreak points in the rout.
Saudi Arabia only had 2.
"We did a very good job at the start of the game setting the tone. We did a great job in transition with everybody running," Oketani said.
"We did a great job getting good shots and making shots, especially in the beginning."
"Besides the second quarter, we gave up some second chance points, and also transition points. But overall, we felt like we did a great job playing our style of basketball," added the 48-year-old bench tactician.
Now toting a 5-2 record in Group F, Japan will look to finish Window 4 with a 2-game sweep when they take on Qatar on Monday, August 31, at the Toyota Arena in Tokyo. Tip-off is scheduled at 19:10 local time.
FIBA