TOKYO (Japan) - Rui Hachimura starred yet again as Japan walloped Qatar anew, 123-70, to complete a 2-game sweep of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers on Monday night at the Toyota Arena.
Sustaining his fine play from their conquest of Saudi Arabia, the NBA forward erupted for 28 points alongside 6 rebounds and 4 assists, as his perfect start enabled the home team to set the tone for the rout.
He went 5-for-5 from 3-point distance for 19 points in the first half, starting out 3-for-3 for 11 in the opening quarter to help his side build a 29-11 lead, eventually leading to the victory that rewrote history books.
Record books
The Japanese, as a whole, drained a total of 20 shots from deep, which is now tied for 3rd-most in Asian Qualifiers records as New Zealand also drained the same amount in their 133-74 win over Hong Kong back in 2017.
Such an accuracy allowed the crew to place itself in Asian Qualifiers' scoring records as well, with their output tied for 4th-most with Australia, who made theirs just last August 28 in a 123-64 conquest of Syria in Manila.
And playing with so much confidence was thanks to Hachimura, who shot 60-percent from the floor, including a 6-of-8 clip from beyond the arc. He also had 3 steals and 4 blocks in a turnover-less outing for an efficiency of 40.
Collective effort
But just like against the Saudis, the others also made their mark in the wire-to-wire conquest
Keisei Tominaga finished with 23 points, 10 of which he made in the first as he joined hands with the Los Angeles Clipper in putting together the hot start, which he himself capped with an off-balanced 3 to end the quarter.
Joshua Hawkinson came just short of another double-double performance with 16 points and 8 rebounds. Yuta Watanabe supplied 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists off the bench, while Yudai Nishida chipped in 11.
*This article will be updated.