NEW TAIPEI CITY (Chinese Taipei) - AKATSUKI JAPAN join Korea at the top of the Group B table, quelling any hopes Chinese Taipei may have harbored of a home win.
In doing so, Japan have extended their World Cup Qualifiers win streak to 7 games, dating back to the Second Round of the 2023 edition's qualifiers.
It is also Japan's seventh straight win over Chinese Taipei in major FIBA competitions.
Chinese Taipei's high pick-and-roll with Brandon Gilbeck caused frequent problems for Japan, but they managed to hold on for the 80-73 victory.
The twin victories ensured that star veteran Yuta Watanabe's appointment as Japan captain started on an unblemished note.
Turning point
Yudai Nishida's 3-point jumpshot midway through the second quarter shifted the momentum in favor of Japan. This sparked a 14-3 run that gave Japan their first lead of the night, after trailing for the initial 15 minutes. Thereafter, Japan never trailed for the remainder of the game, staving off multiple mini Taipei rallies, especially in the third frame.
Key players
Japanese shooting guard Yudai Nishida dropped 18 points, going 3-of-4 from long distance.
For the second straight game, Chinese Taipei center Brandon Gilbeck imposed his will, with a dominant 16 points, 17 rebounds double-double, before fouling out late in the fourth.
Stats don't lie
Japan outscored Chinese Taipei 23-16 in the fourth quarter, after the teams were tied at the end of 30 minutes.
Energized by a boisterous crowd inside the Xinzhuang Gymnasium, Taipei started strong, with a 9-0 run marked by three straight triples and defensive intensity on the other end.
But well begun proved to be only half done, as Japan gradually took control over the final 25 minutes.
Bottomline
Chinese Taipei have lost their last 10 games in the World Cup Qualifiers, by an average margin of 28.6 points; they have yet to win at home in the competition, losing their previous three home games by margins of at least 22 points, including a 68-108 defeat against Japan in July 2018.
They Said
"The Chinese Taipei team came out firing, hitting threes. There's a lot of energy in the arena, and what I'm really proud of with our players is, a lot of time when you play in an away game and you get down, it can get ugly but our guys slowly but surely steadied the ship. We got back in the game." - Japan Head Coach Tom Hovasse
"In the second quarter we really turned it around into our type of game and took the lead at half, and then Taipei came back again. Going into the fourth quarter it was tied and I went with a lot of my veteran players. Everybody played great defense. It was a total team effort. I'm really happy we got a win against a very tough team in a tough environment." - Coach Hovasse
"I'm just happy to get a win. It was a great team win. I think #19, Yudai [Nishida], he step up so big. After winning by 26 at home, then coming to [Taipei] I knew it's going to be a tough game." - Japan's veteran 167 cm / 5'5" point guard Yuki Tokashi
"He's a leader. When he gets to the national team he knows how to lead. He is fully committed to the team. He does whatever it takes to win. He doesn't have to shoot the ball all the time to affect the game. He rebounds. His defense protecting the rim is fantastic. Our team's so different when he's in the game...because he gives us a presence out there that just makes us better. Really enjoy him. Really enjoy his attitude." - Coach Hovasse, on the impact of Yuta Watanabe's return to AKATSUKI JAPAN.
"Today, we can feel not happy but proud. Proud of the players of this team, this environment, these fans. I think in life to be proud counts more than being happy. Unfortunately, we lost the game. For some episodes, we fought a lot under the rim where we know that we have a lack of physicality. We tried the challenge of rebounding, getting the same rebounding. Japanese players for sure have more experience, they overcome after our very good, outstanding start. Also, we came back. I think in the first minutes of the fourth quarter, we struggled a lot, also because we arrived a little bit tired and some problems...fouls put out some players but I told my team that we can be proud as to our road to the qualification is still alive if we put this kind of heart into the game." - Chinese Taipei Head Coach Gianluca Tucci
"We adjusted so many mistakes from the first game. All the teammates tried their best." - Taipei small forward Justin Lu
Watch the post-game press conference:
FIBA