Tominaga's unwavering faith in Japan rally: ''We knew we could still do it''

OKINAWA (Japan) - Keisei Tominaga never lost faith in Japan's ability to rise from adversity.

WE TRUSTED EACH OTHER. WE PLAYED TOGETHER.

Even if things appeared bleak at one point, he knew they had what it takes to pull through.

After jumping to a good lead early, Akatsuki Japan entered a harrowing stretch and fell behind by as much as 18 points, 71-53, in the third quarter with Lauri Markkanen leading the Susijengi. But the young shooter Tominaga always believed that they had more than enough to get back in it.

"We knew we could still do it," he said.

And they did.

The home team hit strides on both ends and slowly chipped away the deficit before the end of the said period, and then went berserk in the final chapter by erupting for 35 points en route to completing the biggest comeback of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 so far, 98-88.

Emotions filled the sold-out Okinawa Arena as Japan got their first win of the World Cup since the 2006 edition, also held on home soil. More importantly, it kept their hopes of advancing to the Group Phase's Second Round alive.

"Even when we were down 18 points, we never gave up," offered the 22-year-old guard moments after the triumph, which also eliminated the Finnish from contention. "It was a great win for us."

Tominaga played a huge role in the come-from-behind win. He finished with 17 points, including five in the team's crucial 10-2 run to finish the third - the run that kick-started the uprising.

He opened the last quarter with four more points before Josh Hawkinson and Yuki Kawamura took over to seal the deal. It was a 34-7 run abridging the third and fourth quarters that gave them a 87-78 lead with 2:40 left.

Tominaga was filled with pride for his squad and what they achieved.

"We trusted each other. We played together," he said.

When they were drawn into this "Group of Death", Japan were viewed as the biggest underdogs with the likes of Germany, Australia, and Finland. Now, they have at least climbed up one spot in the ladder and are one spot away from advancing to the next round. They hope to ride this wave of momentum as they go up against Australia, a game with much importance to their aspirations of making it to the Second Round.

Tominaga is being looked at as one of those to lead the charge against the Boomers, especially after performing well against the Olympic bronze medalists in the FIBA Asia Cup 2022 Quarter-Finals.

Akatsuki Japan ultimately bowed to the eventual two-time champs, 99-85, but not before giving the No. 3 team in the FIBA World Ranking Men presented by Nike a major scare.

Tominaga fired 13 points in the fourth quarter alone to help his side trim what was once a 21-point deficit to only nine with only four minutes left. He went on to finish with a game-high 33 points, the most in an Asia Cup in the 21st century by a player aged 21 or younger. With his hot handed shooting, Tominaga ended up connecting on 60-percent from the floor and went 8-for-15 from beyond the arc.

Tominaga still remembers that, but it isn't lost on him they would be facing an Australia team far different from what they faced in Jakarta.

If they are to pull off another upset, Japan needs to perform as well as they were against Finland or up the ante as high as they can.

"I played well against Australia at the Asia Cup but they're a totally different team right now. We, of course, gotta make our shots against that team and we gotta play like today - or even better," he said.

"We gotta play our basketball for 40 minutes."

FIBA