Fazekas' 41 fires Japan up past Kazakhstan for sixth win

TOYAMA (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers) - Nick Fazekas was firing on all cylinders as Japan overcame Kazakhstan, 86-70, to book their sixth straight win in the Asian Qualifiers.

Kazakhstan, still feeling the afterglow of their upset win over the Philippines, started hot once again and went toe-to-toe with the favored Japanese, but Fazekas would have none of it as he carried the Akatsuki Five on his broad shoulders for the huge victory.

Fazekas scored on a variety of moves in the paint, and nobody on Kazakhstan's frontline had an answer for the 33-year-old's sublime performance.

 
By game's end, the 6ft 11in (2.10m) Fazekas had recorded his best game yet in a Japanese kit with an eye-popping 41 points, 15 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks. He shot 17-of-13 from the field in an amazing display of efficient offense. His point total is the second-highest in the Asian Qualifiers so far, right behind the 43 points of Ra GunA against Hong Kong in the first round.

Combo guard Makoto Hiejima backstopped Fazekas with 14 points, while athletic wingman Yudai Baba added 11 off the bench.

 
This win propelled Japan to a 6-win, 4-loss card and at least a tie for third place with erstwhile idle Philippines. More importantly, this result opened the door for Japan to make it to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019, while the window just got tighter for the Kazakhs, who fell to 4-6.

The Steppe Wolves didn't shoot as well as they did in Manila, but they still had some shining moments. Once more, Alex Zhigulin led the way for them with 23 points, while Anton Bykov had 11 points and 7 rebounds in the loss.

Japan will face Iran and Qatar in the final Asian Qualifiers window in February, while Kazakhstan will finish their Asian Qualifiers campaign with a two-game homestand against Australia and Philippines.

FIBA