Japan log emphatic road victory at the expense of Kazakhstan
ALMATY (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers) - Japan proved to be too long and too deep for Kazakhstan as the former notched a convincing win, 85-70, to start their second round campaign in sty
ALMATY (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers) - Japan proved to be too long and too deep for Kazakhstan as the former notched a convincing win, 85-70, to start their second round campaign in style.
Yuta Watanabe scored 13 of his 17 points in the first half as Japan threatened to pull away from Kazakhstan early on. Watanabe's size and versatility make him such a difficult cover for anyone, and this was in full display against Kazakhstan.
😱What a way to mark your return ↩️ @yutawatanabe12 13PTS in just the 1st! #FIBAWC #ThisIsMyHouse @JAPANBASKETBALL
— Basketball World Cup (@FIBAWC) September 13, 2018
💻 https://t.co/eod3IQWyfT
📖 https://t.co/PRvabOEApD
📱 https://t.co/6BBBf6oObD pic.twitter.com/fba7LIkWf9
Gonzaga product Rui Hachimura further added to the Kazakhs' woes with an amazing 24 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 blocked shot performance. The 6ft 8in (2.02m) Hachimura was his usual explosive self on offense and on defense, he held down Alex Zhigulin to a paltry 4 points.
The Kazakhs managed to keep in step with Japan in the first ten minutes, but coach Julio Lamas knew that his Japanese kids were ready to flip the switch anytime. By halftime, Japan's lead ballooned to 15 points already.
前半終了間際に #富樫勇樹 がスリー👌#AkatsukiFive が15点のリードを奪い前半を折り返した🤗#FIBAワールドカップ予選 観るなら https://t.co/u4BaoHt81Q 📺#DAZN#時代を変えろ#日本一丸#FIBAWC@JAPANBASKETBALL @CHIBAJETS pic.twitter.com/3ThB0pkryx
— DAZN ダゾーン (@DAZN_JPN) September 13, 2018
In the second half, it was more of the same as Japan clearly took the match very seriously and had little trouble in building a lead of as many as 23 points.
Japan have now three Asian Qualifiers fixtures in a row, while Kazakhstan fell to 3 wins and 4 losses.
Up next for Japan are Iran at the Ota City General Gymnasium in Tokyo, while New Zealand will be returning home to host Lebanon. Both games are on 17 September.
FIBA