High hopes turned into devastation — and misery.
With an 80-65 loss to Montenegro on Monday, the Japan men's basketball team concluded its campaign at the 2019 FIBA World Cup with a disastrous 0-5 record, the worst-ever outcome for the team in the sport's extravaganza.
Considering the squad competed in a tough first-round pool in Shanghai along with 2010 silver medalist Turkey, the Czech Republic and the world No. 1 United States, qualifying through the preliminary stage was a daunting task.