Two days before their first game at the 2019 FIBA World Cup, Japan men's national team members still looked relaxed, but at the same time they were certainly aware that the clock is ticking.
On Friday, the Akatsuki Five took the floor at Shanghai Oriental Sports Center, the venue for them and the other three teams in Group E in the first round of the 32-nation tournament, for the first time.
The event will kick off with a Group D matchup between Serbia and Angola at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, the tourney’s first day. Japan faces Turkey at 5:30 p.m. (JST) on Sunday. The Akatsuki Five will then face the Czech Republic and the United States on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively.