Japan rallies in second half to beat Germany
The arena DJ encouraged the jam-packed, 18,355 fans at Saitama Super Arena saying, "Louder! Louder!" But it was perhaps unnecessary because they were already pretty loud, extremely loud. The Japan men's national team bounced back from its early struggles and managed to edge Germany 86-83 on ...
Argentina's experience pays off in victory over Japan
Japan competed resiliently against world No. 5 Argentina but fell 108-93 in a warm-up contest for the FIBA World Cup at Saitama Super Arena on Thursday night. Japan will play Germany and Tunisia in additional warm-up games at the same arena as part of a ...
Big guns set to lead Japan at FIBA World Cup
Japan's "Big Three" — Rui Hachimura, Yuta Watanabe and Nick Fazekas — headline the provisional roster of the Japan men's national team for the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup, the Japan Basketball Association officially announced on Tuesday. The 16-man squad was introduced at Fuji Television ...
Togashi's status for World Cup in doubt due to broken hand
Just days after kicking off its preparation for the FIBA World Cup, the Japanese men's national team was jolted by some startlingly bad news out of the blue. Japan learned Tuesday that Yuki Togashi, the team's starting point guard, was diagnosed with a broken ...
Japan coach Julio Lamas outlines team's goals for FIBA Basketball World Cup
Japan men's national team head coach Julio Lamas insisted that there will be uphill battles for the Akatsuki Five at the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup in China, but said that he certainly hopes the team comes up with its best-ever results. One day after ...
It all started with an email written by his mother. One that could end up with him representing her native country, Japan. Hugh Hogland, who has been practicing in training camps with the Japan provisional men's national team for the upcoming William Jones Cup in Taiwan, ...
JBA announces August exhibition schedule for national teams
The Japan men's national team will tune up for the upcoming FIBA World Cup with international exhibitions against New Zealand, Argentina, Germany and Tunisia in August, the Japan Basketball Association announced in Tokyo on Tuesday. The sport's national governing body also revealed the women's national ...
Performance staff plays big role for Japan hoopsters
Right after the final buzzer, the TV camera momentarily caught head coach Julio Lamas giving a strong hug to athletic trainer Takeo Ichiyanagi after they helped accomplish a big feat in the Middle East in late February. Koichi Sato, the sports performance director for the ...
Triumphant Akatsuki Five return after accomplishing World Cup mission
When Japan clinched a berth for the second round of FIBA World Cup qualifying last July in Taiwan, Nick Fazekas said that the Akatsuki Five had accomplished their mission. On Sunday night, that statement felt truer than ever. One day after they clinched a berth for ...
Japan completed an amazing turnaround to qualify for the basketball World Cup on Sunday, with Nick Fazekas keying an eighth straight win that punched the team's ticket to China. The U.S.-born Fazekas poured in 20 points and dominated the glass, finishing with 19 rebounds, as ...
Japan heading into World Cup qualifiers with ultimate goal still in sight
Japan's men's national team faces a simple calculation in its upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Iran and Qatar — win to advance. But with the absence of both its U.S.-based talents — emerging Gonzaga University star and NBA draft hopeful Rui Hachimura and fringe Memphis ...
Japan squad set for big challenges
The players and staff seemed relaxed. That is a good indication of their state of mind as they get into the final window of the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers. The provisional Japanese men's national team began its final training camp on Tuesday before its ...
