They tied the score with 3 minutes left, but went on a 9-1 run in about 1 minute.
Japan’s men’s basketball national team played against Guam in the “Asia Cup 2025 Qualifying Window 2”.
Japan’s starting lineup includes Yuki Togashi, Shin Hiejima, Yudai Nishida, Yutaka Yoshii, and Josh Hawkinson. Although Japan actively shot, they were unable to make five consecutive 3-point shots and were unable to ride the wave. Still, he was highly aware of his drives, and his touch in the paint definitely added up to two points. About five minutes into the game, Yoshii made the team’s first successful 3-point shot, followed by Sota Oura, revitalizing the offense. Despite struggling with Guam’s physical play, Hawkinson made an alley-oop to Hiyu Watanabe, and the first quarter ended with a 20-15 lead.
In the second quarter, Japan gained momentum. Hawkinson scored from inside and outside, and Nishida made a corner three and a transition three, expanding the lead to 14 points in the first minute and a half. After that, there was a period of patience as long-range guns failed to hit again. Still, their defense was effective, with double teams stealing the ball and Takuto Nakamura’s steals and Hawkinson’s blocked shots. Togashi and Hiejima hit 3-point shots in the final stages, ending the first half at 48-31.
Japan returned to the starting lineup and started the second half, but after making a deep three and taking the lead, they went on an 0-8 run to bring the point difference back to single digits. Demonstrate an activity that changes the flow. Immediately after hitting two consecutive 3-point shots, he outwitted his opponent, who was wary of long-range shots, with a drive and perfectly set up Yoshii’s corner three. After that, an evenly matched game continued with neither team able to make a decisive move.
Japan entered the final quarter with a 15-point lead, but the offense stalled as Hiejima’s 3-point shot turned into an air ball and Yoshii missed an easy shot. The sluggish offense affected the defense, and Ernest Ross Jr. scored consecutive points, reducing the lead to single digits in the first three minutes. They took a timeout and tried to reset, but they suffered consecutive turnovers and were unable to change their current situation. Then, with 3 minutes and 7 seconds left, Ross Jr. hit a pull-up three to tie the game at 71-71.
Still, Japan returned to the starting lineup, and when Hawkinson decided on a basket count that turned into a three-point play, Nishida made sure to sink a corner three from Hawkinson’s kickout. Immediately after, they prevented a point with tenacious defense and immediately turned to offense, with Hawkinson once again gaining the basket count. In this way, Japan, who went on a 9-1 run in about one minute, did not allow a comeback and won 83-78. Despite the hardships, they earned the right to participate in the Asian Cup finals to be held in August next year.
