CO-HOST Japan succeeded where five others, including Gilas Pilipinas, failed in the 19th FIBA World Cup– gain an outright slot to the Paris Olympics next year.
“We’re going to Paris,” Japan’s American coach Tom Hovasse said. “These are the moments where you really get a chance to prove yourself, but also improve yourself.
“That’s the mindset all of our guys have. We’ve got some young guys that really stepped up,” he added.
Hovasse spoke after the Akatsuki Five carved out an 80-71 victory over Cape Verde two nights back in the classification phase in Group O at the Okinawa Arena.
With the win, the Japanese wound up with a 3-2 mark overall in the world cage spectacle and bagged a berth to the Paris Games as the best-placed team from Asia.
Japan will return to the Olympics after hosting the previous edition in Tokyo. It will be their first consecutive appearance in the prestigious competition since seeing action in the 1972 and 1976 Olympics in Munich and Montreal, respectively.
“I’m just excited. I’m really grateful and thankful for this opportunity,” Hovasse said. “I’m really looking forward to the Paris Olympics.”
The Akatsuki Five also became the fourth squad going to the French capital alongside host France, Australia, and South Sudan, with four more automatic berths still up for grabs.
“It was great to win and get the Paris Olympics ticket,” Keisei Tominaga, who finished with 22 points spiked by three-pointers, said.
Naturalized big man Joshua Hawkinson finished with 29 markers and seven rebounds for Japan.
Lebanon trounced former powerhouse Iran 81-73 in Group P in Jakarta to finish as the second-best Asian side with a 2-3 record.
Gilas manhandled China 96-75 to end up with a 1-4 slate. The Chinese also had a win against four defeats.
Iran and Jordan went winless in five games.
