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FIBA Basketball World Cup co-host Japan punched its ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics after holding on for an 80-71 victory over Cape Verde on Saturday.
Massive man Josh Hawkinson contributed 29 factors and 7 rebounds as world No. 36 Japan secured direct qualification to the Olympics by ending as Asia’s prime World Cup performer with a 3-2 report.
Japan took a 73-55 lead into the ultimate break at Okinawa Area earlier than threatening to break down late in opposition to No. 64 Cape Verde, which received the fourth quarter 16-7.
Livewire guard Keisei Tominaga added 22 factors as he energized Japan in 18 minutes off the bench.
Joshua Hawkinson contests a rebound with Cape Verde’s Keven Gomes
| AFP-JIJI
Towering heart Edy Tavares had 11 factors, 14 rebounds and three blocks for Cape Verde, which completed 1-4 after turning into the smallest nation to play on the World Cup.
Akatsuki Japan led 50-37 on the fundamental break after Tominaga contributed 16 first-half factors on 6-from-6 capturing, together with 4-from-4 from past the arc.
The fired-up dwelling crowd erupted within the second minute of the sport when Phoenix Suns wing Yuta Watanabe dunked on a quick break, incomes a three-point play that gave Japan a 5-2 lead.
Yuki Kawamura drives to the basket at Okinawa Area on Saturday.
| AFP-JIJI
Japan trailed 19-17 firstly of the second earlier than going up 20-19 on Hawkinson’s layup.
With guards Tominaga and Yuki Kawamura main the cost, they started extending the lead because the African aspect struggled to defend within the open court docket.
Having completed third in Okinawa-based Group E with a 1-2 report, Japan received each of its video games within the match’s classification spherical to find out Seventeenth-Thirty second place.
Solely China and Lebanon remained in rivalry to problem for Asia’s sole direct Olympic berth coming into the ultimate day of the 17-32 classification spherical.
Yuta Watanabe in motion with Cape Verde’s Edy Tavares
| REUTERS
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