Japan's Basketball Team Successfully Secures Olympic 2024 Ticket

Tokyo – Japan becomes the best Asian team in the 2023 FIBA World Cup with three wins and two losses, which also made the team secure a ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Certainty to Paris was obtained by the Japanese Basketball Team after defeating Cape Verde with a score of 80-71 in the Group O preliminary match at Okinawa Arena Japan, on Saturday. 

Previously, Japan had also defeated Venezuela on Thursday in Group O. In the first round group phase, Japan also packed one win from Finland.

"I think we showed the world what we can do. Now that we are on everyone's radar, we are on the map for the whole team. It's a big step," said Japan Head Coach Tom Hovasse.

In the match against Cape Verde, Japan's Joshua Hawkinson posted 29 points and 7 rebounds. Japan was also helped by Keisei Tominaga who scored 22 points, and Yuki Kawamura 14 points.

The match against Cape Verde was full of tension. Japan, which was already 20 points ahead, was caught up with only three points left, 74-71 with 1 minute 12 seconds remaining.

But Japan's big man who is also a naturalized player Joshua Hawkinson became the savior of his team to ensure the 2024 Olympic ticket by scoring six points, three of which were scored from long-range shots.

Apart from Japan, countries that also get tickets to the Paris Olympics through the 2023 FIBA World Cup route include South Sudan. Egypt and New Zealand have the opportunity to play at the Olympics but must participate in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament along with the teams that qualified in the Olympic Prequalification competition.

After Japan, the second-best Asian team in the 2023 FIBA World Cup is Lebanon with two wins. The Philippines are third with only one win.