Japan’s Men’s Basketball Team Gears Up for Olympics with Win Over South Korea
The Japanese men’s basketball team is gearing up for the Olympic Games in Paris, and their latest win over South Korea is a promising sign of things to come. In an 88-80 victory, center Josh Hawkinson led the team with an impressive 34 points and 14 rebounds.
Hawkinson dominates the court
This win comes after a surprising 85-84 loss to South Korea in the first game of their two-game exhibition series. However, Japan bounced back strong, taking control of the game in the third quarter after leading 43-39 at halftime.
Kawamura throws a pass during the game
Despite the absence of Japan’s two biggest stars, Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura and former NBA swingman Yuta Watanabe, the team showed great promise. They will face stiffer competition in their upcoming games against reigning FIBA Basketball World Cup champion Germany and fourth-ranked Serbia.
Team Japan celebrates their win
Japan’s head coach Tom Hovasse will be looking to fine-tune his team’s performance before the Olympic Games, which take place from July 26 to August 11. With this win, Japan is one step closer to making a strong impression in Paris.
“We’re feeling confident about our chances in the Olympics,” said Hawkinson in a post-game interview. “We’ve got a great team dynamic and we’re all working together towards our goal.”
The Olympic rings symbolize the team’s aspirations
Japan will face Germany on July 19 and Serbia on July 21 in their final warm-up games before the Olympics. With their sights set on the top prize, Team Japan is ready to take on the world.
