Makoto Hiejima had a fluctuating performance in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 in Okinawa, but he reserved his most impressive scoring output for a much-needed 86-77 victory over Venezuela. This win brought Japan to the brink of securing back-to-back Olympic appearances.
Venezuela seemed to have the game within their grasp as they established a 68-53 lead with a little over eight minutes remaining in the final period.
However, Hiejima, who plays for Utsunomiya, almost single-handedly revitalized Japan’s chances. He scored 14 points, including three three-pointers, during a 23-6 run that gave Japan a slim 76-74 lead with less than two minutes to go.
The 33-year-old shooting guard then delivered the decisive three-pointer, extending Japan’s lead to 82-77 with 47 seconds left. He concluded the game with 23 points, shooting 6-of-7 from beyond the arc, and contributed two rebounds and two steals.
“Makoto should be here but I know he can’t speak English because he played in Australia,” quipped Yuta Watanabe, who had 21 points and eight rebounds in the game.
Head coach Tom Hovasse praised Hiejima’s exceptional scoring performance and impressive resilience in bouncing back from a subpar showing against Australia in their final group stage match.
“He recognized that our scoring was lacking, and he took it upon himself to create opportunities. He excelled against Finland, and he demonstrated it again tonight. It didn’t work out against Australia, but that’s the kind of determination he possesses,” Hovasse commented on Hiejima’s performance against Venezuela.
“After an underwhelming performance in the previous game, he stepped up and ignited the court. All credit to him. He truly energized our team and shifted the momentum in our favor.”
(C) FIBA.basketball
Hovasse wasn’t surprised by Hiejima’s three-point outburst, as he has been one of Japan’s most consistent shooters in this tournament, boasting a 43% success rate from long range.
The American coach expressed gratitude to his players for maintaining their belief in their system, even when facing a significant deficit.
“It took a lot of courage for the players to stick with our game plan.
“It wasn’t effective for about three quarters. Yuta (Watanabe) began heating up, which forced their defense to spread out a bit. Then Mako (Hiejima) entered the game and started lighting it up. When you have two players heating up within this system, it really opens up the court,” he stated.
This victory propelled Japan ahead of their continental rivals in the race to the 2024 Paris Olympics, making them the sole Asian team with two wins in the World Cup thus far.
Another victory against Cape Verde on Saturday will formalize Japan’s spot in next year’s Olympics.
