OKINAWA – Yuta Watanabe took pride in Japan’s determined performance against Australia in their do-or-die clash at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 on Tuesday night.
However, the star forward refuses to settle for any moral victory, as he believes that the loss should serve as a reminder of what they need to accomplish if the program aims to compete with, let alone defeat, some of the world’s best teams.
“I think our standard [should be] higher — I mean, that’s what we have to do, especially that we want to beat those types of countries,” Watanabe offered moments after their 109-89 loss at the Okinawa Arena here.
The hosts entered the clash against Australia with sky-high morale. Just two nights prior, they had secured a thrilling 98-88 comeback victory against Finland, marking their first-ever win against a European team. This victory not only eliminated Finland from title contention but also kept Japan’s Second Round hopes alive with a 1-1 record.
However, they were met by the formidable Boomers. Led by Xavier Cooks, Coach Brian Goorjian’s team established an early lead, which extended to a 27-point advantage at one juncture.
Nonetheless, the home team refused to surrender. Echoing shades of their spirited comeback against the Finns, they managed to narrow the deficit to as few as 13 points with just four minutes remaining in the game.
Yet, this marked the closest they would come, as Josh Giddey assumed control and netted seven consecutive points, firmly sealing the victory.
As the final buzzer sounded, the Australians (2-1) secured their place in the Second Round, relegating their opponents to the classification rounds.
Watanabe commended the efforts of Akatsuki Japan but simultaneously lamented the inability to play with intensity for only 20 minutes and expect a turnaround.
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“In the first half they outworked us, cutting, getting all the rebounds, all the 50-50 balls. That can’t happen. That’s what we talked about at halftime. In the second half we did what we’re supposed to do,” the Phoenix Sun said.
“I’m really proud of us, with our effort and everything. But we still gotta do it for 40 minutes. Twenty minutes is not enough,” he furthered.
Securing a podium finish is no longer attainable following this loss, yet Watanabe and his teammates are not wavering. The journey continues, he confirmed.
Moreover, the goal of the 2024 Paris Olympics remains within reach. If they emerge as the top-performing Asian team in the ongoing World Cup, they can secure qualification.
“Australia, obviously, they are the No. 3 team in the world. We want to beat them. So to do that, we gotta set the standard higher, expectations higher, and we’re gonna work harder every day and do everything we have to do,” he affirmed.
