Rui Hachimura and the Japanese National Team knew that weathering Group E at this year's FIBA World Cup would be a tough test for the growing basketball nation. On Tuesday in Shanghai, they held their own against the Czech Republic in their second game of the tournament, falling 89-76. Hachimura tallied a team-high 21 points (six rebounds, four assists) on 8-of-12 shooting to lead the valiant Japanese effort.
Former Wizard Tomas Satoransky’s 15 points and seven assists marshaled the Czechs to their first-ever FIBA World Cup victory. His supporting cast of Jaromir Bohacik and Black Schilb tallied 22 points apiece, with the duo accounting for 10 of the Czechs’ 11 3-pointers on the night.