Rui Hachimura praises improvements as Japan's Olympic dreams end with third straight loss
Japan bow out with three defeats in three games as Rui Hachimura
Basketball
With three defeats in as many games, Rui Hachimura and Japan received a rude welcome back to the Olympic Games after a 45-year absence.
But the face of Japanese basketball is convinced his country are still on the right track.
"The result was very disappointing but I feel we're improving as a team", Hachimura said on Sunday (1 August) following a 97-77 loss at the hands of Argentina.
"This is only our second time to play at an international competition, and I think we were better than we were at the World Cup. We will work harder towards the next World Cup - and the Olympics".
Japan lost to Spain in their first game and Slovenia in the second. Neither games were close.
Hachimura on Sunday plugged in a team-high 39 minutes and had a double-double with 13 points, 11 rebounds.
Japan were only down 46-38 at the break but Argentina, paced by 40-year-old Luis Scola's 23 points and 10 boards and a near triple-double of 17-7-11 from Facundo Campazzo, pulled away in the second half.
Hachimura's first win at the Games will have to wait until Paris 2024.
Japan: Work to be done
The Washington Wizards forward recognises Japan have some catching up to do but remains optimistic about the direction of the team.
After all, he is only 23 and fellow NBA-er and captain Watanabe Yuta is 26. Japan's group at these Games would not have been easy for any country and head coach Julio Lamas can take solace in the fact that while his team were winless, they were not blown out either.
"I believe we still have a long way to go as a team. And I know there is still a huge gap between us and the world's top teams", Hachimura said.
"But I believe we are gaining on them little by little. I hope don't forget that fact and keep striving as a team.
"I was truly excited about playing in Japan. Even though there were no spectators, we were very happy to play in our country and hoping to do the same again.
"The result is disappointing but I believe we'll learn from this experience and become a stronger team".