Rui Hachimura couldn't get going, so Japan Team shifted its offensive focus to Fazekas and Yuta Watanabe, using pick-and-rolls to create driving opportunities for Watanabe.
Lin Yi stood beneath the basket with both hands raised high, towering like a pillar as he contested the shot. Yuta Watanabe's layup failed to go in.
Although defense was not his specialty, Lin Yi knew very well how to make use of his advantages.
Japan Team fell into a scoring drought.
And they could not defend, either.
Lin Yi again went one-on-one against Fazekas under the basket, drawing a Hand-check Foul from him.
In terms of agility, Lin Yi completely outclassed Japan Team's naturalized white player.
Lin Yi made one of two free throws, bringing the score to 38-25. The gap had quietly grown to 13 points.
Yuta Watanabe drove and kicked the ball out in the frontcourt. Fazekas caught it and went up for a layup, drawing a defensive foul from Lin Yi as well.
But when he stepped to the free-throw line, the arena erupted with deafening distractions.
The worst host nation, confirmed!
Amid the noise, Fazekas missed both free throws!
Japan Team still could not score!
Japan Team's Head Coach Ramas rubbed his forehead, already looking somewhat desperate.
Things had been going quite well for more than a quarter, but no one had expected Li Chunjiang to roll out such an odd lineup and completely reverse the momentum.
Tang Tian was simply too absurd. He had previously played from Point Guard to small forward, and now he could even play Power Forward!
But only Ramas lacked experience. Tang Tian had played Power Forward at UConn in the NCAA!
Tang Tian still did not attack on the offensive end. Ding Yanyuhang overpowered Yudai Baba and scored.
The lead had already stretched to