Ramas called a timeout.
If he did not call one now, they would lose more than just this game—they would lose Rui Hachimura's confidence and the future of Japan Basketball!
When play resumed, Rui Hachimura was subbed out to rest, while Makoto Hiejima came off the bench!
Japan Team actually went with a One Big Four Small Lineup!
The lineup was baffling, but it proved surprisingly effective. On their first possession, Makoto Hiejima drove and kicked it out to Yuta Watanabe, who knocked down a mid-range jumper to finally break Japan Team's scoring drought.
And the greater purpose of this lineup showed itself on the defensive end. Whenever China Team had the ball, they trapped them. Whenever Tang Tian had it, they even sent a three-person double team!
They were using the speed advantage of their smaller players, trying to take help defense and trapping to the extreme!
But it was utterly useless. Trapped by three defenders, Tang Tian fired a Look-away Pass straight to Ding Yanyuhang cutting down the middle, and Ding Yanyuhang slammed it through with both hands.
Japan Team failed to score on their next possession. When Tang Tian brought the ball up again, Japan Team no longer dared to send three defenders at him.
But even against a two-man trap, Tang Tian effortlessly hit a turnaround fadeaway!
The two short Japanese players in front of him might as well have been air!
66-41!
The third quarter was not even over yet, but China Team had already extended the lead to 25 points!
Despair spread through every Japanese person in the arena.
If they had been playing USA Team like last year, they would have known they had no chance and would certainly have fought without fear.
But the problem was that they had battled China Team