From the outset, Japan showed signs of fatigue as a double-digit deficit signaled an early goodbye. Point guard Asahi Yamamoto was out with a concussion and the outside defense was in disarray, making Japan look out of their depth against Germany.
Looking back at Belgium's loss in the Paris Olympics, Armand's unexpected injury was key. His absence left Belgium's attack without a soul and the organization in shambles.
Sabaly's woes seemed to stem from an inside confrontation, but in fact exposed a weakness on the outside. Japan started the game with consecutive inaccuracies, a clear disadvantage on the outside, and nothing to do on the offensive end, while Belgium easily opened the gap.
Isao Kawamura's performance was a highlight, but even so, Japan shot a lowly 20 percent from three-point range, and Belgium's perimeter was equally problematic.
At the end of the first quarter, Belgium was leading 19:7 and there was no way back for Japan. Belgium's 27 wins almost declared the Chinese women's basketball team out of the tournament.
In the second quarter, Belgium combined inside and outside to extend its lead to 16 points after halftime. As the difference in points continued to grow, the confidence of Chinese fans was shaken, fearing that Belgium could win Japan by 26 points, thus allowing the Chinese women's basketball team to say goodbye early.
Today's game was a mirror image of the World Preliminary Round match between Singapore and Thailand. The Chinese fans have very little support for Singapore, just like what is expected of the Japanese women's basketball team at the moment.
Belgium extended the difference to 22 points in the third quarter and the Chinese women's basketball team was in trouble. Halfway through the fourth quarter, Belgium led by 27 points, and Japan had no way back.
Japan's choice was to neither attack nor allow their opponents to score, eventually defeating their opponents by a huge margin of 28 points and advancing to the last eight.
A strong performance by Belgium meant that the Chinese women's basketball team effectively said goodbye to the tournament.The battle for third place in Group B, which will follow the established pattern, is a worrying prospect for the Chinese women's basketball team.
Brother Sunny's coconut milk rice also seems to have lost its old flavor. The basketball celebrity's expectations of the Chinese women's basketball team seem both cute and innocent.
Aug. 4, the day Chinese basketball suffered a real blow, as it did 33 years ago on Nov. 30, when the Chinese men's soccer team lost against New Zealand and has been passive ever since.
It was Japanese basketball that started it all today, bringing more pain to Chinese fans.
The battle between Belgium and Japan will have minimal impact on the Chinese women's basketball team. In fact, the Chinese women's basketball team has already buried the hatchet with an overtime loss to Spain in their first game.
The decorated guard of the World Cup runner-up will not bow down easily, but today's loss puts the shame on Zheng Wei and the Chinese women's basketball team she leads.
May this not be the beginning of Chinese basketball going soccer.
