China faces a do-or-die basketball matchup against Chinese Taipei after an embarrassing 92-73 loss to Japan in the Asian Cup qualifiers on home soil on Friday.
The men’s 19-point loss at Liaoning Gymnasium was China’s first at home to Japan in any official Fiba-level match in 88 years.
It was also the team’s third loss in five group matches, and with China bottom of the four-team table, they now need a win against Chinese Taipei on Monday to qualify for the second round.
Chinese social media users were tight-lipped about what they thought of the team after their loss to Japan who played without two of their key players, Rui Hachimura and Yuki Kawamura, who both played in the NBA last season.
“No organization, no teamwork, no scoring, no defense, no fighting spirit,” one commentator said.
“Like the Chinese men’s football team, the Chinese men’s basketball team has many problems and there is no hope ahead,” the netizen said.
