Nick Fazekas has said he would welcome one of his Japan teammates stepping into the limelight.
But as usual, it was he who came through, becoming the biggest factor in the Akatsuki Five's latest victory.
The naturalized Japanese center racked up 41 points and 15 rebounds to lead the men’s national team to an 86-70 win over Kazakhstan before a sold-out crowd of 4,193 at Toyama City Gymnasium on Monday night.