Japan completed an amazing turnaround to qualify for the basketball World Cup on Sunday, Nick Fazekas keying an eighth straight win that punched the team's ticket to China.

The U.S.-born Fazekas poured in 20 points and dominated the glass, finishing with 19 rebounds, as Japan closed out a 96-48 win over Qatar in Doha.

After a slow start to qualification in which Japan lost its first four games, the win means the team known at home as the Akatsuki Five will travel to China later in the year for the tournament pitting the world's top-32 teams against each other.

By qualifying, the men's team also strengthened its case for a place at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, with the sport's governing body making a decision on whether to award it a host nation place in March.

"I am a really happy coach today, (happy) that we go to the World Cup in September," said Japan's Argentinian coach Julio Lamas.

"This is very good for Japan basketball, for the young players of Japan basketball. The opportunity to compete with the best gives them a chance to improve."

"When we started by losing the first four games they...worked hard and when Nick came to the team, and we had a few games with (Rui) Hachimura and (Yuta) Watanabe, we started a new time for the team. To make the World Cup in China, I am very happy."

Despite missing its young U.S.-based stars Hachimura and Watanabe in Qatar, the 33-year-old veteran Fazekas showed Japan could still deliver on the offensive end, but he was ably backed by his teammates.

Makoto Hiejima again proved his worth with 12 points, on 5-for-6 from the floor and 2-for-2 from three, and four assists, while Naoto Tsuji and Yudai Baba both made contributions from the bench, tallying 12 and 11 points, respectively.

"When I first joined this team we were 0-4 and we've won eight in a row since. We have needed every single one of them to advance to the World Cup," said Fazekas, who averaged a tournament-high 27.2 points per game across the qualifiers.

"It is hard to put into words, you know, I have never had a chance to play in anything like this. Coach Lamas has told me what a special experience it is and how much fun the World Cup is going to be, and for us to get there it is just great for the country of Japan."

After taking the lead against Qatar early, Japan never looked back, outscoring the Middle Eastern squad in each quarter.

At halftime Japan was up 42-25 and in an unassailable spot, but was not keen to give the home team a look-in, blowing them away with a 22-9 third quarter which at one point allowed them to build a lead of 48.

"Today, we were able to make shots," said Fazekas. "When we are able to get stops on defense we are able to get out in transition and that's what we are good at."

Lamas, 54, pointed to the team's outside shooting as a major catalyst to its recent success. The team shot 50 and 56 percent from deep in the final two qualifiers against Iran and Qatar.

"The players were very good in their shooting percentage in both games, and had a high percentage in three-point shots," he said.

"Because the threes are good and we are in good dynamics we have more confidence than a few months ago and this situation helps."