FIBA World Cup 2023: Watanabe Yuta headlines Japan's 12 for Okinawa
Coach Tom Hovasse names his dozen for the co-hosts of the 25 August-10 September tournament ahead of Japan's final tune-ups vs Angola, France and Slovenia this week.
Basketball
Japan named their 12 for the 25 August-10 September FIBA World Cup 2023 on Monday (14 August).
Barring injury, coach Tom Hovasse has decided on his team for Okinawa where the tournament co-hosts will take on Germany (25 August), Finland (27 August) and Australia (29 August) in the group phase.
“After the scrimmage against Angola two days ago, I made the decision on the 12,” Hovasse told reporters in Tokyo following practice.
“We only have 11 more days before it all starts. There was a lot of pressure for a long time on everyone trying to make the cut. I know it was really stressful. But everyone today seemed a bit lighter in practice today, more calm.
“From here on it comes down to details. I want to build the best team I possibly can. I think we have a great group who passed the survival of the fittest.”
There were no glaring omissions or surprise packages among the squad. Japan will be led by one NBA player, the Phoenix Suns’ Watanabe Yuta, and captain Togashi Yuki.
They will be counting on the world-class shooting touch of Tominaga Keisei and averaging 1.92 metres in height, will look to push, push and push the ball a la the Sacramento Kings.
At the last World Cup in 2019, Japan lost all three first-round games to USA, the Czech Republic and Turkey. They were swept again at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, losing to Slovenia, Spain and Argentina in a tough group.
Japan will be looking to punch their ticket to Paris 2024 through this World Cup by finishing as the top Asian team.
Hovasse's men have three more friendlies this week against Angola on Tuesday, France on Thursday and then Luka Doncic and Slovenia on Saturday to ready themselves for the Germany game, which Japan have marked as their most important game.
“This is a huge responsibility,” Watanabe said. “There are players who want to be here but can’t. We have a lot of support. We’re not playing just for ourselves.
“Our goal is to get to Paris. Obviously it’s not entirely up to us because it hinges on other results but it doesn’t change what we need to - take it one game at a time and try to go through.
“If we hold up our end of the bargain, we won’t need to worry about anything else.”
Team Japan
Guards
Togashi Yuki
Kawamura Yuki
Hiejima Makoto
Baba Yuta
Nishida Yudai
Tominaga Keisei
Forwards
Watanabe Yuta
Hara Shuta
Yoshii Hirotaka
Inoue Soichiro
Centres
Josh Hawkinson
Kawamata Koya