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Japan Forward
06-08-2025
- Sport
- Japan Forward
FIBA Asia Cup: Japan Hammers Syria in the Teams' Opener
Josh Hawkinson scored 26 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the FIBA Asia Cup game, Keisei Tominaga poured in 18 points and Japan dominated the second half. Japan guard Keisei Tominaga shoots a 3-pointer as head coach Tom Hovasse looks on in a 2025 FIBA Asia Cup game against Syria on August 6 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (©FIBA) After an up-and-down performance in the first half, Japan rebounded with an improved effort at both ends of the floor in the second half. As a result, Japan trounced Syria 99-68 in the teams' opening match at the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup on Wednesday, August 6. Syria led 41-32 at halftime. World No 21 Japan then outscored Syria 67-27 in the third and fourth quarters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Veteran big man Josh Hawkinson led Japan with 26 points and 13 rebounds, along with four assists and two blocks. He had 20 points after intermission to ignite his team to victory. Japan's Keisei Tominaga finished with 18 points and six rebounds, and Hirotaka Yoshii also had a productive game, contributing 17 points, four rebounds, five assists and two steals. Yoshii was 3-for-3 on 3-point attempts. Yuki Togashi came off the bench and sank 3 of 5 3-point attempts to account for his nine points, and Ren Kanechika contributed eight points. After committing eight turnovers in the first half, Japan coach Tom Hovasse's squad only had two more giveaways the rest of the game. Josh Hawkinson had a double-double (26 points, 13 rebounds) against Syria. (©FIBA) What was Hovasse's message to his players at halftime? "Basically, it was just, 'Let's play our style of basketball,' " Hovasse said after the game. "We kind of got out of sync [in the first half] and we weren't doing the small things that we normally do," he acknowledged. Japan had a more cohesive effort after its halftime pep talk. Looking back at the game, Hovasse commended Yoshii, who also competes as a small forward for the San-en NeoPhoenix. Hovasse credited Yoshii's impactful play as a key to the win, citing the energy he brought onto the court. Another key factor was Yudai Baba's defensive effort on Syria guard Keron DeShields. "DeShields is a great player, and Baba took it upon himself to really take that challenge and he did fantastic," Hovasse commented. Japan faces Iran in another Group B group phase game on Friday. Akatsuki Japan improved its all-time record in the FIBA Asia Cup against Syria to 4-1. It was the teams' first tournament showdown since Japan routed Syria 117-56 in July 2022 in Jakarta. In the runaway victory in Jeddah, Japan made 14 of 32 3s and held 71st-ranked Syria to 3-for-11 from beyond the arc. DeShields paced Syria with 21 points, but was held to four points in the second half. The Baltimore native also had eight rebounds and seven assists. Christian James Maran and Omar Cheikh Ali added 14 and 10 points for Syria. Syria guard Keron DeShields shoots a layup in the first half. (©FIBA) In the first half, "the players really locked in and did what we asked them to do," Syria coach Joey Stiebling told reporters after the game. The American-born bench boss said Japan made adjustments at halftime, and "we tried to make adjustments but we just couldn't execute defensively, and we gave up 66 points in the second half." DeShields said, "When we turned the ball over, they got going because they feed off of that." The difference, he noted, "was turnovers and transition defense." Up next: Syria will play Guam on Friday. Japan forward Hirotaka Yoshii runs the offense against Syria. (©FIBA) Japan erased Syria's halftime advantage with a tone-setting 12-0 run, including eight straight points by Yoshii, to open the third quarter. A Hawkinson layup gave Japan a 42-41 lead at the 8:08 mark. Yoshii delivered the assist. "Those first two minutes coming out of halftime, I think, were the big key to the game," Hawkinson said. "I think that calmed us down," he added, saying, "we played our style of basketball in the second half." Syria trimmed Japan's six-point lead to 51-47 on a pair of free throws with about 4 minutes remaining in the third quarter. Japan responded by pulling away. A Koya Kawamata putback put his team ahead 60-49. And entering the fourth quarter, Syria trailed 60-51. Moments later, Hovasse's squad initiated a 13-0 scoring spurt. It started with a Yoshii layup and ended with a Tominaga step-back 3-pointer, giving Japan a 73-53 advantage with 7:56 left. Repeatedly scoring in transition and utilizing its speed, Japan was in control at that point and maintained its sizable lead for the rest of the game. Japan point guard Kai Toews competes against Syria. (©FIBA) In the early going, Japan jumped out to a 9-0 lead. A Tominaga layup and free throw capped the game-opening run. Syria scored its first points on a Mohamad Bilal Atli jam at the 6:40 mark of the first quarter. And his team chipped away at the lead while grabbing momentum. At the same time, Japan's turnovers and missed shots helped Syria mount its comeback. DeShields sank four free throws on back-to-back possessions to cut the lead to 14-12. Togashi drained a 3-pointer on the final shot of the opening stanza and Japan led 18-12 heading into the second quarter. DeShields dominated on offense, sparking Syria to a 30-22 lead on a high-arcing 3-point shot with 6:37 to play until halftime. Seconds later, teammate Hani Adribi followed with a layup to give Syria a 10-point advantage. Although Japan still trailed by nine points at halftime, Hovasse said later the team's defensive effort began to make an impact toward the end of the first half. Australia is the reigning FIBA Asia Cup champion. The event, previously known as the FIBA Asia Championship, was rebranded as the FIBA Asia Cup in 2017. In Saudi Arabia, the 2025 edition of the tournament features 16 national teams and runs through August 17. Author: Ed Odeven Find Ed on JAPAN Forward' s dedicated website, SportsLook . Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven .
Japan Forward
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Japan Forward
Ryusei Sasaki Raises Game to Greater Heights
With Ryusei Sasaki serving as captain and leading the in assists, the San-en NeoPhoenix have won 45 of 55 games in the 2024-25 season. San-en NeoPhoenix guard Ryusei Sasaki, seen in action against the Yokohama B-Corsairs on April 23, 2025, at Yokohama Buntai, is the leader in assists in the 2024-25 season. (© In his fifth full season as a pro basketball player, Ryusei Sasaki has elevated his game, becoming one of the premier playmakers in the The San-en NeoPhoenix veteran, who plays both backcourt positions, leads the 24-team league in assists (6.5 per game). His stellar play as the top passer is a major reason why San-en (45-10) won its second straight Central Conference title on Wednesday night, April 23 at Yokohama Buntai. With Sasaki distributing the ball with confidence and gravitas, it's also a big part of why the NeoPhoenix are No 1 in two key offensive categories: scoring (91.2 points per game) and assists (22.6). The NeoPhoenix ended a three-game losing streak on Wednesday, topping the Yokohama B-Corsairs 82-77. Sasaki didn't have a great game ― six points on 2-for-8 shooting, six assists, six turnovers, two steals ― but he exudes confidence in his teammates whenever he's on the court. And that's been a recurring theme throughout the season. On a team with four key passers in 2023-24, the NeoPhoenix had a sensational season, winning 46 of 60 games. Last year's San-en squad relied on Sota Oura (5.2 assists), Coty Clarke (4.8), Thirdy Ravena (3.0) and Sasaki (3.0) to distribute the basketball. (Then they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, falling to the Hiroshima Dragonflies, the eventual champions.) Offseason roster moves followed. Clarke joined the Shimane Susanoo Magic, and Ravena moved on to play for Dubai Basketball. The departure of both players opened the door for Sasaki, 28, to assume a bigger role as a playmaker this season. And he's having an excellent season. (The playoffs tip off on May 9.) Ryusei Sasaki has canned 117 3-pointers this season. He's shooting 37.3% from beyond the arc. ( The NeoPhoenix are a well-balanced offensive team. Five players have double-digit scoring averages, with former NBA guard/forward David Nwaba leading the way with 17.3, followed by Yante Maten's 15.0. Japan national team fan favorite Hirotaka Yoshii (11.4) is also among the top five in scoring, providing a consistent spark in his 20 minutes per game. Sasaki is averaging 11.4 points and shooting 62.2% from 2-point range. Opposing defenders must respect his passing skills and his shooting touch, especially in the paint where he's most effective (including a jaw-dropping 23 of 34 from close range). But don't forget that he's averaging more assists than reigning MVP DJ Newbill of the Utsunomiya Brex (6.2), Kai Toews of the Alvark Tokyo (5.9), Anthony Clemmons of the Sunrockers Shibuya (5.6), Yuta Okada of the Kyoto Hannaryz (5.6) and Yuki Togashi of the Chiba Jets (5.1). Sasaki has had seven or more assists in 30 games to date. In road wins over the SeaHorses Mikawa on October 12 and 13, 2024, the Yamaguchi Prefecture native dished out a season-high 12 assists in both games. Looking back, Sasaki acknowledged there were lessons to be learned from the team's early playoff exit in May 2024. Ups and downs this season, including a first-division record 22-game winning streak (halted by the Eastern Conference champion Brex on March 22) and the recent three-game skid, have also given Sasaki a deeper understanding of the team's psyche. "Our winning percentage proves that what we've done so far hasn't been wrong," Sasaki said, according to Basket Count. "We'll continue doing what's good and change what needs to be changed." Ryusei Sasaki ( Although Sasaki didn't compete for Team Japan at the 2024 Paris Olympics, he accompanied the team to France and closely observed the competition. The 12-nation tournament featuring NBA superstars and abundant overall talent made a lasting impression on Sasaki. "Watching the world's top players and seeing how they approach the game and the intensity with which they play defense was a plus for me," Sasaki said, according to Basket Count. "I was particularly impressed by the Serbian national team, which I played against in a training match before the Olympics. I have to learn from that, and I would like to incorporate it [into my game]." He also admitted in October that observing Jets stars Yuta Watanabe and Togashi serving leadership roles for Akatsuki Japan was beneficial for him. Sasaki summed up how the veteran duo handled being national team captains this way: "They take care of a lot of things," Basket Count reported. Ryusei Sasaki made his debut with the Osaka Evessa in February 2019. ( In San-en's season-opening game on October 5 against the Ryukyu Golden Kings, Sasaki sank a clutch 3-pointer with 36 seconds remaining in overtime to extend the NeoPhoenix's lead to 95-90. San-en prevailed 96-92 in a clash of title contenders, and Sasaki finished with 11 points and a game-high nine assists. After the game, NeoPhoenix head coach Atsushi Ono spoke about Sasaki's role as an on-court leader for the team. "This is our third year together, and he is becoming more and more aware of [his role] without me having to tell him," Ono told reporters at Okinawa Arena. "At the end of the game, he hit the shot with confidence. It wasn't so much whether the shot went in or not, but the process of making the shot was the best part of the game." It was a satisfying victory, according to Sasaki. "One of the positives was that we were able to persevere as a team," he commented after the OT triumph. "We can play better basketball if we focus on ourselves and not on our opponents." In San-en's positive start to the 204-25 season, Sasaki pointed out that he enjoys being called upon to play alongside Oura in the backcourt, moving to shooting guard in such situations. NeoPhoenix guard Sota Oura has come off the bench in each of the team's 55 games this season. ( "I am aware that it is our weapon for Oura [at the point] and I to play as the two guard at important moments," he said. He continued: "Personally, I aim to be a player who can do it when times are tough," Sasaki was quoted as saying by Basket Count. "It's great to be trusted to go out on the court there, and it's easy to do." Sasaki made his pro debut with the Osaka Evessa in the 2018-19 campaign, appearing in eight games while still enrolled as a student at Tenri University. He appeared in two games for the second division's Kumamoto Volters the next season. In 2020-21, as a full-time rookie, he contributed 9.1 points and 2.3 assists for the Volters in 53 games. He then averaged 8.1 and 3.9 in 54 games the next season for Kumamoto. In his first season in B1 with the NeoPhoenix, Sasaki provided 11.0 points and 4.2 assists in 2022-23. He demonstrated game after game that he could be a dependable playmaker and run the offense with poise and consistency in Japan's top flight. Sasaki continued to demonstrate those traits in San-en's notable 2023-24 campaign and throughout the current season. As a persistent reminder of his vital role on the team, you'll hear the public-address announcer call out his name many times each game, informing the crowd that Ryusei Sasaki has chalked up another assist. (And this March 2025 highlight reel video provides an illuminating review of his passing skills.) Author: Ed Odeven Find Ed on JAPAN Forward' s dedicated website, SportsLook . Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven .
