Japan want 2015 to be a launchpad for bigger things

TOKYO (2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - Japan had a very good summer of basketball, and that was not just down to the successful title defence at the FIBA Asia Women's Championship.

No, Japanese basketball, including the team that played at the men's FIBA Asia Championship in Changsha-Hunan, China, had a very good summer.

Not since 1997, when the FIBA Asia Championship was held in Riyadh, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Japan finished runners-up, has the Far East nation been as good as 2015, when they reached the Semi-Finals to clinch a spot in one of next year's FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQTs).

Things did not start that well in the tournament for the Japanese.

They crashed to an 86-48 defeat to Iran in their opener and also lost in their fourth game, 73-66, to the Philippines. 

After that, however, Team Hayabusa got on a roll, winning three straight.

They capped the streak with an 81-67 triumph over Qatar in the Quarter-Finals to seal a place in an OQT.

Kenji Hasegawa's side stayed in the hunt for a spot in the Rio de Janeiro Games.

Even in their next two games, both defeats, they impressed.

The Philippines beat them again, 81-70, and Iran edged them in a battle for third, 68-63.

Japan missed the podium but ended up fourth. The win over Qatar had given them an OQT berth and that was cause for celebration.

Head coach Kenji Hasegawa (JPN)

A good indicator of it not being good enough for the powers that be were the words of head coach Hasegawa, who put the players on notice that he wants to strengthen the team.

"All basketball players with Japanese citizenship have a chance [to make the team]," he said

"We must continue to compete and work hard for a spot on the national team.

"It would be difficult to maintain our position in top four if these 11 players easily make the team again.

"I expect to see new talents and prospects and need to have fresh strengths and depth."

One player that seems to have a role in Japan's bright future is 25-year-old Makoto Hiejima, a 1.90m point guard.

He led the team in scoring at 15.9 points per game.

He poured in 28 against the Philippines in the Semi-Finals and 15 against Iran.

Hiejima knew after the games against the Filipinos and Iran that he could have done much more to help Japan.

"I was scoreless in the fourth quarter [against Iran] and the day before," he said.

"In my mind, I was aware that I am the key player of the team.

"At the end, we lost the game due to the difference of aces [comparing himself to Iran's Samad Nikkhah Bahrami and Philippines star Jayson Castro]."

Hiejima accepts that he needs to rise to the occasion when the game is on the line.

"I still need to develop mental toughness to play a huge role in the fourth quarter," he said.

"I knew that there would be more defensive pressure as it got closer to end of the game and I must make the shots at the crucial time."

So on balance, it was a very good tournament for Japan.

And the recognition is there from all corners that there is room for improvement.

Now Japan have to show they can make that next step.

They'll get a chance to compete against some of the best at an OQT in 2016.

FIBA