Hirashita headlines initial Japan squad for U17 test
TOKYO (FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2018) – Having just missed the FIBA U16 Asia Women’s Championship 2016 title, hopes are high that Japan will shine at the FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup.
TOKYO (FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2018) – Having just missed the FIBA U16 Asia Women’s Championship 2017 title, hopes are high that Japan will shine at the FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup.
Having only missed the Quarter-Finals once, which was at the previous edition in Zaragoza two years ago, it could be Aika Hirashita that propels them back into contention when the action gets underway in Minsk.
| Japan 14-player squad for FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2018 | |||
| Kazu Fujita | Misa Hayashi | Aika Hirashita | Yata Kato |
| Maya McArthur | Norika Morioka | Maika Miura | Yoshinori Nishida |
| Haruka Noda | Sakura Noguchi | Nakamichi Reika | Yu Suzuki |
| Miku Takahashi | Rina Yamaguchi | ||
A standout competitor in Bengaluru last year, she is the headline name from the 14 candidates that have been busy in a preparation camp. Hirashita averaged a team-high 13.2 points in India and could now make a splash on the global stage, having also led in the rebounding category too.
女子U17日本代表：7月21日からベラルーシ・ミンスクで開催される「FIBA U17女子バスケットボールワールドカップ2018」へ向けた強化合宿を実施#AkatsukiFive #FIBAU17
— 日本バスケットボール協会(JBA) (@JAPANBASKETBALL) May 16, 2018
📃女子U17日本代表：ラトビア遠征の課題を整理した第1次強化合宿https://t.co/OfFypAO45z pic.twitter.com/v9SVVdF7hq
She is joined by the highly-rated playmaker Miku Takashiki, with this group of players having already gained valuable experience of playing on European soil after facing Latvia in friendly games.
Japan will tip-off their campaign in Group A, where they will face hosts Belarus, newcomers Columbia and last year’s European U16 champions, France.
FIBA