Reigning champions Japan reveal their final roster for Sydney
TOKYO (Japan) - Chasing a sixth FIBA Women's Asia Cup title in a row, reigning champions Japan have announced the 12 players who will be tasked with fulfiling that mission at the 2023 edition in Sydney.
TOKYO (Japan) - Chasing a sixth FIBA Women's Asia Cup title in a row, reigning champions Japan have announced the 12 players who will be tasked with fulfiling that mission at the 2023 edition in Sydney.
The FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2021 MVP Himawari Akaho is one of the leading figures and her combination of know-how and defense will lay the foundation for their bid to hold onto their cherished silverware.
Japan roster for the FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2023
Himawari Akaho | Azusa Asahina | Saki Hayashi | Aika Hirashita |
Anri Hoshi | Stephanie Mawuli | Nako Motohashi | Monica Okoye |
Maki Takada | Nanako Todo | Saori Miyazaki | Mai Yamamoto |
She's joined in the All-Star Five by Saori Miyazaki who put up a spectacular 26 points and 11 assists in the last Final. Meanwhile the extraordinary three-point firepower of Saki Hayashi will be welcomed, with Maki Takada likely to be an anchor inside.
The last time that Japan were in Sydney for the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 they under performed and will want to put that right. They have the tools to do it, even without star ballers Rui Machida and Ramu Tokashiki.
The team will be turning something of a page with four players born on or after the year 2000, including the likes of Aika Hirashita and Nanako Todo, who have both already shown they can perform at this level.
FIBA