TOKYO (Japan) - Japan were the darlings of the Asian Qualifiers, but they will be severe underdogs when they plunge into action at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup in China.

Japan were one of the hottest teams in Asia in the Qualifiers, rattling off 8 straight wins after losing their first 4 games en route to finishing 3rd in Group F and successfully qualifying to the World Cup.

"We are very excited to compete in the World Cup and to show the world that Japan have a competitive national team."Yuta Watanabe

Their reward? Being in a helluva tough group together with 17th ranked Turkey, 24th ranked Czech Republic and no less than defending champions United States.

Despite that, rising star Yuta Watanabe, who is expected to be among the stalwarts for Team Akatsuki at the World Cup, is upbeat about Japan's fortunes at the quadrennial event.

"That is a very competitive group, that is true, but we are going to embrace the experience and play at our best level to show that we can compete in the world stage," he said. "We don’t take anything for granted, and we are going to play against top teams to try to win games and see if we can make it to the next round. We know it’s the world’s stage, but we also know that we won’t come to China just to learn and show up there. We want to have a good campaign."

Those are fighting words from someone who has never played at the World Cup before, but Watanabe has seen a boost in his stock of late, especially after averaging 17.5 points per game in the Asian Qualifiers and debuting for the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA.

Looking back at Japan's qualifying campaign, Watanabe cannot help but swell with pride at how they overcame the odds and gave their raucous fans a big reason to rejoice.

"It was not easy to get your motivation back after four losses, but we are fighters and the guys did not want to give up and kept playing hard in order to turn things around," he explained. "We had an amazing game against Australia at home, and the confidence started to come back. Winning so many games consecutively helps gaining more confidence and puts the team in a great momentum, so we did a great job by qualifying for the World Cup. It’s such a great sign of our mental strength, and we want to keep that philosophy, that mindset for a long time."

The odds will be stacked against them even more in China, though, especially with only the top 2 teams advancing to the next round. For Japan to finish among the top 2, they have to spring not just 1, but at least 2 huge upsets on the biggest stage of international hoops. That's easier said than done, of course, but their less-than-ideal prospects haven't dampened Watanabe's excitement one bit.

"Nobody said it would be easy, but we will give all of our energy and passion on the court for every game," he declared. "We are very excited to compete in the World Cup and to show the world that Japan have a competitive national team."

The 24-year-old 6ft 9in (2.06m) forward has seen action at the senior level of the world stage before, playing 2 games in the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, Serbia, one of which was against the Czechs, but Watanabe is aiming for a much better showing this time around. It goes without saying, too, that he is committed to ensuring his spot on the final roster for Japan.

"It’s not often that we have the opportunity to compete in a tournament like this one, and I would like to be part of the team that is going to represent our country in China," he said. "I know that a lot of players can make the final roster, but I am going to work hard in order to be in the last 12 guys that are going to be in China 2019."

Watanabe believes that 2 main factors that have positively affected the national team are the system employed by head coach Julio Lamas and their balance of young talents and seasoned veterans.

"Coach Lamas brings his expertise and his experience to all of us, and we have been learning so much by working with him and his staff," Watanabe explained. "He is one of the reasons why we got qualified for the FIBA World Cup. And we also have such a great group of guys, with a good balance between young guys that are eager to improve and veterans that are very impactful and important for the group, both on and off the court. We really have a good chemistry, and the team unity is one of our strengths, as we fight and play as one."

One of those young guys, Rui Hachimura, has been billed as a future star not just in Japan but perhaps even in the NBA, and teaming up with him at the World Cup is a prospect that has so many fans salivating. Watanabe knows much of Japan's future rests on his and Hachimura's collective shoulders, and they are aware they must set good examples for the rest of Japan.

"We all want Japan to shine at the highest level and have people back in Japan see that everything is possible," he shared. "I am excited to help Japanese basketball and I am trying to be a good example for my fellow compatriots, and show them that we can reach our dreams and play in the NBA. Rui is a very talented player and I am very happy to see him do so well so far, and having him play in the best league in the world and representing Japan this summer is going to be amazing for our country."

FIBA