TOKYO (Japan) - Japan were in high spirits after qualifying to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019, and they wanted a chance to play the best team in the world.

"WHEN WE QUALIFIED TO THE WORLD CUP, A LOT OF OUR PLAYERS SAID THEY WOULD LIKE TO PLAY THE BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD." Shinoyama

They got their wish, but everyone knows know what they say about being careful what one wishes for, right?

At last Saturday's draw for the World Cup, the Akatsuki Five were placed in Group E together with European contenders Turkey and Czech Republic and the seemingly indomitable United States, the two-time reigning world champions.

Any other team may cringe at the prospect of facing Team USA in the group stage, but not Japan, who've been waiting to play the Americans on the biggest stage of international basketball.

"All the other teams in our group are ranked higher than us and I believe we are in one of the hardest groups," remarked Japan Basketball Association (JBA) President Yuko Mitsuya. "On the other hand, we are somehow 'lucky' to meet USA, which our players have been dreaming to play against, and I was delighted to know we are in the same group! I am sure playing against one of the best teams in the world will surely give Japanese basketball a huge asset."

 
Japan will certainly be the underdogs in this group, but that role is nothing new for them. Remember that this same team opened their Asian Qualifiers by losing their first four games before running the table in their final eight assignments in what has been among the most captivating Cinderella story of international basketball.

National team head coach Julio Lamas knows Japan will be in familiar territory when they fly to Shanghai and play in Group E. Sitting at 48th in the FIBA World Ranking Men, presented by NIKE, They are the lowest ranked team in the group and have yet to beat a European team at the World Cup. Still, their resolve is undeterred. In coach Lamas' mind, it's all about getting the right kind of preparation and getting acclimatized to the higher level of competition.

"We have never won against any European team or the USA," said the play caller. "Of course, we don't have enough experiences to play with the teams like them, so first of all, to have good games and to get our team motivated, it is important to prepare well and get ready for the games. By playing against higher ranked teams before the World Cup, I would like to build our team up and get ready."

 
That unassailable fighting spirit permeates through the entire national team, and more so with team captain Ryusei Shinoyama, who had one of most memorable buzzer-beaters of the Qualifiers when his one-handed three-point heave against Qatar found the bottom of the net in the final window.

The 30-year-old national team veteran will play at the World Cup for the first time, and though he acknowledges the challenges, whatever anxiety he harbors is overcome with excitement. For him, the most important element is representing their fans well and living up to their new national team motto - "Japan as One!"

 
"When we qualified to the World Cup, a lot of our players said they would like to play against the best team in the world," he shared. "That has come true, and we will face USA in our group. I am so thrilled. We truly hope our fans will support us all the way in China. We will surely do our best - 'Japan as One!'"

Japan first face Turkey on 1 September before playing the Czechs on 3 September. The Japanese will close their group play against Team USA on 5 September, with all Group E matches held at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center.

FIBA