JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) – For Yudai Baba, the numbers rarely tell the full story. Against Guam, his 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and three triples were part of a comfortable 102-63 win. However, it was the way he carried himself that mattered more.
Baba’s influence has grown beyond the box score. After a frustrating loss to Iran earlier in the group stage, the captain knew his team needed a reset.
"Actually, we wanted to win against Iran, but we couldn’t execute well," he said. "But we came back here. Every game is important for us. Now, it’s the final rounds. We have to prepare for that and we have to win."
It’s that forward-looking focus that has made Baba essential to this squad.
"As a player who has experience, I feel like I have to be the front of the team," he said. "I have to lead the team to the win. No matter who we will play against, I am going to focus on myself and then we’re going to focus on ourselves. If we do that, we’ll be alright."
Head coach Tom Hovasse agrees.
"As one of our team captains, Yudai Baba has been instrumental off the court with his leadership," Hovasse said. "He is very vital, not just on the court, but he gives us stability. I’m really glad and thankful that he is on our team."
That leadership is also showing in how Baba backs his teammates. With veteran Makoto Hiejima unable to join the tournament, young gun Yudai Nishida had stepped into a bigger role, with Baba showing trust in his namesake. Nishida just broke out for 16 points in their win over Guam.
"I think Yudai's going to have a lot of responsibility, but we trust him," Baba said. "We trust what he’s been doing. We’re going to continue to trust him, moving forward."
Now, as Japan heads into the Final Phase, Baba’s value will be tested in the moments that matter most. Whether it’s hitting a timely shot, steadying a possession, or giving younger players the confidence to perform, he’ll be at the front, which is exactly where a captain should be.
FIBA