SEREMBAN (Malaysia) - They may have yet to acknowledge their influence, but stars such as Yuki Kawamura are making the younger ones believe that even the shortest of players will always have a place in the game.
Miya Takeuchi is among those.
"I respect and look up to Yuki Kawamura," she said in admiration of her hero. "He has shown that even smaller players can compete on the world stage, and that gives players like me so much courage and hope."
At 1.72 M (5'8"), Kawamura is currently the shortest player in the NBA - he signed a two-way deal with the Chicago Bulls last July - but the fact that he's in the league is proof that talent gets noticed regardless of height.
Now it's Takeuchi who's been turning heads.
Japan have gone undefeated thus far in the ongoing FIBA U16 Women's Asia Cup 2025 and one of the major reasons behind what's turning out to be an impressive campaign for the team is the 1.61 (5'3") PG.
The Ohka Gakuen High School standout is actually their leading scorer right now with 16.3 points - fifth-best in the ongoing competition - on 57.1-percent shooting, alongside 2.7 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 1.3 steals.
I want to keep growing as a player and become someone who can perform on the global stage like Yuki Kawamura, and help make Japan an even stronger team.
Her best showing to date came against China, wherein she finished with 23 points on an excellent 8-of-clip from the floor, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals to star in their 78-57 victory in the all-East Asia affair.
She then followed it up with another solid outing to the tune of 19 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists the following night to help her side come back from 12 points down and beat New Zealand by way of a 76-72 decision.
Crucial was that victory as it enabled the Japanese to complete their sweep of the Group Phase, booking as well an outright ticket to the Semi-Finals - and a spot at the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup next year.
"The reason I can play comfortably is because of my teammates," she said.
"Without their support, I wouldn't be able to perform well," added Takeuchi, who's also shooting 70-percent from the line. "The cheers and encouragement from those who support me also give me tremendous strength."
More than her own showings, what she's really proud of is the way they've been playing as a collective, for it's giving each and everyone of them the confidence that they can end Japan's U16 title drought.
Well, the program has made the Final of all past seven editions of the biennial meet but only won the gold once - in 2011 in Jinan, to be exact, behind a batch that had Stephanie Mawuli and Saori Miyazaki, to name some.
"Since Japan hasn't been able to win the championship recently, we have an even stronger drive and motivation to win the championship," said Takeuchi, whose team will face either Chinese Taipei or New Zealand in the Semis.
"I also believe we have more than enough ability to beat any team as long as each of us fulfills our role properly, I believe we can become champions," she added.
But there's really no denying whatsoever that Takeuchi has been solid in this tournament thus far, and no one else should be beaming with so much pride than her six-year-old self, for sure.
"I started playing basketball at the age of six, influenced by my parents," she reflected. "I always admired the Japan national team, and as I grew, my dream of playing for Japan got stronger."
"I'm proud to now be part of the Women's U16 national team," she continued.
As blessed as she is, though, Takeuchi has no plans of stopping anytime soon, for the 16-year-old playmaker has bigger dreams to fulfill especially in the international arena, just like what her idol has been doing.
"I want to keep growing as a player and become someone who can perform on the global stage like Yuki Kawamura," she said, "and help make Japan an even stronger team."
FIBA