SEREMBAN (Malaysia) - Miya Takeuchi will always hold this city dear to her heart, as this is where everything began for the speedy playmaker who is now touted to become a big part of Team Japan in the future.
Wherever she may go in her budding career, the Kanagawa-native will surely look back to Seremban always after a stellar run in the FIBA U16 Women's Asia Cup last year proved to be her ticket toward global recognition.
"I think I can say that Seremban is where it all began for me," reflected the 17-year-old. "The FIBA U16 Women’s Asia Cup was my first experience playing for the Japan under-category national team."
"After performing well there, not only people in Japan but also people overseas began to know who I was and support me," she added.
That's why it felt like a homecoming for the U16 Women's Asia Cup MVP when she flew with Japan for the FIBA U18 Women's Asia Cup 2026-Division A, currently being held in the exact same venue as last year.
"I have experienced things in Seremban that I never imagined for myself, and I am still having new experiences here. That is why this place is very special to me," she said as the games are played at the Karisma Arena.
Now, Takeuchi comes back armed with more experience.
After shining in this Malaysian city, she took Germany by storm and led Japan into becoming the first women's champions of the Albert Schweitzer Tournament just last April, capping it off by winning MVP honors.
Some three months later, the Kanagawa-native would take her act to the prestigious FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 in Czechia, where she steered AKATSUKI JAPAN to a 7th-place finish.
Takeuchi finished as the 2nd-best scorer of the tournament - eventually ruled by the United States via sweep - with 18.1 points, including a 32-piece albeit in a narrow 70-64 loss to Australia in the Quarter-Finals.
"The biggest change for me from U16 to U18 has been the way I think," she said of the lessons she's picked up so far. "Experiencing basketball on the international stage made me take a much more serious look at my own goals."
"I feel that the biggest area of growth for me has been my mentality as a player, and I have learned so much through these experiences," added Takeuchi, who's attending Ohka Gakuen High School in Aichi.
Being exposed to high-level competition has indeed made her more mature as an athlete and that has been evident thus far in the ongoing tourney, having just steered Japan to the Semi-Finals.
Through her leadership, the team finished atop Group B with a clean 3-0 record, capped by a 73-68 decision against long-time rivals China in which she finished with 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.
She anchored their strong fourth-quarter closeout, eventually bringing her squad not only to the penultimate phase but to the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2027 to be held in Chengdu, China.
Her performance actually reminded some fans and observers alike of what happened during last year's U16 tiff, where she also beat Team Dragon in the Third-Place game to lead the Japanese to another bronze.
Now, entering the Final Phase, Takeuchi is averaging 15.7 points on 58.6-percent shooting from the floor, 3.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 4.3 steals as her two-way play has been helping them a great deal.
At the moment, they're just waiting for the Qualification to Semi-Finals to conclude to determine their foes in the Semi-Finals. And they all cannot wait to find out who that is as they're raring to go back to action.
Because a chance to finish the story lies ahead, wanting to take home the ultimate prize this time after settling for bronze last year.
"I’m here to get our revenge from U16," said Takeuchi, indeed a woman on a mission, "and, most importantly, to win the gold medal."
FIBA