OKINAWA (Japan) - One. More. Win. That’s what separates AKATSUKI JAPAN from an already near certain spot in the Second Round of the World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.
Standing in their way though are familiar East Asian rivals China, who they’ve historically struggled to beat in major FIBA competitions.
When the two sides face off on February 26 inside the Okinawa Arena, all eyes will be locked on coach Dai Oketani, who took over from the widely respected Tom Hovasse.
By recent Window 1 form alone, Japan will be optimistic of their chances. After all they went 2-0 with decisive verdicts over Chinese Taipei. Meanwhile, the Dragons mightily struggled against hot shooting Korea, falling into a 0-2 hole.
How can Japan qualify?
Beating China ensures a fast track into the Second Round. But even if Japan were to concede Thursday's game, they still will progress to the penultimate stage of the Asian Qualifiers if their bottom placed Group B colleagues Chinese Taipei stays winless over the next one week.
But that's a fallback outcome Japan's proud new chief will be keen to avoid, preferring instead to begin his term on perfect note.
Oketani era begins
While his stint with the Japan men’s national team may be just beginning, Dan Oketani is a grizzled veteran in the B. League. Coincidentally, he happens to lead the Ryuku Golden Kings, the club based in Okinawa, the venue of the upcoming Asian Qualifiers home encounter. It's a fortuitous beginning for his lofty ambitions of creating "a Japan national team that always stands shoulder to shoulder with the world's leading countries."
Head-to-head record
A 2-19 record for Japan in major FIBA competitions dating back to 1936, comes as a shock for who are undeniably among Asian basketball’s traditional powerhouses.
But one of these two positive results came in a meetup in the recent Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers. Also, with China running low on confidence after the forgettable first window, this is a golden opportunity for AKATSUKI JAPAN to get win number three against their old nemesis.
No. | Year | Competition | Winning Team | Result |
1 | 2025 | FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers | China | 100-58 |
2 | 2025 | FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers | Japan | 76-73 |
3 | 2021 | FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers | China | 106-73 |
4 | 2021 | FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers | China | 79-63 |
5 | 2021 | FIBA Asia Cup 2022 Qualifiers | China | 90-84 |
6 | 2021 | FIBA Asia CUp 2022 Qualifiers | China | 66-57 |
7 | 2011 | FIBA Asia Cup | China | 84-58 |
8 | 2005 | FIBA Asia Cup | China | 86-53 |
9 | 2003 | FIBA Asia Cup | China | 88-60 |
10 | 2001 | FIBA Asia Cup | China | 126-67 |
11 | 1995 | FIBA Asia Cup | China | 73-61 |
12 | 1991 | FIBA Asia Cup | China | 105-62 |
13 | 1989 | FIBA Asia Cup | China | 94-70 |
14 | 1987 | FIBA Asia Cup | China | 85-69 |
15 | 1983 | FIBA Asia Cup | China | 105-79 |
16 | 1983 | FIBA Asia Cup | China | 95-71 |
17 | 1981 | FIBA Asia Cup | China | 71-60 |
18 | 1979 | FIBA Asia Cup | China | 70-68 |
19 | 1977 | FIBA Asia Cup | China | 110-81 |
20 | 1975 | FIBA Asia Cup | China | 80-59 |
21 | 1936 | Olympic Games | Japan | 35-19 |
Who are in?
Scoring leader Yuta Watanabe is expected to continue leading the side, alongside the core of team captain Yuki Togashi, Joshua Hawkinson, guards Yudai Nishida and Takumi Saito, and the seasoned small forward Yudai Baba.
For China, their Great Wall Zhou Qi, who averaged a near 14 rebounds – 14 points double-double will be conspicuous by his absence. But fellow Big Man Hu Jinqui is more than capable of holding his own in the paint, presumably joined by forwards Zhang Zhenlin and Zhu Junlong, guards Liao Sanning, Hu Mingxuan and Gao Shiyan, among others.
World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers Games Window 2 tips off on February 26 and will continue till March 3. Stream the action on Courtside 1891, with live games and on-demand replays. Blackouts might apply in certain territories.
FIBA