JPN - Japan missing absent duo

DOHA (Asian Games) - Japan coach Kimikazu Suzuki claimed his team missed having Eric McArthur and Takuma Watanabe despite beating Uzbekistan 75-56 on Wednesday to improve to 3-0 in Group F of the 15th Asian Games.

Both players are back in Japan but Suzuki believes it is possible Watanabe may yet rejoin his team-mates in Qatar.

McArthur, a naturalised American who's playing for Japan for the first time, broke the ring finger on his left hand and will not come back, according to Suzuki. He scored 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in Japan's opening-game victory over Chinese Taipei.

Suzuki admitted the 38-year-old veteran would be desperately missed in Japan's next game on Friday against China.

"We have to find about 10 more rebounds. Eric is a good rebounder. We have many good shooters, but our rebounding is weak. We need Eric," he said.

Japan out-rebounded Uzbekistan 45-31 on Wednesday. But Lebanon grabbed 46 rebounds compared to Japan's 35 without McArthur.

Watanabe flew back to the Far East with McArthur after scoring 10 points and grabbing four rebounds against Taipei. Suzuki revealed Watanabe left for Japan because of undisclosed family problems.

He said: "I hope he can come back. He is a good shooting guard. He has long arms even though he's small. We need him."

Japan play China on Friday before taking on Kazakhstan on Sunday in their final Group F game.

PA Sport