Hasegawa has big hopes for Japan

TOKYO (2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments) - Coach Kenji Hasegawa and Japan had a good run at last year's FIBA Asia Championship in Changsha-Hunan, China, one that ended with the Far East team booking a spot in the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQTs).

The Japanese peaked at the right time, winning a Quarter-Final against Qatar to ensure they would remain in the hunt for the Rio de Janeiro Games.

This week, Hasegawa and Co discovered the road to the Brazil Games for them now goes through Belgrade, Serbia. They will play in the OQT there against the Czech Republic and Latvia in Group B. A top two-finish would throw them into a Semi-Final against one of the top-two sides from Group A that has Angola, Puerto Rico and the Serbians. A victory in the Semi-Final would set up a game against the other Semi-Final winner with a spot in the Olympics at stake. 

History suggests that Japan will struggle because of what all the teams from Asia have done in the previous OQTs.

The Asian teams have not won any games in the past Olympic Qualifying Tournaments. However, as long as we participate, we will prepare ourselves to win the games. - Hasegawa

If Japan can duplicate their form from the end of last year's FIBA Asia Championship, they can make life awkward for their opponents. Looking back, they suffered a heavy defeat (86-48) to Iran on the opening day of the tournament and also fell to the Philippines, 73-66.

Yet Hasegawa had his players competing at a higher level by the time the Quarter-Finals came around. They rolled to an 81-67 victory over Qatar to claim the OQT place.

Japan's (JPN) win over Qatar last year sealed a spot in the OQT

Japan also played well in their 81-70 Semi-Final defeat to the Philippines and 68-63 defeat to Iran in the third-place game.

The Czech Republic and Latvia, teams that we will face in the first round, have been getting stronger in the last few years. They have beaten several strong countries at the EuroBasket to reach the OQT. It will be a big challenge for our team, but I strongly believe that we have a chance. - Hasegawa

FIBA