DONGGUAN (China) - Yuki Miyazawa understands it.
The seasoned forward knows how beneficial international exposure could be for players and teams, and that's exactly why she's filled with excitement to be competing in the FIBA WBL Asia once more.
"Opportunities to play against overseas teams are rare. Competing against taller, bigger, more physically imposing players, or those with exceptional technique, is an incredibly valuable experience," she offered.
Miyazawa and Fujitsu are running it back in the continent's premier women's club competition, and she isn't hiding anything about their target as a collective in the 2025 competitions: winning it all, that is.
"We're aiming for the championship in this tournament. While we're not at full strength, we want to play the best basketball this current team can deliver and grow through this tournament," she said.
It's simply the kind of standard that the Red Wave have set for themselves as an organization, having been one of the top teams in the Women's Japan Basketball League in which they are the reigning two-time titlists.
Add to that the fact that they came into this WBL Asia games as the bronze medalists of the 2024 inaugurals in Chengdu, finishing behind eventual champions Sichuan Yuanda Meile and the Cathay Life Tigers.
You learn so much from facing them, and I think it's fantastic to have that chance.
That bid to strike gold this time got off to a great start when they gave the debuting Al Ula Club a 128-43 waylaying in the tournament opener - a game in which they knocked down a total of 23 three-pointers.
"Most of our shots were wide-open, so if I'm being greedy, I wish we'd made a higher percentage," said Miyazawa, who shot 6-of-10 from beyond the arc and finished with 22 points, alongside 8 rebounds and 4 assists.
"In the first half, we were moving the ball around outside for three-pointers, but it was good that we started driving, kicking it out, and taking three-pointers more often as the game went on," she added.
Their lopsided victory somewhat served as a statement as well to the rest of the competition that Fujitsu are out for the throne but aside from that, the 32-year-old is also looking forward to the entire experience.
Because the long-time Japan national team stalwart is firm in her belief that endeavors such as this will only help everybody become better - not just the Red Wave, but Japanese women's basketball as a whole, too.
"Competing in international tournaments with my own team is a great experience, and I personally find it very enjoyable," she said. "You learn so much from facing them, and I think it's fantastic to have that chance."
It sure is, no doubt.
FIBA