Mai Yamamoto delivers biggest game of her career at the best moment
SOPRON (Hungary) - At this moment, there might not be a bigger star in Japan basketball than Mai Yamamoto.
SOPRON (Hungary) - At this moment, there might not be a bigger star in Japan basketball than Mai Yamamoto.
The 24-year-old has always been known for being an electric force ever since making her senior national team debut at the FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2021. Since then, she's only gotten better and better each time she suits up for AKATSUKI JAPAN.
Yamamoto has been a key feature on numerous national teams since the Women's World Cup 2022 squad and the Women's Asia Cup 2023 Finalist team, but this recent game against Canada at the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 Hungary may very well have been the most important game of her young career.
With a spot at the upcoming Olympic Games on the line, Yamamoto and Japan were under severe pressure.
And she delivered one of her best games yet.
Highlighted by a clutch basket that proved to be the cushion Japan needed to hold on to the victory, Yamamoto finished with 21 points - the most she's ever scored with the senior national team in a FIBA competition.
Mai Yamamoto's Top 5 Scoring Games
| # | Game | PTS | 2PM-2PA | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | vs Canada 86-82, 11/02/2024 | 21 | 4-9 | 3-5 | 4-5 |
| 2. | vs Australia 91-66, 28/06/2023 | 19 | 2-2 | 5-9 | 0-0 |
| 3. | vs Philippines 95-57, 27/06/2023 | 15 | 0-0 | 3-5 | 6-6 |
| vs Spain 86-75, 08/02/2024 | 15 | 3-4 | 3-5 | 0-0 | |
| vs Hungary 75-81, 09/02/2024 | 15 | 2-2 | 3-4 | 2-2 |
Now that Japan are bound for the Olympic Games, will Yamamoto set yet another career-high in France on the way to another medal?
FIBA