Appointment of a combo guard for the real deal “During training camp, there wasn’t even a single conversation like that.”
Japan’s men’s basketball national team achieved consecutive wins at home against Guam and China in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifying Window 1. Especially in the absence of overseas players such as Yuta Watanabe and Keio Tominaga, who competed together in the World Cup, the victory over China, a formidable opponent in Asia, is of great significance.
The main players of the World Cup 2023 led Japan in these two games, including Yudai Baba and Josh Hawkinson, who were very active in the match against China, as well as Yuki Kawamura and Shin Hiejima. Meanwhile, among the teams that did not participate in the World Cup, the one that had the biggest impact was Umi Teves.
In both games, Teves played as a combo guard on the court with fellow playmakers Kawamura and Yuki Togashi, rather than playing as a point card player. He also used his characteristic physical drives to create shooting opportunities for his teammates. In particular, in the match against China, he scored 5 goals and provided 4 assists in 11 minutes and 52 seconds of playing time, and his goal difference at the time of his appearance was +10, the highest on the team. Taves’ presence certainly brought a good rhythm to Japan’s offense.
Looking back on his play against China, Teves says: “I came on in the middle of the second quarter and wanted to contribute to the team in some way. Tom (Horvath) immediately made the play call for me to drive, so I knew this was my chance. That play led to Josh (Hawkinson)’s dunk, which allowed us to integrate into the flow of the game.From there, we were able to attack aggressively with confidence.”
By the way, Taves revealed that he did not practice as a combo guard at all during this training camp. That’s why being able to improvise and respond to the commander’s requests was such a rewarding experience. “During the training camp, we didn’t have a single conversation like that. I’m glad we were able to deal with it.”
Head coach Horvath explained his intention in using Taves as a combo guard. “Umi has control and is physically strong.When either Umi or “Double Yuuki (Kawamura and Togashi)” are on the court together, Double Yuuki plays like he is in the second position, giving him a chance to score. I think it will increase.”
“The frustration of not being selected right before the World Cup became the driving force behind my current national team activities.”
In fact, just as the coach had hoped, Taves’ kickout drive produced a play that led to a 3-point shot. Head coach Horvath also commented on Taves’ evolution, saying, “I think Umi was disappointed not to be able to participate in the World Cup.However, this experience has helped her grow, and she is really thinking about a lot of things.”
Teves himself said, “The frustration of not being selected just before the World Cup is the driving force behind my current national team activities.I’m working hard to make it to the top eight and definitely want to be in the squad for the Paris Olympics.” He says he is turning the frustration of last summer into motivation.
Kawamura and Togashi are ahead of their time in the commanding position of the current Japanese national team. That’s why the number three player needs to have a unique personality that the two players don’t have. In that sense, the plays Teves showed against Guam and against China are of great value. “I think I was able to fulfill the role that the head coach asked me to play and earn his trust.I don’t know how I will be allowed to play the next time I am called up again. If I’m going to play, I’ll play like I did today. If I’m going to play first, I want to be able to respond to whatever the coach tells me, such as controlling the game and maintaining the pace.”
In this way, Teves summarized his representative activities this time. When Head Coach Horvath was in charge of the women’s national team, he favored a strategy of using a playmaker with excellent breakthrough ability as a combo card, such as appointing Nako Motohashi. If she can become, as she says, “an athlete who can handle whatever is asked of her,” there is a high possibility that she will be included in the Paris Olympics squad.
2024-02-26 09:30:00
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