With just weeks remaining until the basketball competition tips off at the Tokyo Games, the battle to make Japan’s 12-man roster will begin in earnest from Wednesday during the final window of FIBA Asian Cup qualifying.
The Akatsuki Five will play three games from June 16 to 19 at Angeles City Foundation Gym in Pampanga, the Philippines. The team will begin with a contest against China. Japan will also face Taiwan and play an additional game against China.
Due to postponements caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan has only completed one qualifier — a 96-57 win over Taiwan in February 2020.