ALL eyes will be on Yuki Togashi as he spearheads Japan in the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The crafty 5-foot-6 guard from the Chiba Jets will lead the fight for the Akatsuki Five as they aim to make their first podium in the continental showpiece since 1997.
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Togashi is expected to be one of the top playmakers in this tournament as he carries the torch for a Japanese side which won’t have Chicago Bulls guard Yuki Kawamura in this tilt.
Nonetheless, he is one of four holdovers from Japan’s roster in the 2024 Paris Olympics, alongside naturalized player Josh Hawkinson of SunRockers Shibuya, Yudai Baba, and Akira Jacobs.
Jacobs, 21, is also among the young guns playing for the Japanese side in the continental championship alongside Ren Kanechika, Jean-Lawrence Harper Jr., Tominari Kano, and Hiroki Tominaga.
Completing the Akatsuki Five roster are Kai Toews (Alvark Tokyo), Yudai Nishida (SeaHorses Mikawa), Hirotaka Yoshii (San-en NeoPhoenix), and Hiroya Kawamada (Nagasaki Velca).
Japan finished seventh in Jakarta three years ago, but is looking to ride the wave of momentum it got from its strong showing in the Paris Olympics last year.
The Akatsuki Five is poised to be one of the favorites in Group B as it was placed together with Iran, Guam, and Syria.
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