FIBA Asia 2015 Matchup Preview: Gilas Pilipinas Basketball opponent Japan national team will be the fourth game of Gilas on September 27 and first in Second Round at Changsha China, FIBA Asia 2015. We dissect and analyze the strengths and weaknesses, together with the best cagers that Japan NT can bring against RP Five.

Japan is entering the second round of FIBA Asia 2015 with a 2-1 win-loss slate. The East Asians lost to powerhouse Iran, then massacred Malaysia and blew past strong India.

Rated at 47 by FIBA rankings, the Japanese appeared 27 times in FIBA Asia history and sports a 12 to 9 win-loss record against Pilipinas in their matchups. The once dominating Japan unfortunately is no longer the powerhouse they once were. It was also in ’71 that they last copped the top place in FIBA Asia.

The loss of Japan to the Philippine Basketball Team in Jones Cup 2015 is not a measure of the true strength of Japan basketball. Japan probably utilized the Jones Cup as a scouting tool and to test their system against probable opponents in FIBA Asia.

In the previous years, Japan had a fearsome twin towers in Joji and Kosuke Takeuchi, twins in real life. They were a power to reckon with in international tournaments, but Kosuke is not around to help brother Joji.

The coaching style of Kenji Hasegawa and the present basketball program of Japan is also not bearing much fruit. We believe that Japan must implement a better program and hire an international coach to get back on track as an Asian basketball powerhouse once more.

Japan does not have their naturalized center JR Sakuragi and the other Takeuchi. That leaves a big hole in Japan’s inside defense. After Joji Takeuchi, it is only Atsuya Ota that will man the paint. Ota is not as strong or as mobile compared to Joji and this can be exploited by the Filipinos.

RP Five can also try to check if their full court trapping defense will work against NBA veteran Yuta Tabuse. Tabuse’s stamina in a fast paced ballgame is suspect, so expect Philippines to tap this strategy.

Players to look out for would obviously include Joji, then gunner Keijuro Matsui, guards Yuta Tabuse and Makoto Hiejima, and rising shooter Takatoshi Furukawa.

Takeuchi will definitely power his way in the paint to score. And he can score, that’s a given. Andray Blatche and Asi Taulava will have their hands full defending against strong Takeuchi. This will also be a measure if they can hold a candle against Haddadi tomorrow morning.

Philippines should maintain their reactive challenge defense against Japan’s shooters and bait Takeuchi to foul trouble. Japan historically has problems countering offensive plays like the dribble drive system. Of course, the Filipinos should knock down the treys and fight for the rebounds.

Japan knows full well the system that RP five is using. Let’s wait and see how they adjust to a Filipino five with an Andray Blatche as reinforcement.