Japan UVS Philippines Preview: Both Teams Battle for Quarterfinals; Restricting Japanese Center Watanabe Reiō is Key

At 21:30 on September 6, the Asian U18 Men’s Basketball Championship playoff qualifier will see Japan U18 Men’s Basketball Team against the Philippines U18 Men’s Basketball Team. Since the match result directly concerns a quarterfinal spot, both teams’ desire to win is beyond doubt. Japan had 2 wins and 1 loss in the group stage, starting with an 18-point victory over Qatar, followed by a 49-point overwhelming win against Kazakhstan. In the final round, during the battle for the top spot in the group against China, despite once leading by double digits, Japan was ultimately outdone by a three-point buzzer-beater from the Chinese team, ending up second in the group and having to participate in the qualifier for a quarterfinal spot. The top scorer for Japan is center Watanabe Reiō, standing at 2 meters and 4 centimeters tall, averaging 15.7 points, 8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. He recorded a comprehensive performance of 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists against China. Whether the Philippines can contain this versatile high school center will influence the course of the game to some extent. The second top scorer, Segawa Ryuū, averages 13.7 points and 6.7 assists, serving as the core of the backcourt, scoring the highest 23 points and grabbing 6 rebounds with 5 assists in the match against China. Japan’s offense mainly relies on these two players, with the third top scorer Kenichirō averaging only 7.7 points. In the three group matches, Japan’s perimeter shooting was average, with a hit rate of just 27.6%. The Philippines was grouped with New Zealand, Jordan, and Indonesia, achieving 1 win and 2 losses, ranking third in the group. They started with a 27-point victory over Indonesia but narrowly lost by 6 points to Jordan and suffered a 23-point defeat to New Zealand. The top scorer for the Philippines is Metina, averaging 15.7 points and 2.7 rebounds. Esplana averages 12 points and 5 assists, while Cabonillas averages 10.3 points and 5.7 rebounds. The team’s offense primarily depends on these three players. The Philippines’ shooting is also average, with an outside shooting percentage of just 26.7%.