Filipino-Japanese forward Matthew Aquino was named in Japan’s national team pool for the first window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, the B.League announced on Monday, Nov. 15.
The former National University Bulldogs standout and current Shinshu Brave Warriors big man joined his teammate Yudai Okada and Akatsuki Five national team members Makoto Hiejima, Yuki Togashi and Avi Schafer in the 24-man pool.
Aquino, who is a dual-passport holder, was eligible to play as a local both in B.League and in the Japanese national team.
“I am honored to be selected as a candidate for the Japanese national team. I have been asking for play in Japan, so I am proud of this election. I will do my best to produce results on behalf of Shinshu,” said Aquino in a statement released by his team.
Should Aquino’s name gets called in the official roster, the son of PBA legend Marlou Aquino will no longer be eligible to represent the Philippines in FIBA-sanctioned events.
Training camp began on Monday, Nov. 15, and will continue until Nov. 25 under new Japan national team head coach Tom Havasse. Japan, ranked 35th in the world, will then face No. 28 China on Nov. 27 and Nov. 28 at the Xebio Arena in Sendai, Japan.
Kosuke Takeuchi, Takatoshi Furukawa, Ryuichi Kishimoto, Aki Chambers, Luke Evans, Yuma Fujii, Yutaro Suda, Tenketsu Harimoto were also named in the pool.
Completing the casts were Masaaki Morikawa, Kengo Nomoto, Leo Vendrame, Shuta Hara, Shuto Ando, Takumi Saito, Keita Imamura, Eliet Kojima, Zack Moore, Ryo Terashima, and Yudai Nishida.