By MARK REY MONTEJO

Filipino-Japanese player Matthew Aquino has been included in the Japanese national team's 25-man pool for the upcoming FIBA World Cup in August.

Matthew Aquino of B.League's Shinshu Brave Warriors (Slice and Dice Basketball Portal's Facebook post)

The 6-foot-9 cager was listed alongside former PBA import Nick Fazekas for Japan, which is also co-hosting the global meet with the Philippines and Indonesia.

The 26-year-old son of former Ginebra standout Marlou Aquino traces his Japanese heritage from his maternal grandmother and obtained his passport before the age of 16, paving his way to suit up as a local player of the Shinshu Brave Warriors in the Japan B.League.

Expected to be headlining the roster for Japan are NBA players like Laker Rui Hachimura and Yuta Watanabe.

The world No. 36 team is bracketed in Group E along with Finland (No. 24), Germany ( No. 11) and Australia (No. 3).