Japanese former NBA player Yuta Tabuse nods to Gilas guard as his favorite player

There were a lot of Gilas Pilipinas players who made their mark with unforgettable dunks, such as Gabe Norwood, and those who sank legendary threes, such as Justin Brownlee. And then there were those who made such an impression on their competitors that they became their favorites.

That happened to Yuta Tabuse, the first Japanese-born player to play in the NBA.

Speaking to FIBA regarding his memories of the FIBA Asia Cup, formerly known as the FIBA Asia Championship, the former Phoenix Suns guard recalled one particular player who has lived rent-free in his mind.

"The point guard, number seven. Jayson Castro. That’s my favorite player, man!" said Tabuse, who was also the Japanese commentator during the final phase of the recent FIBA World Cup in the Philippines.

"I played against him and I matched up with him and, oh my god, he was such a good player. I saw him (at the World Cup) but I didn’t have a chance to talk to him. But (back in) that time man, he was so good," Tabuse added.

They clashed twice in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship, with Gilas Pilipinas getting the upper hand in both instances, including a 80-70 win in the semifinals. The Philippines eventually settled for silver against China.

ALSO READ: 5 best point guards in Gilas Pilipinas history, ranked

There's a reason why Castro became Asia's Best Point Guard twice.

"That was fun, playing against such good teams in Asia," Tabuse recalled.

Photo from FIBA

Japan already secured a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics after a stunning performance in the FIBA World Cup, and Tabuse acknowledged the leaps and bounds of the Akatsuki.

"You know what? The Japan national team is better (now)," Tabuse said.

Japan upset Lauri Markkanen and Finland in the first group stage and then went on to beat Venezuela and Cape Verde in the classification round.

"They won three games against such good teams. Those three games were the biggest wins for Japanese basketball historically," added the former spitfire playmaker.

The stage is set for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, where Japan will take on China, Guam, and Mongolia, while the Philippines will face New Zealand, Chinese Taipei, and Hong Kong.

(PM)