The exodus of Filipino ballers to the Land of the Rising Sun in full effect.
There’s a chance that a good number of Filipino hoop fans will be cheering on Team Japan this month. On the official FIBA website, the preliminary rosters for the sixth window of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers have been revealed.
26-year-old pivot Matthew Aquino is part of the Japanese squad's pool.
Yes, the son of PBA legend Marlou Aquino is once again in consideration to represent Japan in the prestigious FIBA tourney. Having Japanese lineage on his mother’s side, the younger Aquino has been suiting up as a local in Japan's B.League since 2021. The former Adamson Soaring Falcon also made his national team debut representing the Japanese flag in February of last year. In that particular FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers match, Aquino played sparingly, recording 2 points and a rebound as Japan defeated Chinese Taipei.
In his pro career, Aquino has been tallying 3 points and 1.4 boards for the Shinshu Brave Warriors, which plays in the B1 division of the B.League.
Another familiar name in the Japanese pool is former NBA player and PBA import Nick Fazekas. In the PBA, Fazekas averaged 30.5 points and 18 rebounds in seven games for the Petron Blaze Boosters.
Let’s see if Aquino and Fazekas will man the frontcourt when Team Japan welcomes the Iranian basketball squad on February 23 at the Takasaki Arena.