The Japan National Team appeared in the 1998 FIBA World Championship after a 31-year absence. The team was eliminated in the first round and failed to qualify for the tournament four years later.
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| Kei Igarashi dribbles the ball during a team drill at a recent national team practice in Kita Ward. YOSHIAKI MIURA PHOTOS |
This year, Japan, the World Championship host, gets an automatic bid to the tourney, and gets another shot at proving itself on the world stage. Zeljko Pavlicevic, a Croatian with an impressive record coaching in Europe, took over as national coach three years ago.