Since the Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix entered the bj-league in the fall of 2008, veteran guard Masahiro Oguchi has answered the call of duty primarily as a backup player.
Some stars would despise this role. Oguchi, however, has found a comfort zone as a game-changing presence off the bench. Last season, for instance, he made 12 starts in 52 games, and he started once in his 40 appearances this season for the league's top team.
From his courtside seat, the 35-year-old spends his time wisely, studying the action on the court as carefully as a police detective looks for clues to solve a crime. His observational skills are as strong as his 3-point shooting prowess. For example, Oguchi buried a league-record 10 3-pointers (14 attempts) in the Eastern Conference final last May against the Niigata Albirex BB, the same foe reigning champion Hamamatsu will meet in Saturday's conference final at Ariake Colosseum at 2:05 p.m.