Shunsuke Ueda anchors Shimane Susanoo Magic defense

Shunsuke Ueda posted a team-best plus-minus rating of minus-2 in 10 minutes and 17 seconds of floor time on Oct. 17, anchoring the defensive rotation for the Shimane Susanoo Magic despite a 97-78 road loss to the Chiba Jets at Funabashi Arena. The 27-year-old guard shot 3-of-5 from the field to finish with seven points and three rebounds, stepping into a defensive role against Chiba before fouling out in the fixture.

Chiba Jets Overwhelm Shimane Offense in 19-Point Victory

The Susanoo Magic fell behind early as the Jets established control in the opening quarter. Shimane briefly answered in the second period by leaning into their transition game, but Chiba tightened its perimeter defense after halftime to stall the visitors’ momentum. The losing side converted just 7-of-35 attempts from beyond the arc and committed 18 turnovers that directly fed Chiba’s transition scoring. Ueda pointed directly to defensive execution as the primary catalyst for the blowout defeat, noting that the game plan required him to neutralize guards Ryuku Segawa and Yuki Togashi.

“Chiba Jets get their scoring started through Ryuku Segawa, and my role was to make sure Segawa and Yuki Togashi couldn’t play freely,” Ueda said. “Instead, I couldn’t apply pressure, easily allowed them paint attacks, and let them kick out. The Jets are one of the league’s top scoring teams, and even though we knew we had to shut them down properly, our defensive discipline was too low.”

From Unattached Practice Player to Starting Rotation Anchor

Through the first seven games of the current campaign, the 188-centimeter guard has started every contest, averaging 21 minutes and 24 seconds, 4.6 points, and 2.4 assists per night. His plus-minus rating of 4.4 ranks second on the team behind Nick Kay’s 5.1.

“Long periods were tough, and there were times I thought, ‘This isn’t going well,’ but I kept grinding blindly,” Ueda said of his rise from a tryout player to a foundational rotation piece. “When injuries piled up late in the season, Pete evaluated my defense and started playing me more, and now I’m being used in the starting lineup. Above all, it’s thanks to the support around me. It’s not just my own strength, but I think I am where I am because I kept believing in my own abilities.”

Childhood Idols and the Path Forward

While acknowledging the emotional weight of competing against a player he watched growing up, Ueda maintained that the competitive boundary took over once the opening tip sounded.

“He has been an idol of mine ever since high school,” Ueda said. “However, once the game starts, he’s an opponent, so I was only thinking about stopping him. While I was happy, I’m also frustrated that he got the better of me this time.”

The Shimane Susanoo Magic will get their next opportunity against the Chiba Jets when the two clubs meet again on Feb. 17.

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