Ibaraki Robots forward Yudai Yoshii and assistant coach Hideto Yuminami earned selection to the training camp roster for the Japan men’s national basketball team ahead of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers Window 5, the club announced.
Yuminami joins the national team setup strictly for the pre-tournament training camp period. Japan begins its Window 5 schedule away against Lebanon on Nov. 27, 2026, at the Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex in Beirut, with tip-off scheduled for 4 a.m. Japan time.
Following the opening fixture in Lebanon, the national team travels to Doha for a matchup against Qatar on Nov. 30, 2026. That game takes place at Al Janoub Stadium, tipping off at 1 a.m. Japan time.
These fixtures are part of the qualification process for the 2027 World Cup. Window 5 places high demands on travel and preparation across the Middle East for the selected squad members.
The 196-centimeter, 96-kilogram small forward has represented Japan at multiple major international competitions, including the FIBA Asia Cup 2022, the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Yuminami enters the national team camp following a diverse coaching trajectory through the domestic professional ranks.
He transitioned into coaching as an intern with Nagasaki before serving as an interpreter and head coach’s top assistant. After working as an assistant coach with the Velca through the 2025-26 season, he joined the Ibaraki Robots coaching staff for 2026.
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