The World Cup, which decides the world's best women's basketball team, opened in Australia, and Japan, ranked 8th in the world, played Mali, ranked 37th in the world, in the first match of the group stage.



After taking the lead in the first half with their signature three-point shot, Japan kept the momentum going in the second half with aggressive defense, beating Mali 89-56 and getting off to a good start.

For the first time in the world New strategy "counter basket"

The Japanese women's basketball team won its first-ever silver medal at last year's Tokyo Olympics under head coach Tom Horvath.



Making full use of what is said to be more than 100 set-plays, they used a strategy of mass-producing 3-pointers, beating the top countries in the world rankings one after another, and surprised the world.



After the tournament, head coach Toru Onzuka, who took over the team from head coach Horvath, came up with a new strategy to aim for the world's best, which had not been achieved.



A new strategy named "Counter Basketball" is a basketball in which players make their own decisions based on the opponent's defense and select offense.



After setting the most effective offense and "principles" by assuming all the formations and markings of the opponent's defense, the players themselves judge the situation in the game and decide among countless "principles". Continue selecting from to build your offense.



The aim is to develop the offense while always being one step ahead of the opponent.



Head Coach Onzuka commented on this tactic, "If you can adapt to every situation and continue to choose the most effective offense, you won't be caught by your opponent. Japanese players are good at adaptability and wisdom. I think it's the most useful form," he said of the response.



The catalyst for this strategy was the loss to the United States in the finals of the Tokyo Olympics.



As a result of the fact that the 3-point was blocked by the opponent who had thoroughly countered Japan's set-pieces, head coach Onzuka, who was an assistant coach at the time, said, ``If you only do set-pieces, you will get stuck,'' and the need for a new strategy. I say I felt



Following the Tokyo Olympics, Maki Takada, who will be the captain of the World Cup this year, said, "I practiced with the idea of ​​what I should do to beat the United States and become the best in the world." It reveals that it is a strategy for



Will they be able to defeat the United States, who are aiming for their fourth consecutive victory, and capture the world title for the first time?



Please pay attention to the new strategy "Counter Basket".