CHANGSHA CITY, China – Yuta Tabuse has the distinction of being possibly the first full-blooded Japanese to play in the NBA.
Gilas Pilipinas rookie point guard Terrence Romeo had the honor of humbling Tabuse very recently, and the Japanese star is looking forward to their second meeting on Sunday for some sort of payback.
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While Tabuse acknowledges the coming of Andray Blatche as an advantage that the Filipinos will have against them in the 4:45 p.m. game at Changsha Social Work College Gym here, the 5-foot-10 point guard is excited to have another crack at the spike-haired Romeo.
“I played against him (in the Jones Cup) and he is such a good player,” Tabuse, who suited up briefly for the Phoenix Suns, told the Inquirer. “I look forward to play against him again.”
Romeo rose to international stardom in the Jones Cup by mocking his counterparts from other countries, Tabuse included.
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In a 75-60 win over the Japanese, Romeo had 16 points primarily against Tabuse’s defense, as he sparked the breakaway that happened in a span that connected the final two quarters.
Tabuse scored just six points in that game, with the 6-foot-10 Jojie Takeuchi carrying the load for the Japanese with 15 points and 13 rebounds.
“You have a very good team,” Tabuse said. “We will try our best.”