Here’s the final wrap-up from our trip to the 2011 Pacific Open in Vladivostok. Learning how to win happens when you get out there and play. Plain and simple. Some advice for kids out there, dreaming of reaching the highest level: don’t be afraid to lose a few games along the way, in reaching for your goals.  

Keep rising, Japan! 

If you watch only one Rising Suns video, this is the one you’ve all gotta see.  FIRST WIN IN TEAM HISTORY! (yeah, we were pretty excited about getting it). Finally, after three years :) The journey is the reward…

Day before the big tournament, we had a walk around Vladivostok with our team’s private tour guide, Natasha. She’s a foreign language/student intern who was brought in by the Pacific Open organizers to help out with communication during our stay.

Thanks for the great help with everything, and making our team feel right at home! Next time, we need to come prepared to speak a little more Russian. Priviettttt!  

Check out some highlights from Team Japan’s trip last month to the 2011 Pacific Open in Vladivostok, Russia. This was the first time for some of our players to ever get a visa.  Big world out there. Make it happen, Rising Suns! 

Rising Suns in Vladivostok!

Here’s a look at our first couple of days in Russia. We were just getting into the flow and finding our way around this quiet little seaside town— thanks to our wonderful guide Natasha.

Vladivostok has some big things coming up, with their scheduled hosting of the 2012 APEC Summit. Much of the town seems to be still under construction (including that massive bridge which will hopefully be stretching across the bay by this time next year).  Cheering for you, Vladivostok friends!

Rising Suns @ Pacific Open 2011: Roster Update!

ST (Shuji Takei)
PG 178cm/75kg
Career: Professional/ Berlin Baskets (Germany, 2010-11), San Marcos (Peru, 2010), Santa Barbara Breakers (USA, 2007), Toyama Grouses (Japan, 2006-07). Streetball: Played in International Streetball Championship “QUAI 54”/Paris in 2009, 2010 as captain of “Rising Suns”, representing Japan,  won back to back in “ALLDAY”, the biggest streetball tournament in Japan and named MVP 2 times

K-TA (Keita Suzuki)
G/F 180cm/80kg
Career: Streetball/ Played in “Light City League” at Shanghai in 2011 as “Team SOMECITY”, in “QUAI 54” in 2010 as “Rising Suns”, in “DYCKMAN” in 2005 as “Far East Ballers”, organizes “SOMECITY”, streetball league in Japan since 2007. Club team/ Played in “RBC Tokyo” as starting 5 since 2008

WORM
C 194cm/90kg
Age: ?
Career: Streetball/ Played in “SOMECITY” as “UNDERDOG” won back to back in “ALLDAY”, the biggest streetball tournament in Japan, and now playing in new streetball league “HOOPERS”