For BT Toews, facing Japan at the 20th Asian Games is more than a test. It is a return to a place that shaped much of his life.
Toews spent 35 years in Japan, building deep ties to the country.
Now, just four months after leaving, Toews finds himself back — this time on the opposite side of the court, leading the Philippines against the host nation.
“Yeah, well, this is not just my last coaching assignment. This is my life here 35 years in Japan,” he said.
“So it’s more to me like, it’s really nice to come home. I’ve only been away for four months, and by the way, I love coaching my team.”
The familiarity, however, will disappear once the ball is tipped.
Toews knows the significance of the occasion, but the coach also understands that sentiment has no place once the game begins. His attention will be entirely on giving Gilas Women a chance against one of Asia’s basketball powers.
“But when the game comes, I’ll be completely focused and probably acting like a crazy man on the sidelines, trying to do this and that,” he said.
Japan presents a formidable challenge, but Toews refuses to entertain the idea that the Philippines is entering Tuesday’s game without a chance. For him, an upset begins with believing it is possible.
“Nobody can say that there’s no way we can win, right? We can definitely win this game, but we’re going to need a better performance,” he said.
Gilas Women have already secured their place in the quarterfinals after opening the Asian Games with victories over Kazakhstan and Hong Kong. They improved to 2-0 after a 90-73 win over Hong Kong, setting up a showdown with the hosts, with a sweep of Group B at stake.
Stefanie Berberabe, who erupted for 21 points against Hong Kong, is embracing the opportunity rather than looking too far ahead.
For the 22-year-old guard, the knockout stage can wait. Japan is the only thing occupying the team’s attention for now.
“Yes, I think definitely taking it game by game, day by day. I’m very excited to play Japan. I love the challenge. I’m excited to see what Coach BT has planned for us just because he’s so familiar with the style of Japanese basketball,” he said.
That familiarity could give the Philippines an added layer of preparation, with Toews possessing firsthand knowledge of the Japanese game after decades spent in the country.
But Berberabe knows coaching plans alone will not be enough. The Philippines will have to execute.
“And I believe that our team, if we can play our best basketball, we can put up a game with them.”
There is also no hiding from the reality of the matchup. Japan is the host, while the Philippines enters as the underdog. But for Berberabe, that label is something to welcome rather than fear.
“I feel like many people see us as the underdogs, so I’m up for it. I love the challenge. I’m excited to see; it’s okay to be the underdog. Yeah, there’s nothing wrong with that, so I’m excited,” she said.
