Coach Wataru Takahashi brings a young team with only three seniors to the Classic, but his roster also shows surprisingly good height, with three players — senior Kazuto Osawa, junior Ayanari Sasaki and sophomore Renji Iwasaki — listed at 6-11. Another player, junior Keishi Sanada, is listed at 6-3. But after sophomore guard Kaito Kawai (6-0), the rest of the 20-person roster is 5-11 or shorter.

Takahashi said the Phoenix, who are affiliated with Osaka Gakuin University, will focus on a strong defense this season.