Win or lose, UNBC will gain by hosting the Japanese national under-18 girls basketball team, according to university athletics director Jason Kerswill.
The UNBC Timberwolves women's basketball team played the Japanese national team on Tuesday and will be facing them again tonight at 7 p.m. Kerswill said Timberwolves' head coach Loralyn Murdoch and former Canadian national men's basketball coach Ken Shields were instrumental in bringing the Japanese national team to Prince George.
"The Japanese team was looking to come to Canada over Christmas and New Year's," Kerswill said. "[Shields] was able to convince them to come up to play here in Prince George."
Shields coached professionally in Japan in 1998 to 2000, and continues to work as an advisor to the Japanese national teams. He served as the head coach of the University of Victoria Vikes from 1976 to 1989.
The Japanese team defeated the Vikes in a New Year's Day exhibition game and crushed Camosun College by more than 40 points on Monday.
"It's going to be tough sledding for the [UNBC] team. There isn't a lot of teams here which can provide them much competition," Kerswill said. "It's a great way for our team to showcase how far it's come. Hopefully we come up with a win."
Even if the Timberwolves are blanked in the two-game series, it will be a great way for the 'Wolves to kick off their year, he said.
"Anytime we have an opportunity to host something from outside North America... we're open to the opportunity," Kerswill said. "I definitely hope this is more than a one-time event. Perhaps there will be an opportunity for our team to travel to Japan someday."
UNBC attracts a growing contingent of international students, Kerswill added, and this trip will give the Japanese team - who are high school aged - an opportunity to see what UNBC offers.
UNBC president George Iwama was not available for comment as of press time.
See Sports for coverage of Tuesday night's game.
