Against a team boasting last season’s two most formidable defenders in the NBA, it was a hard-nosed former standout from Iolani School who registered the most stunning defensive play in Tuesday’s Group B Olympic basketball clash between France and Japan.

What You Need To Know

  • France beat Japan, 94-90, in overtime
  • Hugh Watanabe's block of Rudy Gobert was widely viewed on social media
  • Watanabe, 25, finished with four points, six rebounds, an assist and two blocks in just 19 minutes off the bench for Japan
  • In four years at Iolani, Watanabe (nee Hogland) helped lead Iolani to the 2016 state championship and was recognized as the Star-Advertiser State Player of the Year, Gatorade State Player of the Year and Div. I State Tournament Most Outstanding Player. He was a three-time selection for the All-Interscholastic League of Honolulu First Team and the Hawaii State All-Tournament Team

With 1:35 left in the fourth quarter, 7-foot-1 Rudy Gobert of France spun in the lane and elevated for what appeared to be an easy two-handed jam only to be stuffed at the rim by 6-foot-9 Hugh Watanabe, sparking a fast break for Japan.

Japan led 78-77 at that point. The teams would head into overtime on a 4-point play by France’s Matthew Strazel. Led by reigning NBA Rookie of the Year, all 2024 defensive player of the year runner-up Victor Wembanyama, France prevailed in the extra period to end the game 94-90.

Watanabe, 25, finished with four points, six rebounds, an assist and two blocks in just 19 minutes off the bench.

Gobert, the four-time and current NBA defensive player of the year and two-time All-NBA selection, finished with seven points, 15 rebounds, three assists, a steal and two blocks in 27 minutes.

University of Hawaii rising sophomore Akira Jacobs, who also plays for Japan, finished with three rebounds in five minutes.

While Strazel’s miraculous end-of-regulation play and Wembanyama’s eight consecutive points in overtime were the keys to France’s victory, it was Watanabe’s block of Gobert that resonated across social media the loudest in the hours following the matchup.

A video of the play on Streamable quickly amassed 10,000 views and related photo-only posts on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and other platforms received hundreds of thousands more.

Watanabe was born in Waimanalo and holds dual U.S. and Japan citizenship through his mother, Sanae. In four years at Iolani, Watanabe (nee Hogland) helped lead Iolani to the 2016 state championship and was recognized as the Star-Advertiser State Player of the Year, Gatorade State Player of the Year and Div. I State Tournament Most Outstanding Player. He was a three-time selection for the All-Interscholastic League of Honolulu First Team and the Hawaii State All-Tournament Team.

Watanabe played collegiately at the University of Portland and UC Davis before embarking on a professional career with the Ryukyu Golden Kings of the Japanese B League. He was a member of the 2020 Japanese Olympic basketball team, the youngest selection in the team’s history.

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.