From Japan to the Jungle: Sunday Dech on NBL Select Trip and Perth Wildcats Next Chapter

The two-game series in Gunma, played on June 28 and 29, saw the NBL Select Team record back-to-back wins against B.LEAGUE United. The event was designed to deepen ties between Australia’s NBL and Japan’s professional league while showcasing top-tier talent from both nations.

Perth Wildcats guard Sunday Dech made his presence felt across both contests, stepping in as a steady contributor and offering defensive coverage and unselfish playmaking. 

The trip offered Dech a chance to sharpen his game ahead of the NBL26 season, facing opponents with different playing styles on an international stage. 

Having just landed back in Australia, he spoke very highly of the trip and his time with the NBL Select Team "Yeah, it was a great week. I think first and foremost when you get an opportunity to go to Japan and represent the NBL and experience a new culture, you can't take that for granted. And then obviously doing it alongside some former teammates and guys we've known for a while, guys we competed against over five, six, seven, eight years in the NBL. So it was pretty cool. And then to head over there and get two wins against some quality competition tops off the week" he told Wildcats Media. 

Travelling to Japan was a first for Dech, where he gained a lot from the cultural side of the visit "It was unreal. Obviously, you hear the stories of the Japanese culture and experiencing it firsthand was second to none. When you get there, the country first and foremost is so clean. I don't think I saw a piece of trash my whole time there, everyone's so respectful. We also had a chance to explore Tokyo City for a little bit too, seeing the bright lights there was pretty awesome" said Dech.

The atmosphere at the games was a completely different experience for both players and coaching staff, Dech added "They were cheering for both sides, not just their own, which was different, because I think over here in the NBL you've got your team, and then you've got the opposition."

Watch the full chat with Dech upon his return to Australia here:

With his NBL Select duties in Japan complete, Dech will now turn his focus back to preparations for the Wildcats’ upcoming pre-season. His performances in Japan suggest he’ll arrive ready to add another strong chapter to his Wildcats career.

The two-time NBL Champion had this message for the Red Army ahead of his return "I'm super excited obviously to be coming back home playing in front of the Red Army and getting to work with my new teammates and coaches. We've been in contact all off season so it's going to pretty seamless coming back."

I think for us it's trying to replicate what the coaches want to instil in the group, and that's a defensive team with size, length, speed, and offensive versatility. We've got guys who can put the ball in the rim at a high level, but now we've got the bodies who can go up and down for 40 minutes. So preseason is going to be really good for us to kind of gel, get together and just understand each other's nuances and really put in JR and the coaching staff's game plan into play."

Dech finished the catch up with the same sentiment everyone is feeling in the off-season, saying "Everyone on the roster is really looking forward to playing again in front of the Red Army."

The countdown now begins for the NBL Blitz 2025 in Canberra, where the Wildcats will play Melbourne United on Wednesday 27 August (3.30pm WST).

Followed by a clash with the NBL defending champions, the Illawarra Hawks, on Friday 29 August (6.00pm WST).

The NBL26 season tips off at RAC Arena on Saturday 20 September against Tasmania JackJumpers.

Highlights from the NBL Select Global Invitational below: