In the men's basketball B League, the final of the championship that decides the winning team of this season has begun, and in the first round, Utsunomiya Brex reversed the Ryukyu Golden Kings in the fourth quarter and won 80 to 61, winning the championship for the first time in five seasons. I made a check.
The first round of the B League final, in which the team that won the first two wins, will be held at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on the 28th. Utsunomiya played against each other.
The match was a close match in which both teams competed for points from the first quarter, and Ryukyu took the lead of 19-18 in the first quarter.
Utsunomiya, on the other hand, turned around in the second quarter with Yusuke Endo's three-point shot in a row, with 38-35 and Utsunomiya returning to the first half with a three-point lead.
In the third quarter, Ryukyu succeeded in reversing with three-point shots by Keita Imamura and Shota Onodera, taking a two-point lead.
However, in the 4th quarter, Utsunomiya's ace, Makoto Hiejima, scored 11 points with this quarter alone, but with a strong defense, Ryukyu's attack was suppressed to 5 points, and Utsunomiya started the first match 80 to 61. He won the championship for the first time in five seasons.
Round 2 of the Championship Final will take place on the 29th.
Utsunomiya Hiejima "I was able to create a team-like appearance from the middle"
Makoto Hiejima of Utsunomiya, who won the first round, recalled, "There was a peculiar feeling of tension and the whole team was a heavy development, but from the middle I was able to show the team-likeness."
Regarding the 4th quarter, which he scored 11 points, he tightened his feelings, saying, "Because I couldn't get the ball and the drive was stopped, I tried to attack with a strong feeling. I want to switch again tomorrow." ..
Head coach Ryuzo Anzai said at a press conference after the match, "It was a game like this because the players could put up with it all the time and bring momentum at the end. I want to prepare from the beginning. "
Ryukyu Imamura "I can't stand the time when things go wrong"
Keita Imamura of Ryukyu, who lost the first round, said, "We were able to play the basketball we wanted to play until the third quarter, but we couldn't stand it when the time went wrong, and we played too much individually. The ball stagnated. "
For the second round on the 29th, "Utsunomiya was set up with offenses from various directions and we couldn't fix it, so we want to fix it. It's a difficult start to the final, but we win the remaining two games and win the championship. I want to enjoy the challenge. "
Head coach Dai Oketani said, "I'm stressed by the opponent's defense and I'll do it for 40 minutes in a mentally tight situation, but if I don't overcome it, I won't win. I'm ready to fight again in terms of feelings. I want to do it. "
Ryukyu Golden Kings Support from local Okinawa
In Okinawa City, the hometown of the Ryukyu Golden Kings, who advanced to the championship final for the first time in the men's basketball B league, they are enthusiastic about supporting the team aiming for the first victory.
On the 28th of the first match of the final in the shopping district in the center of Okinawa City, the hometown of Ryukyu, which advanced to the championship final for the first time in the B league west district, about 50 shops such as restaurants and clothes stores are teamed up. I was serving customers wearing uniforms.
Public viewing of the game was also held in a corner of the shopping district, and the gathered people gave a big applause when the Ryukyu players scored a shot or stole the ball.
The match was unfortunately lost, but the people who gathered said, "I think the players did their best" and "I'm sorry, but I think tomorrow will definitely win."
Masaya Ochikawa, the secretary general of the Koza Shopping District Association, which hosted the public viewing, said, "Of course, tomorrow, I would like to continue to support the team from the shopping district and liven up the town and the team."