DRIVE TO GLORY
JAPAN B.LEAGUE FINALS 2021-22 (hereinafter referred to as “final”), the top decisive battle between Ryukyu Golden Kings and Utsunomiya Brex, which was realized for the first time in the 6th season since B.LEAGUE started, was held on May 28th. Ryukyu will make its first appearance in the final, and it will be the first time for Ryukyu and Utsunomiya to play against each other in B.LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP (CS). It was a fierce battle on the street.
Teams representing the league will play against each other in the final
The Ryukyu Golden Kings, who finished the regular season with the highest winning percentage in the entire league and climbed to the top decisive battle for the first time, and Utsunomiya Brex, who defeated the powerhouses in the eastern region from the position of the top of the wild card, made the advance following last season. This season’s B1 final seems to be a contrasting face-to-face in every sense, but Utsunomiya is in 1st place in the league and Ryukyu is in 3rd place in the average goal per game in the regular season. .. Ryukyu has won consecutive games in the regular season, but the difference is only 1 point and 3 points. Both of them had the momentum to run up the championship with four consecutive victories, and a fierce battle was inevitable.
The summit decisive battle thus greeted. Ryukyu has an advantage in rebounding at the beginning of the first game. Utsunomiya attacks the paint area powerfully, but Jack Cooley continues to rebound in both offense and defense in Ryukyu, marking 8 rebounds in the first quarter alone. However, Utsunomiya also revived with three outside shots of Chase Fieler, who has become a joker in CS, and Ryukyu was only one point lead in the first quarter with 19-18.
The second quarter begins with a long 3 points that is synonymous with Ryuichi Kishimoto (Ryukyu). Utsunomiya did not give up, such as inviting a turnover with a changed defense, and immediately after the official time-out, Yusuke Endo took the lead with three consecutive points. However, Ryukyu also continued to rebound with Coolie, and Koh Flippin’s drive became a buzzer beater, ending the first half with a 3-point lead at Utsunomiya at 35-38.
In the third quarter, Ryukyu, who lacks Narito Namizato, falls into a pinch due to Kishimoto’s foul trouble, but Shota Onodera, who replaces him, scores three points. In addition, Keita Imamura (Ryukyu) broke 3 points and took a step forward, but after that Utsunomiya also stuck in the defense and entered the 4th quarter with 56-54 and Ryukyu 2 points lead. It seemed that the struggle for the brim would continue as it was.
However, the last 10 minutes was an unexpected development. Ryukyu stopped scoring against Utsunomiya, who took the lead with Makoto Hiejima’s basket count. While the dunk from Flippin’s steel jumped out, Hiejima immediately counted the basket again. Ryukyu tried to break through with a time-out and a change of players, but time passed without being able to break through the defense of Utsunomiya, and only 5 points were scored in the 4th quarter. Utsunomiya, who scored points with Hiejima and Josh Scott, won first with a 19-point difference from 61-80.
Ace Hiejima explodes in the middle of the game! Utsunomiya was crowned for the second time
In the second round that followed, it wasn’t Ryukyu who took the initiative, but Utsunomiya who won the championship. While setting up in the defense, the offense made various shooting situations, and when Seiji Ikaruga (Utsunomiya) had 3 points in the first quarter with 7 minutes and 16 seconds remaining, Ryukyu had to take a time-out. After that, Ryukyu started to make a bold shot, and Utsunomiya’s scoring pace slowed down, but he couldn’t close the gap at the start and finished the first quarter at 12-21.
Ryukyu started the second quarter with Dwayne Evans’ dunk. However, this also does not signal a counterattack, and if Ryukyu closes the point difference, Utsunomiya quickly recovers, and conversely, if Utsunomiya widens the point difference, Ryukyu immediately returns the point difference, and the antagonized state continues. Utsunomiya kept the lead with 30-38 in the first half without being able to overcome the situation.
In the third quarter, Ryukyu once squeezed up to a two-point difference, but Utsunomiya also did not allow a tie due to the basket count of the Japanese grosbeak. However, Ryukyu, who often rebounded from inferiority even in the regular season, increased the strength of the defense from here, and Utsunomiya committed a series of turnovers that he did not commit in the first half. And Ryukyu finally reversed with the basket count of Evans with 1 minute and 29 seconds remaining. Utsunomiya leads again with 3 points from Feeler, but with the last 10 minutes left, the match is completely unknown with 54-55.
Even so, Utsunomiya’s competitive strength stood out in the fourth quarter, which divides fate. He quickly returned the lead to 7 points and stepped out again. Ryukyu, who wants to close the gap to 10 points at one point, is close to 2 points with Kishimoto’s 3 points and Allen Durham’s basket count, but Utsunomiya pushes it out with Hiejima and Utsunomiya’s score. With less than one minute left, Imamura’s three points were two points behind again, and Hiejima immediately counted the basket. Hiejima sank a total of three free throws even if the difference was two points three times, and at the end Hiejima decided to lay up from steel and there was a match. Utsunomiya, who won consecutive victories 75-82, was crowned for the first time in five seasons.
Expectations for next season in Ryukyu, which has gained irreplaceable experience
In a victory interview on the court, head coach Ryuzo Anzai first praised Ryukyu, saying, “I thought Ryukyu was the strongest team. Because the opponent was such a team, we were able to demonstrate more power than we could.” did. And, considering that there were several players who had the main axis until last season, “(Tabuse) Yuta and all of them came together regardless of whether they played in the game. As a result. I think we’ve grown steadily and have become the best team in this CS, “he proudly said of the team’s evolution throughout the season.
This season was the start of a series of defeats to Gunma Crane Thunders in the first year of promotion at the opening season. Everyone must have thought that the hole through which the main shaft came off was unexpectedly large. However, the team steadily regained strength over the course of the match. Josh Scott said, “It was a season with ups and downs, but it was a season where I could learn from it and grow. I was able to bring the peak firmly at the most important time and build the best team. It is because of the culture of Utsunomiya that has the mentality of the winner and has a solid foundation.
On the other hand, Dai Oketani HC of Ryukyu, who praised the other party, “I want to say” Congratulations “to everyone in Utsunomiya,” said, “I didn’t get any results, but I would like to thank you for letting me stand here. The experience will be irreplaceable for Kings and I would like to come back here again. ” If you think about it, Utsunomiya also wept on the final stage last season. That experience must have been linked to this victory. I hope that Ryukyu, who has become stronger after losing the final, will rampage again next season.
