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A hot battle to blow away the cold! Queen Bees play away to Niigata for 2nd consecutive match
The match against Alanmare Akita was held on November 2nd and 3rd. In Game 1 on the 2nd, they made a comeback with 4 minutes and 43 seconds left and won 74-72. However, in Game 2 on the 3rd, although they were forced to struggle with a 14-point lead in the first quarter, they caught up in the fourth quarter and went to overtime, but they narrowly missed out on a consecutive win at 76-83, and the Queens It was a two-day test of physical strength and willpower for the Bees.
Starting today, they will play two consecutive away games against Niigata at the Suwara General Gymnasium in Agano City, Niigata Prefecture. The results so far are Queen Bees in 4th place with 3 wins and 5 losses, and Niigata in 3rd place with 5 wins and 3 losses, so this match will have an impact on the outcome of the battle for rankings. At all costs, they would like to win consecutive games against Niigata, get back to an even record of 5 wins and 5 losses, and gain momentum for the second round of the match, which begins in the next round, against Tokyo Haneda.
On the other hand, Niigata is currently a team that has the momentum to ride the wave, having beaten the leaders Tokyo Haneda and second place Mitsubishi Electric. With a series of away matches ahead, head coach Sachiko Ishikawa and captain Momoko Inoue are reconfirming specific points for victory, taking into consideration the issues that were apparent in the second match against Alanmare Akita. Head coach Ishikawa expressed his strong enthusiasm for the match against Niigata, saying, “Niigata is a tough team, but we won’t lose against them either. Furthermore, both the head coach and captain believe that applying the lessons learned from the match against Akita to maintain “concentration at the ball for 40 minutes with defense, rebounding, and loose balls” will lead to the next offense. Rebounding, which they struggled against against Aranmare Akita, is a particularly important issue, and they need to improve their ball possession to prevent their opponents from taking the initiative.
I think the underlying commonality between both teams is their obsession with the ball and their never-give-up play. If we fall behind in this area, we won’t be able to win. We want the whole team to work together and run through the two days toward victory without giving up until the very end.
This weekend marks the beginning of winter, and the first kogarashi is blowing in various places, making it feel like winter is finally here. There is no doubt that it will be a hot two days that will blow away the winter cold with the fan booster. Aim for the future promotion!
Head coach/captain statement
Sachiko Ishikawa Head Coach
Niigata has a more solid center field than last year, and is an aggressive team where everyone, including new players, maintains an attacking stance. We can score points from anywhere, so I feel that we have a different strength than last year.
Niigata is a team that does not give up until the very end, playing persistently and tenaciously. Similarly, we excel in tenacity and cannot be discouraged by just one hit. It is important for us to attack aggressively both on offense and defense. The two consecutive games against Niigata are the last important games of the first round and will have a big impact on the ranking. First of all, I would like to focus on the play in front of me rather than winning or losing, which will lead to results.
Looking back at the match against Alanmare Akita, the slow start to action affected the match. The entire team needs to stay focused from the beginning of the match and fight at a minimum level. When one player cannot move, other players follow and the whole team fights.
Momoko Inoue
I feel that Niigata is a team that is riding a wave of waves right now. They are gaining momentum as they have won against top teams such as Mitsubishi Electric and Tokyo Haneda. However, they are a team that not only uses momentum, but also uses their bodies to respond to rebounds and loose balls, and chase aggressively. I think that’s why we have a winning star.
I feel like we have a slight advantage physically. However, last season we had the experience of having to pick up too many offensive rebounds on the second day of the game, so I think that will be the key to victory.
In the second match against Akita the other day, we had a disappointing loss, but we were keenly aware of the importance of tenacity, defense, rebounding, and loose balls, especially on the ball. We are still lacking in areas, so if we can do these things thoroughly for 40 minutes and outscore Niigata, I feel like we can advance the match at our own pace.
If we can win two games in two consecutive games against Niigata, our ranking will change significantly and it will give us confidence heading into the next match. We are getting tired from the back-to-back matches, but we will work together as a team to overcome this obstacle.
