Captain Hiramatsu tears of relief. Remains in the 1st division due to replacement system! / Kanto University Division 1 League Replacement Match
Meiji University finished in 10th place in the Kanto University 1st Division League (hereinafter referred to as 1st Division) and faced Hodai, 3rd place in the 2nd Division, in a relegation match. Although they won the first game, they stalled in the fourth quarter and lost the second game. In the third match, all the players put their heart and soul to the forefront and achieved a stunning victory. As a result, it was decided that the team would remain in the first division.
◆11.5-7 Kanto University Division 1 League Replacement Game (Esforta Arena Hachioji)
▼11.5-7 Taiho Taisen (Esforta Arena Hachioji)
1st round
◯Meiji University 63 {13-19, 19-10, 18-8, 13-16} 53 Hodai University
2nd round
Meidai 57 {19-10, 18-28, 12-11, 8-24} 73 Hodai ◯
3rd round
◯Meiji University 62 {10-11, 24-13, 11-12, 17-14} 50 Hodai University
The first round was played with a fresh mindset after the bitter loss in the final game of the First Division. They set up double teams from the beginning of the game, embodying an aggressive defense and not allowing their opponents to score easily. In the 4th quarter, although the team struggled against the pressure of the opponent’s all-court defense, the double guard of PG Captain Katsuki Hiramatsu (Jokomi 4 = Fukuoka Ohori) and PG Kira Morita (Engage 2 = Hokuriku Gakuin) calmly moved the ball. control the match. Although the score was tied at one point, Morita’s 3-point shot with one minute left in the game decided the game, and they were able to shake off the opponent’s efforts and take their first win.
After winning the first round, we entered the second round. Although Hodai took the lead, SF Shuntaro Muto (Politics and Economics 2 = Kaishi Kokusai) immediately made a layup shot to tie the score. Muto’s unrivaled accuracy shot stood out, and the first quarter ended at 19-10. In the second quarter, the game continued to be evenly matched, and the game ended with a one-point deficit. In the second half, it was a see-saw game with both teams competing for one point. As the game entered the final stages with a one-point lead, the difference in their tenacity for victory was evident in their rebounding and competition for the ball, and the tide turned towards Hodai. Hodai sank 3-point shots, but Meiji University lacked 3-point shots and free throws. From there, the point difference widened, and they lost the game 57-73.
Hiramatsu faced the fateful third round with “a feeling that cannot be compared to any previous games.” (Hiramatsu) In the early stages, both teams played solid defense, making it difficult to score points. In the second quarter, he gradually got the hang of things and said, “The fact that I was the starting point and got involved in the scoring led to a successful result.” (PF Haruteru Ito, Political Science and Economics 4 = Toko Gakuen) Take advantage of it and accumulate points. They ended the first half with a 10 point lead, 34-24. In the second half, the game reached a stalemate again. Hiramatsu was the one who solved this problem. A 3-point shot that hits the opponent from the high post. They continued to run away without giving up the lead, achieving a comfortable victory and deciding to remain in the first division.
Meiji University won the fierce battle with Hodai with two wins and one loss. Hiramatsu shed tears of relief after the match, saying, “I was under pressure for three days, so I’m glad we won the third game.” Although they had a tough time in the second half of the first-division league game, they showed their determination in the replacement game and won their spot.
And in December, the biggest stage of the year, the All Japan Intercollegiate Championships, will be held. From the beginning of the season, the players have always talked about their goal of winning the intercollegiate championship. Will the talented fourth-year students, including Hiramatsu, Ito, and SG Daisho Koshida (Politics and Economics 4 = Sendai Daimeisei), be able to crown a successful conclusion in the final intercollegiate school? Riding on the momentum of deciding to stay, they will try their best in each game.
[Taiyo Hashimoto, Yurina Taira, Harusuke Hayasaka]
Comments after the match
Hiramatsu
――I would like to ask you to renew your goals and enthusiasm for the intercollegiate school.
“Our goal is to win the championship. We’re going to do our best every game, and since it’s our last college game, we’re going to do our best to help us achieve that goal.”
Ito
――Please be enthusiastic about your intercollegiate career.
“It’s been really frustrating every year, so this year we’re going to beat the top teams in the first division, and our goal is to win the intercollegiate championship, so I want the whole team to work hard towards that goal.”
Koshida
――Please be enthusiastic about your intercollegiate career.
“Meiji’s goal is to win the intercollegiate championship, so if we were to prepare as much as we have been up to now, we would end up with just not enough, so I want to go into the game prepared without over-preparing.”
PF Yusuke Yamagishi (Politics and Economics 3 = Rakunan)
――How do you feel about being entrusted with the starting role from the final stage of the league match to the replacement match?
“I haven’t had a lot of playing time in league games, but I kept preparing for it someday, and as a result, due to (the players around me) being unwell, injured, and other accidents, I was given the starting position. However, rather than being suddenly appointed to the starting position, I think it’s because I’ve been preparing on a daily basis, and the results I’ve been working on have paid off, so I’ll continue to work hard without getting too excited.”
