WJBL Round 17 of Regular Season

Here is the last round review presented by LBM Management.

The most exciting game of round 17 in the WJBL took place in Tokyo. This derby game ended with only one-point home defeat of 12th ranked Haneda V. (3-14) to eighth ranked Hitachi Cougars (7-9) 71-70 on Tuesday evening. Forward Ririka Okuyama (180-2000) stepped up and scored 18 points and 5 rebounds for the winners and Senegalese center Daramee Malem-Doi (187-1997) chipped in 13 points and 5 rebounds. Center Miwa Kuribayashi (188-1998) responded with 19 points and 7 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Hitachi Cougars moved-up to seventh place. Haneda V. lost third consecutive game. They keep the twelfth position with 14 games lost. Hitachi Cougars will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Haneda V. will play again on the road against Hitachi Cougars (#7) in Hitachinaka and is hoping to prove to their supporters that they can break losing series.
14th ranked Niigata R. (2-16) was outscored at home by fifth ranked Chanson V-M (14-3) with the biggest margin this round 78-57. The former international center Izoje Uche (188-2004) nailed a double-double by scoring 25 points and 16 rebounds (on 12-of-13 shooting from the field) for the winning side and Yurika Sato accounted for 12 points and 11 rebounds. Center Yumi Yano (180-1997) came up with 21 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists for Niigata R. in the defeat. Chanson V-M have an impressive series of nine victories in a row. They maintain fifth place with 14-3 record. Niigata R. at the other side stay at the bottom position with 16 games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.

There were no shocking results in the rest of the games of round 17: Chanson V-M destroyed Niigata R. on the opponent's court 85-66. Eneos S. managed to outperform Himeji E. in a home game 81-66. Aishin AW recorded a loss to Toyota BSR on the road 91-75.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 24 points and 8 rebounds by Jessica Wariebimo of Toyota BSR.

The Round Review is presented by LBM Management. A full-service agency focused on Women's basketball sphere and working worldwide. A global and ethical quality service.

Niigata R. - Chanson V-M 57-78

14th ranked Niigata R. (2-16) was outscored at home by fifth ranked Chanson V-M (14-3) with the biggest margin this round 78-57. Chanson V-M dominated down low during the game scoring 60 of its points in the paint compared to Niigata R.'s 38. They outrebounded Niigata R. 63-41 including a 42-27 advantage in defensive rebounds. Chanson V-M players were unselfish on offense dishing 21 assists. The former international center Izoje Uche (188-2004) nailed a double-double by scoring 25 points and 16 rebounds (on 12-of-13 shooting from the field) for the winning side and the former international Yurika Sato (176-1998) accounted for 12 points and 11 rebounds. Center Yumi Yano (180-1997) came up with 21 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists and swingman Akari Honda (177-2000) added 16 points and 5 rebounds respectively for Niigata R. in the defeat. Chanson V-M have an impressive series of nine victories in a row. They maintain fifth place with 14-3 record. Niigata R. at the other side stay at the bottom position with 16 games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Chanson V-M: U.Izoje 25+16reb+2ast, S.Yurika 12+11reb, S.Traore 9+9reb, S.Minami 8+2reb+2ast, K.Aina 8+5reb+2ast, Y.Mai 5+3reb+2ast
Niigata R.: Y.Yumi 21+9reb+4ast, H.Akari 16+5reb+3ast, M.Nishitarumizu 5+6reb, K.Miyu 5+1reb+4ast, K.Akira 4+5reb+3ast, K.Midori 2+2reb+1ast

Niigata R. - Chanson V-M 66-85

Very expected game in Tokyo where 14th ranked Niigata R. (2-16) was crushed by fifth ranked Chanson V-M (14-3) 85-66. Chanson V-M dominated down low during the game scoring 70 of its points in the paint compared to Niigata R.'s 28. They outrebounded Niigata R. 58-30 including a 34-15 advantage in defensive rebounds. Chanson V-M players were unselfish on offense dishing 28 assists comparing to just 15 passes made by Niigata R.'s players. The former international center Izoje Uche (188-2004) nailed a double-double by scoring 22 points and 18 rebounds (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field) for the winning side and swingman Takano Hashikouta (168-1995) accounted for 13 points. Four Chanson V-M players scored in double figures. Forward Nishitarumizu Misakura (170-1998) came up with 7 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals and center Yumi Yano (180-1997) added 16 points and 5 steals respectively for Niigata R. in the defeat. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The victory was the ninth consecutive win for Chanson V-M. They maintain fifth place with 14-3 record. Niigata R. at the other side stay at the bottom position with 16 games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Chanson V-M: U.Izoje 22+18reb+1ast, H.Takano 13+4reb+3ast, K.Aina 11+3reb+1ast, S.Yurika 10+5reb+3ast, I.Hashiguchi 4+3reb, S.Minami 4+2reb+2ast
Niigata R.: Y.Yumi 16+3reb+1ast, H.Akari 14+3reb+3ast, K.Miyu 10+4reb+3ast, K.Akira 7+1reb+1ast, M.Nishitarumizu 7+9reb+4ast, S.Yukina 5+2ast

Eneos S. - Himeji E. 81-66

Very predictable result in Kashiwa where fourth ranked Eneos S. (15-2) defeated 11th ranked Himeji E. (3-13) 81-66. Eneos S. dominated down low during the game scoring 60 of its points in the paint compared to Himeji E.'s 40. They outrebounded Himeji E. 51-38 including a 23-12 advantage in offensive rebounds. Eneos S. brought some defensive toughness making 7 blocks. Point guard Shizuka Takada (168-1996) nailed 19 points and 6 rebounds for the winning side and center Raw Yoshinro (188-1995) accounted for 16 points and 9 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field). Four Eneos S. players scored in double figures. Point guard Aoi Ishimaki (165-2000) came up with 22 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists and point guard Saori Yoshida (158-1984) added 12 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists respectively for Himeji E. in the defeat. Himeji E.'s coach Yoshihiko Iyoda rotated eleven players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The victory was the sixth consecutive win for Eneos S.. Defending champion moved-up to second place. Himeji E. at the other side keeps the eleventh position with 13 games lost. Eneos S. will again play against Himeji E. (#11) at home in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Himeji E. will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Eneos S.: S.Takada 19+6reb+3ast, Y.Raw 16+9reb, T.Nakada 15+3reb+1ast, A.Hoshi 13+5reb+5ast, M.Nagaoka 9+5reb, S.Miyazaki 7+6reb+4ast
Himeji E.: I.Aoi 22+8reb+6ast, E.Maho 12+5reb, S.Yoshida 12+6reb+5ast, T.Kana 6+4reb, H.Shiori 4+2reb+1ast, N.Reina 4+2reb

Haneda V. - Hitachi Cougars 70-71

The most exciting game of round 17 in the WJBL took place in Tokyo. This derby game ended with only one-point home defeat of 12th ranked Haneda V. (3-14) to eighth ranked Hitachi Cougars (7-9) 71-70 on Tuesday evening. Forward Ririka Okuyama (180-2000) stepped up and scored 18 points and 5 rebounds for the winners and Senegalese center Daramee Malem-Doi (187-1997) chipped in 13 points and 5 rebounds. Center Miwa Kuribayashi (188-1998) responded with 19 points and 7 rebounds and point guard Hotaru Kabashima (162-1999) scored 5 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Hitachi Cougars moved-up to seventh place. Haneda V. lost third consecutive game. They keep the twelfth position with 14 games lost. Hitachi Cougars will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Haneda V. will play again on the road against Hitachi Cougars (#7) in Hitachinaka and is hoping to prove to their supporters that they can break losing series.
Top scorers:
Hitachi Cougars: R.Okuyama 18+5reb, M.Daramee 13+5reb+2ast, N.Yuki 8+4reb+4ast, N.Sato 6+4reb+4ast, A.Hoshi 6+3reb+2ast, F.Haruka 5+3reb+1ast
Haneda V.: M.Kuribayashi 19+7reb+3ast, M.Mirei 10+3reb+1ast, Y.Tsumura 8+2reb+1ast, N.Motohashi 7+5reb, N.Mizuno 6+1reb+2ast, H.Takahara 6+1reb

Toyota BSR - Aishin AW 91-75

The game between closely ranked teams ended with 7th ranked Aishin AW's (6-10) road loss to sixth ranked Toyota BSR (11-6) 75-91. Toyota BSR made 16-of-20 charity shots (80.0 percent) during the game. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 25 assists comparing to just 12 passes made by Aishin AW's players. Center Jessica Wariebimo (188-2005) nailed 24 points and 8 rebounds (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field) for the winning side and international Nanako Todo (175-2000) accounted for 12 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists and 5 steals. Four Toyota BSR players scored in double figures. Saki Iijima (173-1992) came up with 19 points and 6 rebounds and point guard Akane Moriguchi (163-2001) added 13 points respectively for Aishin AW in the defeat. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Toyota BSR maintains sixth place with 11-6 record. Aishin AW lost their fifth game in a row. They dropped to the eighth position with ten games lost. Toyota BSR will again play against Aishin AW (#8) in Anjo in the next round. Aishin AW will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Toyota BSR: W.Jessica 24+8reb, Y.Kitamura 14+4reb+4ast, T.Nanako 12+8reb+9ast, M.Kawamura 10+4reb+1ast, H.Asuka 9+2reb+3ast, M.Sakamoto 9+1reb+3ast
Aishin AW: S.Iijima 19+6reb, M.Akane 13+3reb+3ast, S.Noguchi 10+2reb+3ast, J.Mineharu 8+4reb+1ast, C.Sakai 8+1reb+1ast, U.Ayaka 6+4reb+1ast