WJBL Round 9 (Regular Season): Fujitsu RW defeat Toyota A. in the closest game of the week

Here is the last round review presented by LBM Management.

Sixth-ranked Toyota A. (6-12) gave a tough game to first ranked Fujitsu RW (16-2) in Nagoya on Saturday. The visitors from Kawasaki managed to secure only three-point victory 81-78. However their fans expected much easier game. Strangely Toyota A. outrebounded Fujitsu RW 38-25 including 16 on the offensive glass. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Fujitsu RW made 7 blocks. The former international forward Yuki Miyazawa (183-1993, college: Queens, NY) stepped up and scored 24 points and 6 assists for the winners and the former international point guard Rui Machida (162-1993) chipped in 12 points and 8 assists. The best for the losing side was the former international point guard Mai Yamamoto (163-1999) with 29 points. Toyota A.'s coach Yuko Ogami tried various players' combinations and tested in total eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Fujitsu RW have an impressive series of nine victories in a row. Defending champion maintains first place with 16-2 record. Toyota A. lost fourth consecutive game. They dropped to the seventh position with 12 games lost. Fujitsu RW are looking forward to face Eneos S. (#3) in Kashiwa in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Toyota A. will play on the road against Toyota BSR (#5) in Aichi and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Important game to mention about took place in Aichi. Seventh ranked Aishin AW (7-12) saved a 3-point victory on the road edging 5th ranked Toyota BSR (7-11) 66-63 on Sunday evening. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Toyota BSR. The former international power forward Ramu Tokashiki (193-1991) nailed 21 points and 7 rebounds for the winning side and Asuka Hirasue accounted for 15 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Center Jessica Wariebimo (188-2005) came up with 8 points and 20 rebounds for Toyota BSR in the defeat. Aishin AW moved-up to sixth place. Toyota BSR at the other side keeps the fifth position with 11 games lost. Aishin AW will play against league's second-placed Denso I. in Kariya in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Toyota BSR will play at home against Toyota A. and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Very important is a home loss of third ranked Eneos S. (10-7) against fourth ranked Chanson V-M (9-9) on Saturday night. Host Eneos S. was crushed by Chanson V-M in Kashiwa 71-52. The best player for the winners was Yurika Sato who scored 21 points and 6 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was Okoe Mominoka who recorded 12 points. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Chanson V-M maintains fourth place with 9-9 record. Loser Eneos S. keeps the third position with seven games lost. Chanson V-M will meet bottom-ranked Hitachi Cougars (#8) in the next round. Eneos S. will play against the league's leader Fujitsu RW (#1) in Kawasaki and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

There were no shocking results in the rest of the games of round 9: bottom-ranked Hitachi Cougars were destroyed by Denso I. on the opponent's court 73-49. Toyota BSR managed to outperform Aishin AW in a home game 67-63. Bottom-ranked Hitachi Cougars were rolled over Denso I. on the road 74-51. Toyota A. lost to defending champion Fujitsu RW on its own court 61-70. Chanson V-M smashed Eneos S. in Shizuoka 100-71.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 18 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists by Mai Yoshida of Chanson V-M.

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.

Denso I. - Hitachi Cougars 73-49

Very expected game in Kariya where 8th ranked Hitachi Cougars (2-16) were crushed by second ranked Denso I. (15-3) 73-49 on Saturday. Denso I. forced 23 Hitachi Cougars turnovers. The best player for the winners was the former international center Maki Takada (185-1989) who scored 18 points. The former international point guard Mai Kawai (171-1996) chipped in 10 points, 6 assists and 4 steals. At the other side the best for losing team was Gambian center Aminata Faru (197-2004) who recorded 8 points and 7 rebounds and Honoka Morioka (172-2004) added 8 points respectively. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. The victory was the third consecutive win for Denso I.. They maintain second place with 15-3 record behind leader Fujitsu RW. Hitachi Cougars lost their third game in a row. They stay at the bottom position with 16 games lost. Denso I. will meet at home Aishin AW (#6) in the next round. Hitachi Cougars will play against Chanson V-M and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Hitachi Cougars: A.Faru 8+7reb+1ast, H.Morioka 8+4reb+3ast, H.Aka 7+4reb, D.Malem-Doi 6+5reb, A.Onizuka 6+1reb, Y.Nakano 6+3reb+1ast
Denso I.: M.Takada 18+4reb, A.Kimura 11+1ast, M.Kawai 10+2reb+6ast, S.Akaho 8+7reb+1ast, A.Himawari 7+7reb+4ast, C.Umeki 7+1reb+1ast

Eneos S. - Chanson V-M 52-71

Very important is a home loss of third ranked Eneos S. (10-7) against fourth ranked Chanson V-M (9-9) on Saturday night. Host Eneos S. was crushed by Chanson V-M in Kashiwa 71-52. Chanson V-M outrebounded Eneos S. 56-38 including a 27-15 advantage in offensive rebounds. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Chanson V-M made 7 blocks. The best player for the winners was the former international Yurika Sato (176-1998) who scored 21 points and 6 rebounds. The former international swingman Mai Yoshida (175-1998) chipped in 11 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 6 steals. At the other side the best for losing team was center Okoe Mominoka (182-1999) who recorded 12 points and the former international forward Moeko Nagaoka (183-1993) added 5 points and 6 rebounds respectively. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Chanson V-M maintains fourth place with 9-9 record. Loser Eneos S. keeps the third position with seven games lost. Chanson V-M will meet bottom-ranked Hitachi Cougars (#8) in the next round. Eneos S. will play against the league's leader Fujitsu RW (#1) in Kawasaki and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Eneos S.: O.Mominoka 12+3reb+2ast, H.Yagi 10+1reb, H.Hoshi 5+3reb, M.Nagaoka 5+6reb, M.Hanashima 4+1reb, S.Miyazaki 4+3reb+3ast
Chanson V-M: Y.Sato 21+6reb, M.Yoshida 11+5reb+4ast, M.Mitsuki 7+2reb+2ast, K.Haruka 6+2reb+1ast, I.Uche 6+4reb, K.Shiotani 5+2reb+1ast

Toyota A. - Fujitsu RW 78-81

Sixth-ranked Toyota A. (6-12) gave a tough game to first ranked Fujitsu RW (16-2) in Nagoya on Saturday. The visitors from Kawasaki managed to secure only three-point victory 81-78. However their fans expected much easier game. Strangely Toyota A. outrebounded Fujitsu RW 38-25 including 16 on the offensive glass. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Fujitsu RW made 7 blocks. The former international forward Yuki Miyazawa (183-1993, college: Queens, NY) stepped up and scored 24 points and 6 assists for the winners and the former international point guard Rui Machida (162-1993) chipped in 12 points and 8 assists. The best for the losing side was the former international point guard Mai Yamamoto (163-1999) with 29 points and Nigerian center Amaka Okonkwo (186-2002) produced a double-double by scoring 14 points and 17 rebounds. Toyota A.'s coach Yuko Ogami tried various players' combinations and tested in total eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Fujitsu RW have an impressive series of nine victories in a row. Defending champion maintains first place with 16-2 record. Toyota A. lost fourth consecutive game. They dropped to the seventh position with 12 games lost. Fujitsu RW are looking forward to face Eneos S. (#3) in Kashiwa in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Toyota A. will play on the road against Toyota BSR (#5) in Aichi and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Toyota A.: M.Yamamoto 29+2reb, A.Okonkwo 14+17reb, Y.Onodera 10+3reb+1ast, U.Tanaka 7+3reb, S.Yasuma 6+3reb+6ast, M.Okamoto 5+2ast
Fujitsu RW: Y.Miyazawa 24+3reb+6ast, R.Machida 12+2reb+8ast, A.Uchio 9+8reb+1ast, M.Joshua 9+4reb+2ast, K.Miyashita 8+2reb+2ast, R.Akagi 8+3reb+3ast

Toyota BSR - Aishin AW 67-63

Rather predictable result in Aichi where fifth ranked Toyota BSR (7-11) defeated 7th ranked Aishin AW (7-12) 67-63 on Saturday. Toyota BSR had a 21-10 advantage in offensive rebounds. The best player for the winners was center Jessica Wariebimo (188-2005) who scored 6 points and 22 rebounds. Point guard Nanami Tsuno (158-2004) chipped in 19 points. Toyota BSR's coach Lucas Mondelo used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. At the other side the best for losing team was guard Sayaka Okamoto (161-1991) who recorded 21 points and 7 rebounds and the former international Sakura Noguchi (181-2001) added 11 points and 8 rebounds respectively. Four Aishin AW players scored in double figures. Toyota BSR maintains fifth place with 7-11 record. Aishin AW lost their fifth game in a row. They dropped to the sixth position with 12 games lost. Toyota BSR will meet at home Toyota A. (#7) in the next round. Aishin AW will play against the league's second-placed Denso I. in Kariya and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Aishin AW: S.Okamoto 21+7reb+1ast, S.Noguchi 11+8reb+1ast, R.Tokashiki 10+6reb, C.Sakai 10+1reb+1ast, A.Yoshida 5+3ast, A.Hirasue 4+1reb
Toyota BSR: N.Tsuno 19+2reb+3ast, N.Todo 16+2reb+1ast, Y.Kitamura 15+1reb+1ast, J.Wariebimo 6+22reb, M.Inami 5+4reb, Y.Hirashita 4+1reb

Denso I. - Hitachi Cougars 74-51

Not a big story in a game in Kariya where 8th ranked Hitachi Cougars (2-16) were rolled over by second ranked Denso I. (15-3) 74-51 on Sunday. Denso I. made 19-of-21 free shots (90.5 percent) during the game. Denso I. outrebounded Hitachi Cougars 49-31 including a 24-13 advantage in offensive rebounds. The best player for the winners was the former international center Maki Takada (185-1989) who scored 17 points and 4 assists. The former international Akaho Himawari (185-1998) chipped in 11 points and 7 rebounds (went 7 for 7 at the free throw line). Four Denso I. players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was Gambian center Aminata Faru (197-2004) who recorded 15 points and 7 rebounds and forward Ririka Okuyama (180-2000) added 14 points and 6 rebounds respectively. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. The victory was the third consecutive win for Denso I.. They maintain second place with 15-3 record behind leader Fujitsu RW. Hitachi Cougars lost their third game in a row. They stay at the bottom position with 16 games lost. Denso I. will meet at home Aishin AW (#6) in the next round. Hitachi Cougars will play against Chanson V-M and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Hitachi Cougars: A.Faru 15+7reb+2ast, R.Okuyama 14+6reb+1ast, H.Morioka 9+6reb+4ast, H.Aka 4+1reb+1ast, S.Ohara 4+1ast, D.Malem-Doi 3+1reb+1ast
Denso I.: M.Takada 17+4reb+4ast, S.Sylla 12+7reb, A.Kimura 11+6reb+3ast, A.Himawari 11+7reb+2ast, C.Umeki 8+4reb+2ast, M.Kawai 6+6reb+2ast

Toyota A. - Fujitsu RW 61-70

Everything went according to plan in Nagoya where first ranked Fujitsu RW (16-2) beat 6th ranked Toyota A. (6-12) 70-61 on Sunday. The best player for the winners was swingman Akina Uchio (177-1997) who scored 16 points. Nigerian center Mfon Joshua (190-1999) chipped in 13 points and 6 rebounds. Four Fujitsu RW players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was Nigerian center Amaka Okonkwo (186-2002) who recorded 11 points and 9 rebounds and center Ufuoma Tanaka (181-2002) added 12 points and 7 rebounds respectively. Toyota A.'s coach Yuko Ogami let to play eleven players, but that didn't help to avoid defeat in this game. The victory was the ninth consecutive win for Fujitsu RW. Defending champion maintains first place with 16-2 record. Toyota A. lost their fourth game in a row. They dropped to the seventh position with 12 games lost. Fujitsu RW will meet at home Eneos S. (#3) in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Toyota A. will play against Toyota BSR (#5) in Aichi and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Toyota A.: U.Tanaka 12+7reb, A.Okonkwo 11+9reb+1ast, M.Okamoto 9+4reb, S.Yasuma 9+1reb+6ast, M.Miura 8+2reb+1ast, M.Yamamoto 4+1ast
Fujitsu RW: A.Uchio 16+4reb, M.Joshua 13+6reb, R.Akagi 10+3reb+2ast, A.Fujimoto 10+3reb+1ast, Y.Miyazawa 8+2reb+2ast, K.Miyashita 8+3reb+2ast

Toyota BSR - Aishin AW 63-66

Important game to mention about took place in Aichi. Seventh ranked Aishin AW (7-12) saved a 3-point victory on the road edging 5th ranked Toyota BSR (7-11) 66-63 on Sunday evening. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Toyota BSR. Aishin AW forced 22 Toyota BSR turnovers. Strangely Toyota BSR outrebounded Aishin AW 51-33 including a 38-27 advantage in defensive rebounds. The former international power forward Ramu Tokashiki (193-1991) nailed 21 points and 7 rebounds for the winning side and guard Asuka Hirasue (165-1998) accounted for 15 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Center Jessica Wariebimo (188-2005) came up with 8 points and 20 rebounds and point guard Nanami Tsuno (158-2004) added 11 points and 10 rebounds respectively for Toyota BSR in the defeat. Aishin AW moved-up to sixth place. Toyota BSR at the other side keeps the fifth position with 11 games lost. Aishin AW will play against league's second-placed Denso I. in Kariya in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Toyota BSR will play at home against Toyota A. and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Toyota BSR: N.Todo 14+4reb+2ast, Y.Hirashita 12+3reb+2ast, N.Tsuno 11+10reb+3ast, J.Mineharu 9+6reb+2ast, J.Wariebimo 8+20reb, Y.Kitamura 6+2reb
Aishin AW: R.Tokashiki 21+7reb+2ast, A.Hirasue 15+5reb+4ast, S.Noguchi 15+5reb+1ast, S.Okamoto 6+7reb+7ast, N.Yamaguchi 3+2reb, C.Sakai 2+5reb+1ast

Eneos S. - Chanson V-M 71-100

We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams in Kashiwa where 3rd placed Eneos S. (10-7) was outplayed by fourth ranked Chanson V-M (9-9) 100-71 on Sunday. Chanson V-M made 22-of-22 free shots (100 percent !!!) during the game. Chanson V-M outrebounded Eneos S. 49-32 including 23 on the offensive glass. The best player for the winners was the former international swingman Mai Yoshida (175-1998) who scored 18 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Mali center Traore Setu (190-2002) chipped in 12 points and 9 rebounds. Five Chanson V-M players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was the former international center Kadysha Umezawa (190-1998) who recorded 15 points and 5 rebounds and the former international Saori Miyazaki (167-1995) added 8 points and 6 assists respectively. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Chanson V-M maintains fourth place with 9-9 record. Loser Eneos S. keeps the third position with seven games lost. Chanson V-M will meet bottom-ranked Hitachi Cougars (#8) in the next round. Eneos S. will play against the league's leader Fujitsu RW (#1) in Kawasaki and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Eneos S.: K.Umezawa 15+5reb+1ast, H.Yagi 8+5reb+1ast, H.Hoshi 8+2reb+1ast, S.Miyazaki 8+2reb+6ast, S.Shizuka 7+1reb+2ast, O.Mominoka 6+4reb+1ast
Chanson V-M: M.Yoshida 18+7reb+4ast, M.Mitsuki 16+1reb+1ast, Y.Sato 13+4ast, T.Setu 12+9reb+1ast, I.Hashiguchi 12+6reb+1ast, H.Horiuchi 8+1reb