WJBL Round 8 (Regular Season): #1 Toyota A. is defeated by Sunshine R.

Here is the last round review presented by LBM Management.

The most crucial game of the last round was another loss of top-ranked Toyota A. (13-3) in Aichi on Saturday night. Visitors were defeated by second ranked Sunshine R. (11-5) 82-65. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. Sunshine R. dominated down low during the game scoring 54 of its points in the paint compared to Toyota A.'s 24. Worth to mention a great performance of Nigerian-American power forward Oderah Chidom (193-1995, college: Duke) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 24 points and 11 rebounds (on 12-of-13 shooting from the field) and who added 24 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists during the contest. The former international point guard Shiori Yasuma (162-1994) responded with 10 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Sunshine R. have an impressive five-game winning streak. They maintain second position with 11-5 record having just two points less than leader Toyota A., which they share with Denso I. Toyota A. at the other side still keeps top place with three games lost. Sunshine R. is looking forward to face Denso I. (#3) in Kariya in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Toyota A. will play at home against Haneda V. and is hoping to win this game.
Important game to mention about took place in Aichi. First ranked Toyota A. (13-3) saved a 1-point victory on the road edging second-ranked Sunshine R. (11-5) 57-56 in the fight for the first place. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Sunshine R.. The winners were led by the former international point guard Shiori Yasuma (162-1994) who scored that evening 24 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists and Amaka Okonkwo supported her with 9 points and 9 rebounds. Even 9 points and 4 assists by Nigerian-American power forward Oderah Chidom (193-1995, college: Duke) did not help to save the game for Sunshine R.. Sunshine R.'s coach Lucas Mondelo rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Toyota A. maintains first position with 13-3 record. Sunshine R. at the other side keeps the second place with five games lost. They share the position with Denso I.. Toyota A. will play against bottom-ranked Haneda V. (#8) in Tokyo in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Sunshine R. will play on the road against Denso I. (#3) in Kariya and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Very important is a road loss of third ranked Fujitsu RW (10-6) against fourth ranked Denso I. (11-5) on Sunday night. Visiting Fujitsu RW was defeated by Denso I. in Kariya 74-61. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Fujitsu RW. It was a key game for the second position in the league. The best player for the winners was Maki Takada who scored 16 points and 5 rebounds. Rui Machida produced 6 points and 7 assists for the guests. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Denso I. moved-up to second place, which they share with Sunshine R. Defending champion Fujitsu RW dropped to the fourth position with six games lost. Denso I. will meet at home league's second-placed Sunshine R. in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Fujitsu RW will play against Chanson V-M in Shizuoka and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

There were no shocking results in the other games in round 8: bottom-ranked Haneda V. lost to Aishin AW on the opponent's court 56-72. Chanson V-M unfortunately lost to Eneos S. in a home game 59-69. Fujitsu RW managed to beat Denso I. on the road 57-50. Aishin AW defeated Haneda V. on its own court 65-60. Eneos S. beat Chanson V-M in Kashiwa 67-61.

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Aishin AW - Haneda V. 72-56

The game between closely ranked teams ended with 8th ranked Haneda V.'s (1-15) road loss to seventh ranked Aishin AW (4-12) 56-72 on Saturday. Aishin AW made 26-of-30 free shots (86.7 percent) during the game. The best player for the winners was the former international power forward Ramu Tokashiki (193-1991) who scored 24 points, 9 rebounds and 5 blocks (was perfect 14-for-14 from the free throw line !!!). Miku Takahashi chipped in 12 points and 7 rebounds. Four Aishin AW players scored in double figures. American center Channon Fluker (193-1997, college: CSUN) produced 17 points and 9 rebounds and Saori Yoshida added 8 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for the guests. Haneda V.'s coach Mikiko Hagiwara tested ten players seeing no chance for a win. Aishin AW maintains seventh position with 4-12 record. Haneda V. lost fourteenth consecutive game. Newly promoted team stay at the bottom place with 15 games lost. Aishin AW will meet higher ranked Eneos S. (#5) in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Haneda V. will play against the league's leader Toyota A. and will have a slim chance for a victory.
Top scorers:
Aishin AW: T.Ramu 24+9reb+1ast, S.Okamoto 13+5reb+2ast, M.Takahashi 12+7reb+3ast, A.Hirasue 11+2reb+3ast, C.Amira 6+4reb, S.Noguchi 2+2reb+2ast
Haneda V.: C.Fluker 17+9reb+2ast, Y.Saori 8+6reb+4ast, M.Nanoko 8+2reb+2ast, K.Yuki 7+2reb+1ast, M.Niko 5+4reb+1ast, K.Miwa 5

Chanson V-M - Eneos S. 59-69

The game between closely ranked teams ended with fifth ranked Eneos S.'s (8-8) road victory over 6th ranked Chanson V-M (6-10) 69-59 on Saturday. Eneos S. outrebounded Chanson V-M 54-41 including a 34-17 advantage in defensive rebounds. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Eneos S. made 8 blocks. The best player for the winners was Saori Miyazaki who scored 18 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Evelyn Mawuli chipped in 17 points and 8 rebounds. The former international power forward Ramu Tokashiki (193-1991) produced 17 points and 6 rebounds and Minami Shirasaki added 21 points and 5 steals respectively for the hosts. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Eneos S. maintains fifth position with 8-8 record. Loser Chanson V-M keeps the sixth place with ten games lost. Eneos S. will meet at home Aishin AW (#7) in the next round. Chanson V-M will play against Fujitsu RW and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Eneos S.: S.Miyazaki 18+6reb+5ast, E.Mawuli 17+8reb, P.Ashten 11+12reb+1ast, Y.Sato 5+2reb, O.Mominoka 5+8reb+2ast, H.Yagi 5+3reb
Chanson V-M: S.Minami 21+1reb+1ast, M.Hisane 17+6reb, H.Kuke 8+4reb+3ast, S.Yurika 6+6reb+2ast, M.Mori 6+1reb, C.Yuri 1+1reb+1ast

Denso I. - Fujitsu RW 50-57

The game between closely ranked teams ended with 4th ranked Denso I.'s (11-5) home loss to third ranked Fujitsu RW (10-6) 50-57 on Saturday. The best player for the winners was Saki Hayashi who scored 20 points. Mfon Joshua chipped in 10 points and 6 rebounds. Filipino power forward Jack-Danielle Animam (190-1998) produced 8 points and 9 rebounds and Mai Kawai added 10 points and 4 assists respectively for the hosts. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Fujitsu RW have a solid three-game winning streak. Despite that victory Fujitsu RW went down to fourth position due to points difference. Loser Denso I. dropped to the second place with five games lost. They share the position with Sunshine R.. Fujitsu RW will meet Chanson V-M (#6) in the next round. Denso I. will play against the league's second-placed Sunshine R. (#2) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Fujitsu RW: S.Hayashi 20+2reb, M.Maezawa 11+2reb, M.Joshua 10+6reb+1ast, Y.Miyazawa 7+6reb+2ast, K.Miyashita 5+2reb+3ast, R.Akagi 2+3reb+2ast
Denso I.: K.Mai 10+3reb+4ast, T.Maki 9+6reb, J.Animam 8+9reb, K.Ami 7+3reb+1ast, H.Akaho 6+2reb, Y.Minami 5+1reb

Sunshine R. - Toyota A. 82-65

The most crucial game of the last round was another loss of top-ranked Toyota A. (13-3) in Aichi on Saturday night. Visitors were defeated by second ranked Sunshine R. (11-5) 82-65. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. Sunshine R. dominated down low during the game scoring 54 of its points in the paint compared to Toyota A.'s 24. Worth to mention a great performance of Nigerian-American power forward Oderah Chidom (193-1995, college: Duke) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 24 points and 11 rebounds (on 12-of-13 shooting from the field) and Nanami Tsuno who added 24 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists during the contest. The former international point guard Shiori Yasuma (162-1994) responded with 10 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists and the former international point guard Mai Yamamoto (163-1999) scored 15 points and 4 assists. Four Toyota A. players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Sunshine R. have an impressive five-game winning streak. They maintain second position with 11-5 record having just two points less than leader Toyota A., which they share with Denso I. Toyota A. at the other side still keeps top place with three games lost. Sunshine R. is looking forward to face Denso I. (#3) in Kariya in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Toyota A. will play at home against Haneda V. and is hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Sunshine R.: N.Tsuno 24+5reb+5ast, C.Oderah 24+11reb+2ast, N.Todo 11+5reb, R.Okuyama 6+3reb+6ast, Y.Hirashita 6+1reb+3ast, J.Wariebimo 4+4reb+1ast
Toyota A.: M.Yamamoto 15+2reb+4ast, H.Aika 13+1reb+1ast, S.Yasuma 10+5reb+9ast, O.Amaka 10+11reb, M.Maika 8+3reb+3ast, T.Ufuoma 5+1reb+1ast

Aishin AW - Haneda V. 65-60

The game between closely ranked teams ended with seventh ranked Aishin AW's (4-12) home victory over bottom-ranked Haneda V. (1-15) 65-60 on Sunday. The best player for the winners was Sayaka Okamoto who scored 18 points and 4 assists. The former international power forward Ramu Tokashiki (193-1991) chipped in 19 points. American center Channon Fluker (193-1997, college: CSUN) produced a double-double by scoring 16 points and 13 rebounds and added 15 points and 5 rebounds respectively for the guests. Haneda V.'s coach Mikiko Hagiwara tested ten players, but that didn't help to avoid defeat in this game. Aishin AW maintains seventh position with 4-12 record. Haneda V. lost fourteenth consecutive game. Newly promoted team stay at the bottom place with 15 games lost. Aishin AW will meet higher ranked Eneos S. (#5) in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Haneda V. will play against the league's leader Toyota A. and will have a slim chance for a victory.
Top scorers:
Aishin AW: T.Ramu 19+1reb+3ast, S.Okamoto 18+4reb+4ast, C.Amira 9+7reb, M.Takahashi 9+5reb+1ast, A.Hirasue 4+1reb+6ast, S.Noguchi 4+6reb+1ast
Haneda V.: C.Fluker 16+13reb+1ast, M.Nanoko 15+5reb+3ast, Y.Saori 12+4reb+4ast, K.Yuki 6+1ast, M.Mirei 5+4reb+2ast, M.Niko 3+1reb+2ast

Chanson V-M - Eneos S. 61-67

The game between closely ranked teams ended with 6th ranked Chanson V-M's (6-10) home loss to fifth ranked Eneos S. (8-8) 61-67 on Sunday. The best player for the winners was Evelyn Mawuli who scored 21 points and 6 rebounds. Saori Miyazaki chipped in 12 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Four Eneos S. players scored in double figures. Marvelous Nwoko produced a double-double by scoring 10 points and 15 rebounds and the former international power forward Ramu Tokashiki (193-1991) added 16 points, 5 assists and 7 steals respectively for the hosts. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Eneos S. maintains fifth position with 8-8 record. Loser Chanson V-M keeps the sixth place with ten games lost. Eneos S. will meet at home Aishin AW (#7) in the next round. Chanson V-M will play against Fujitsu RW and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Eneos S.: E.Mawuli 21+6reb+1ast, S.Miyazaki 12+6reb+6ast, P.Ashten 12+11reb, A.Hoshi 10+6reb+3ast, S.Suzuoki 3, K.Tanaka 3+1reb+1ast
Chanson V-M: S.Minami 16+3reb+5ast, H.Kuke 10+6reb+2ast, N.Marvelous 10+15reb+1ast, S.Kokomi 9+2reb+1ast, M.Hisane 8+3reb+1ast, S.Yurika 4+7reb

Denso I. - Fujitsu RW 74-61

Very important is a road loss of third ranked Fujitsu RW (10-6) against fourth ranked Denso I. (11-5) on Sunday night. Visiting Fujitsu RW was defeated by Denso I. in Kariya 74-61. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Fujitsu RW. It was a key game for the second position in the league. The best player for the winners was Maki Takada who scored 16 points and 5 rebounds. Akaho Himawari chipped in a double-double by scoring 10 points and 10 rebounds. Four Denso I. players scored in double figures. Rui Machida produced 6 points and 7 assists and Aki Fujimoto added 11 points respectively for the guests. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Denso I. moved-up to second place, which they share with Sunshine R. Defending champion Fujitsu RW dropped to the fourth position with six games lost. Denso I. will meet at home league's second-placed Sunshine R. in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Fujitsu RW will play against Chanson V-M in Shizuoka and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Denso I.: M.Takada 16+5reb+2ast, A.Kimura 12+3reb+4ast, M.Yabu 10+2reb, A.Himawari 10+10reb+1ast, C.Umeki 7+2reb+1ast, M.Kawai 7+5reb+2ast
Fujitsu RW: F.Aki 11+3reb, Y.Aoi 7+2reb+2ast, M.Yuki 7+4reb+1ast, M.Rui 6+4reb+7ast, M.Kiho 6+3reb+2ast, M.Mio 6+2reb+2ast

Sunshine R. - Toyota A. 56-57

Important game to mention about took place in Aichi. First ranked Toyota A. (13-3) saved a 1-point victory on the road edging second-ranked Sunshine R. (11-5) 57-56 in the fight for the first place. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Sunshine R.. The winners were led by the former international point guard Shiori Yasuma (162-1994) who scored that evening 24 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists and Amaka Okonkwo supported her with 9 points and 9 rebounds. Even 9 points and 4 assists by Nigerian-American power forward Oderah Chidom (193-1995, college: Duke) did not help to save the game for Sunshine R.. Yuki Hirashita added 11 points for the hosts. Sunshine R.'s coach Lucas Mondelo rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Toyota A. maintains first position with 13-3 record. Sunshine R. at the other side keeps the second place with five games lost. They share the position with Denso I.. Toyota A. will play against bottom-ranked Haneda V. (#8) in Tokyo in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Sunshine R. will play on the road against Denso I. (#3) in Kariya and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Toyota A.: Y.Shiori 24+8reb+5ast, A.Okonkwo 9+9reb, A.Hirashita 7+8reb, U.Tanaka 5+3reb, M.Miura 5+1reb+1ast, S.Kylee 3
Sunshine R.: H.Yuki 11+4reb+1ast, T.Nanami 9+4reb+4ast, K.Mayu 7+1ast, O.Ririka 6+4reb+1ast, O.Chidom 6+3reb+1ast, I.Misora 6+2reb+1ast