Basketball Preseason Match Day 1: Toyama 80-72 Vertex Shizuoka

B2 Vertex Shizuoka faced off against Toyama, who was demoted from B1 to B2 last season, and lost 72-80 in their first public “external match” of the season.

Despite the loss, new addition Finn Delaney made a strong impression by scoring 25 points, the most on the team. This was the first exhibition match for head coach Takahiro Moritaka, who took over as head coach of the Shizuoka Vertex this season.

Coach Moritaka praised Delaney’s performance, saying, “25 points in 25 minutes. If he plays as usual, I think he’ll score that many points consistently.” With main point guard Yuzo Okada absent due to poor condition, Delaney played a key role in the match.

Standing at 200 cm tall, Delaney demonstrated his versatility by attacking from the inside and showcasing his shooting power by scoring three points from the outside. This prelude to the league match, which begins on the 5th of next month, highlights the team’s areas for improvement.

Coach Moritaka emphasized the need to fix defensive rebounds and turnovers. Delaney, who joined the team a month ago, has already earned the trust of the team as a central player and is expected to lead the team as the mainstay.

Vertex Shizuoka will face off against Toyama again on the 8th, seeking to bounce back from their initial loss.