Tokashiki and Hoshi scored a combined 53 goals, conceding just 18 goals in the second half, and won a 10th consecutive title
Nine-time Empress Cup winners ENEOS Sunflowers and W-League winners Toyota Antelopes clash in the semi-finals of the Empress Cup. Raimu Tokashiki showed a spectacular performance with 32 points, 17 rebounds and 3 blocks, and ENEOS won the “Queen Showdown” 77-57.
At the start of the game, ENEOS provoked two fouls in the first two and a half minutes by Shira Sohana Fatoja, the cornerstone of Toyota’s goal. Taking advantage of the advantage she created stepping down to the bench, Tokashiki took the initiative in an inside attack and took a 24-13 lead. However, in the second quarter, Fatoja also returned, and Toyota Motor Corporation counterattacked, which regained the strength of the defense. In contrast to the first quarter, when Kiho Miyashita hit a size mismatch, he allowed a 37-39 reversal and ended the first half.
However, ENEOS induced the third individual foul from Fatoja early in the 3rd quarter and sent him to the bench, and Tokashiki again switched offense and defense to control the bottom of the goal. In addition, Anri Hoshi, who scored 21 points today, has a good chance to sink from the outside and not let the opponent narrow the target. By defending, Toyota’s number of successful 3-point shots in this quarter was reduced to 0, and although the opponent focused too much on interior attacks, he was able to take a rebound and run in his favorite development, resulting in a big quarter of 19 -8. Done. And even in the 4th quarter, ENEOS’ momentum did not stop, and they won the 10th consecutive victory with a comfortable game.
“If it’s one-on-one, I’m confident I can definitely win, so I let it go.”
A key player in the victory, Tokashiki literally dominated the game, scoring well over 30 points on 14 of 21 field goals. He then reflected on his own performance. “Normally, there would be two or three players behind the goal, but this time it was one-on-one. It was a lot of fun because I could play one-on-one.”
In this game, he had a good chance of sinking jump shots, but he mentioned that the players on the mark were not checked well, and he said that he was not just an inside player. “I’ve been practicing jump shots and 3-point shots more than you think, so if I let you get that far… step it up.”
In addition to the offensive aspects of Tokashiki and Hoshi, the tenacity of the defense that did not lose concentration throughout the 40 minutes, such as keeping only 18 goals in the second half, was a big factor in the win. As a team leader, Tokashiki, who has always spoken out and encouraged his allies, gets a response. “I’m quite picky, so I get angry if I’m not concentrating properly. In that sense, I think it’s a good thing that I can lead without waving .”
Tomorrow is the final, which will be a feat of 10 wins in a row if we finally win, but Tokashiki said, “Today was too good. I won’t be able to get as many shots tomorrow, and I don’t know if I will be able to hit this many stars.” I change my feelings. And he talks about his enthusiasm for the big game, saying that if he continues to play ENEOS basketball no matter what the situation is, the results will follow naturally. “Once we cut away defense, break, and rebound, what we need to do doesn’t change. I want to play the same basketball no matter who is playing, and I want to play basketball that I can definitely win .”
As Tokashiki says, in the final round, the opponent’s thorough mark may not be seen as today’s rampage. However, there is no doubt that the hard work of Tokashiki, the absolute cornerstone of offense and defense, was indispensable for ENEOS’ victory.
