Volters Bring the Heat: Thrilling 2nd Round Victory Over Nagasaki Velca in 100th Emperor’s Cup All Japan Basketball Championship
2nd Round of the 100th Emperor’s Cup All Japan Basketball Championship: Kumamoto Volters vs Nagasaki Velca
We are pleased to announce the results of the 2nd Round of the 100th Emperor’s Cup All Japan Basketball Championship, Kumamoto Volters vs Nagasaki Velca, held at the Resonac Martial Arts Sports Center (Oita) on Saturday, September 21, 2024.
Results
Kumamoto Volters 89-96 Nagasaki Velca
| Quarter | Kumamoto | Nagasaki |
|---|---|---|
| 1Q | 12 | 29 |
| 2Q | 25 | 24 |
| 3Q | 22 | 18 |
| 4Q | 30 | 25 |
| Total | 89 | 96 |
Key Stats
- Jameel McLean: 22pts
- Shota Yamamoto: 10pts
- Tyler Lamb: 18pts
- Zefu Keita: 8pts
- Mitchell Lightfoot: 8pts
Post-match Comments
Head Coach Jeffrey Hironaka
At first, we were under pressure and had a hard time, but as we started to score, our attitude changed and we started to play with all our might. It was great that each and every player didn’t give up.
OF is 5 out of 10. DF is about 6 out of 10. We allowed 96 points, so we have to work hard to prevent the same thing from happening again in the future. There is still a lot of room for improvement.
We are small, so our biggest challenge is rebounding. We also make mistakes in important situations, so we want to fix that as well. And free throws.
It was good to play against a team that used physical force. The next time we play against a team like this, we can play without being surprised like we were in the early stages today.
My goal today was to respond to the pressure from my opponents, and although it was disappointing that I couldn’t at first, I’m glad I was able to correct it. If I had been able to respond from the beginning, we might have won.
Ryosuke Motomura
At the start, we were not able to play our offense physically, and our defense was neglected, so the opponent took control of the game. Today, I think we felt the physicality of B1 and wanted to improve our physicality again. We had a good game at the end, but I think it was a game that left us with some issues to work on.
The challenge is rebounding. Because I’m short, I can create a mismatch in speed, but aerial battles are tough. I think we’ll lose if we keep focusing on rebounding like we have been doing up until now, so I think the team will change if each player takes responsibility for rebounding.
When Jamel and Michie go outside, the middle becomes smaller, so when they block shots, the Japanese players need to be more aware of that. If we can get the rebound, I think we can bring it to our own speed.
The head coach has told me that it’s okay to shoot when it’s my timing, but that when either me or Shota Yamamoto is on the court, he wants one of us to be the hot player.
I’ve been told that I should be the number one shooter on the team, so I feel like I have to live up to those expectations.
We had a good game today and it gave us confidence, but it also showed us how physically strong the B1 team is, so we want to keep working hard and not be satisfied with the current situation.
Kihei Clark
We started slowly, conceding many offensive rebounds and allowing the opponent to score easily. If we can play at our own pace from the start, not allow the opponent to score easily, and play like we did in the second half, I think we can win.
I’m glad we were able to fight as a team from the end of the second quarter to the second half. I think we need to huddle and show leadership earlier so that everyone can be on the same page.
Although we lost, we proved that we can compete with B1 teams. I would like to watch the video of today’s game, look back on what we fixed and what we did well, win, and move on to the next one, and do our best to achieve the promotion to B1 that everyone is hoping for.
Shota Yamamoto
In the early stages, the opponent’s 3-point shots were in, but we had a miscommunication between the forwards and the center, but we talked with each other at halftime and were able to resolve it, and we played a good game in the second half. We were a little timid in the first half, but as a result of playing aggressively, the opponent’s offense started to make mistakes, we were able to play fast basketball, and we started to get outside shots. I hope we can be aggressive from the start next time.
Personally, I think he was about as good defensively as last season, but I felt that rebounding and boxing out were his areas of challenge this season.
It had been a while since I’d played four points, but it felt good.
In the early stages, we were struggling with the opponent’s aggressive defense, so we would like to steal their strengths there.
I think it was a good thing that we were able to recover in the second half. We are small, so we need to prevent the opponent from getting offensive rebounds and reduce the number of turnovers.