starting 5
#1 Ray Parks Jr.
#2 Takumi Saito
#4 Coty Clark
#12 Middle Eastern Dean
#43 Scott Etherton
1st Q 21-28
Chiba J#2 Yuki Togashi took the first goal, but #2 Saito immediately scored back. Even though Chiba J scored a goal with a fast tempo offense, #43 Estherton responded with a score from the second chance. In the middle of the quarter, a 3-point shot was decided by Chiba J with a high probability, and the painful development that gradually expanded the lead continued. At the end of the quarter, #8 Tenketsu Harimoto made a bold attack and scored a free throw. What.
2nd Q 37-55
From the start, Chiba J#2 Togashi made a 3-point shot, but #8 Harimoto scored a 3-point shot back. In the middle of the quarter, pass mistakes continued against Chiba J’s defense, and the painful time zone that did not lead to a score continued. In defense, Chiba J#4 Vic Low scored consecutive points, and the lead was extended again. At the end of the quarter, #5 Morris N’Dour scored on the inside, but he returned the first half with 37-55 and 18 points behind.
3rd Q 54-81
#12 Middle East took the lead with a 3-point shot, but Chiba J#34 Smith scored a 3-point shot back. Even after that, the back-and-forth development of the points scramble continued. In the middle of the quarter, #43 Estherton scored on the inside, but Chiba J#4 Law’s dunk shot and #34 Smith’s 3P shot robbed them of the score, and they could not grasp the flow. Towards the end of the quarter, Chiba J#31 Shuta Hara and #2 Togashi made consecutive 3-point shots, going into the 4th quarter with 54-81 and 27 points behind.
4th Q 74-106
From the beginning, #4 Clark’s 3-point shot and #43 Estherton’s inside scored a good start. However, in the middle of the quarter, Chiba J#34 Smith scored with a basket count and a 3-point shot, cutting off the flow. At the end of the quarter, #8 Harimoto scored on the inside, but Chiba J’s high-probability 3-point shot could not be suppressed with 74-106, resulting in a crushing defeat.
Head Coach Sean Dennis Comment
From the beginning, Chiba J’s fierce defense prevented us from playing the basketball we wanted. In addition, Chiba J, who had no gaps in both offense and defense, conceded many goals from turnovers. It’s disappointing that we lost in the Emperor’s Cup, but I want to make the most of what I learned in this match in the regular season.
Comment from Takumi Saito
From the beginning of the match, Chiba J played the basket and it was difficult to fix it. In addition, it was a match with many issues, such as scoring a goal from the second chance and allowing a lot of 3-point shots. The Emperor’s Cup has come to an end here, but I would like to take this loss as a team and prepare for the regular season.