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Ryan Rossiter of Utsunomiya Brex misses the victory but regrets “It was a great season for everyone to play hard” –Basketball Count |

In the 2020-21 season, Utsunomiya Brex unfortunately missed the title, but in the regular season he left the highest winning percentage in the league and advanced to the finals in both the Emperor’s Cup and the league match. In the 40 minutes that became established as “BREX MENTALITY”, all the players on the court won numerous victories in the way of fighting devoted play for the team. Ryan Rossiter, who played a major role in Utsunomiya, which boasts the largest number of players in the league, looked back on the season.

“I have some regrets, but I can’t always be perfect.”

――Please tell us your feelings right after the season is over.

I am disappointed that I did not reach the victory. It was a great season to play hard and accomplish a lot, but I lost the final and didn’t reach my number one goal. We are happy with what we played on the court this season. Also, last season was cut off halfway through, and I think many teams felt that they had a chance to win. It’s a pity that we got this result, but I’m glad that the champion was decided.

――Please look back on the final. Please tell us your impressions of the change to a two-game first-come-first-served system instead of a one-shot game.

GAME1 and GAME2 made a big difference in the same development even if the winners were different. GAME3 was a great match, with one point behind until the last few minutes, but in the final stages Chiba played well and scored a shot, but we had some turnovers and missed the shot. I did. We should praise Chiba, who showed the highest performance here.

I think that the fact that the final is a three-game system should reflect the overall strength of the team. In a one-shot game, an accident such as a player’s breakdown or foul trouble can have a big impact on the outcome.

――Do you have any regrets that you should have done this in that scene?

I regret some wrong decisions, but I can’t always be perfect. You can make mistakes in shooting or make mistakes. I was always doing my best to control myself.

――I didn’t reach the title, but it was a great result as a team. Regarding the content of Rossiter’s own play, there have been changes such as a decrease in participation time due to the timeshare team tactics. How can you evaluate it?

There are many games in a long season and it’s good to share your playtime to stay healthy and enter the championship. It was a game that made a big difference, and sometimes I played for about 15 minutes, which allowed me to rest my body. I don’t care about my personal stats at all, so I didn’t have any problems with the reduced playtime and lower numbers. I just want to win the match and win.

I think the performance in the regular season was good. You don’t judge your evaluation of your play by stats. There are some games that ended up with 10 points rather than 30 points, but the content was good. The numbers don’t mean anything to me. It was a great season for everyone to play hard towards their goals as a team.

Ryan Rossiter

“Everyone fights in the same way and plays well for BREX NATION”

–During the season, there were various restrictions on measures against the new coronavirus. Was it difficult after all?

It was hard not only on the court but also off the court. Sometimes when you want to get away from basketball and relax, it’s difficult to go somewhere due to restricted behavior. It’s tough for all players. However, I think I’m happy that everyone has made a sacrifice to finish the season.

Personally, I used to stay at home watching many movies and reading books even when I was off. I also spent a lot of time caring for my body. I also valued taking a good rest mentally. Of course, it wasn’t easy to adjust to this life, but I just accepted it and had no other choice. The team and league took good infection control measures and let us play in a safe environment. As a basketball player, it is also our job to keep the rules.

I paid attention to my eating habits and sleep on the off-court. Thanks to the good preparations for good performance in the game, such as using the sauna and cold bath, and practicing well, I survived the season with only minor breakdowns. I was very healthy until the championship and I think I was able to fight in good condition.

――Are there any scenes or games that left a strong impression on you this season?

I lost a lot to the Emperor’s Cup and the final, and nothing else left a particular impression on me. However, I feel that the process of working hard every day and fighting toward the goal as a team was wonderful.

――I think BREX MENTALITY got more attention this season. What does BREX MENTALITY mean to Rossiter?

For me, it’s a never give-up spirit, always playing hard. As a result, even if I wasn’t feeling well in the early stages and allowed a big lead, I made up for it at the end. Whether it’s the start or the bench, everyone fights in the same way and plays well for BREX NATION. We have a lot of pride there.

――Even in Utsunomiya, where there are many experienced veterans, Rossiter’s leadership stands out. What kind of relationship have you been aware of with the head coach Ryuzo Anzai, who leads the team?

Anzai head coach is always honest and talks about anything. Whenever there is something wrong with the team or when we introduce something new, we keep communicating well. I think this kind of relationship between players and coaches is very important.

Ryan Rossiter

“Thank you for your support throughout the season.”

――From now on, representative activities will begin. Please tell us your thoughts on the Olympics. Are there any physical difficulties in your activities right after the long season?

First of all, after a very long season, all players need physical and mental rest, but what is desired of the national team is very exciting. I don’t know what’s going to happen, so all I can do is keep playing as hard as I’ve done at Brex. If I could compete in the Olympics, I think it would be a very exciting and honorable opportunity.

When it comes to league games, there are not only fans who support us, but also fans of our opponents. When it wears the national team uniform, I feel that it is the whole country and that all basketball fans support me, regardless of which team in the B League they support. I think that has led to the success of the national team.

――Finally, do you have a message for Utsunomiya fans and all basketball fans?

First of all, thanks to the Brex fans who did everything they could to applaud even if they couldn’t speak out, I was able to fight in a wonderful home game environment. We weren’t in a situation where we were able to get a lot of cheers from the crowded venue as usual, but thanks to our fans, we got a really big home court advantage in the quarterfinals and semifinals of the championship. Thank you for your support throughout the season. Many BREX NATION people came to Yokohama Arena, and I was able to play in a wonderful atmosphere.

And this season, basketball fans followed the rules of watching games, so we were able to play safely in all arenas. Thanks to that, I was able to finish the season. Also, thanks to everyone’s support, despite all the restrictions, I felt the difference between home and away in every match. It was fun to be able to play in such an environment even in the corona disaster. Thank you very much.

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