The rise of the new W Ace this season is a sign of the reinstatement of Tsunekatsu Mikawa.
Makoto Hiejima and Kosuke Kanamaru. Seahorses Mikawa boasts two different types of ace and has always won. However, Hiejima left the team three years ago, and Kanamaru, who has supported the team for a long time, has left the team.
Yudai Nishida, who graduated from Tokai University this spring, and Ryosuke Tsunono, who is in his second year as a professional, are new players in this position, which has entered a period of great change. Nishida has been constantly convened in the A national team training camp since college, and has experienced the B League stage at Nagoya Diamond Dolphins in the 2019-20 season and Niigata Albirex BB last season. Sumino is the youngest player in history (at that time) and was selected as a candidate for the Japanese national team, and is said to be the “strongest scorer of the generation.” However, no matter how promising the two are, it was thought that it would take some time to fill the hole in MVP Kanamaru last season.
Next-generation ace battle becomes a team detonator
But that expectation is betrayed in a good way. Kimikazu Suzuki, head coach (HC), has appointed two future ace candidates as starters in the opening season against Osaka Evessa. In the opening round, he was “stuck in the old nest match” (Kakuno) and lost without being able to demonstrate his strength, but in the second round, Sumino scored 23 points and Nishida scored 15 points, scoring a career high. He was already active in meeting the expectations of the commander.
Nishida, who has a calm personality and calmly assesses the situation of the opponent and launches an attack, and Sumino, who has a strong sense of defeat and goes to get points without hesitation even if there is a defense. Different types of scorers have been fiercely competing for positions towards the opening. Nishida says that it is now being put to good use.
“I didn’t have a start right after I came, and even if I played 5 to 5, I and Ryogo often matched up, so I was very conscious of it.
Ryogo is a high-level player in the B League wing. Right now, I often start at the same time as both wings, but at the beginning I had been interacting with Ryogo-san for a long time, so on the contrary, the match feels easier. I hope we can interact with each other and raise the level of the team. “
On the other hand, Sumino is also often told by his father, “It’s better for you to be under pressure.” It’s a good stimulus for me to be pulled out and pushed out if I squeeze it, “he welcomes the existence of his rivals.
