Nihon Keizai University is the only local school to make it to the top four
On December 12th, the top four men and women of the 77th All Japan University Championships (Intercollegiate) were announced, and the pairings for the semifinals on the 13th were decided.
On the men’s side, Waseda University, Nihon Keizai University, Hakuoh University, and Tokai University advanced to the top four in the quarterfinals on the 5th. Waseda University, who won the Kanto University Division 1 League for the sixth time in 57 years, started from behind in both the first game against Kanagawa and the quarterfinal against Japan, but they were able to find the flow and win thanks to their high-paced basketball, which featured a lot of 3-point shots, which was rampant in the league games. Nihon Keizai University, which will face Waseda University, advanced through the group stage and defeated Meiji University 63-61, making it into the top eight for the first time in the club’s history. In the quarterfinals, they defeated Kansai Student League champions Tenri University, becoming the only local team to reach the top four. I would like to pay attention to whether they can achieve first place in the Kanto region with their muddy team defense.
Hakuoh University advanced to the semi-finals with a safe performance, playing the first match against Kinki Taisen and the quarter-final against Daito Bunka Taisen. This year, they finished second in all of the Kanto University Basketball Championships in the spring, the rookie intercollegiate basketball tournament in the summer, and the league match in the fall, and were just one step away from missing out on the title, so they must be putting a lot of effort into this tournament, which will be the last of the season. Tokai University, on the other hand, struggled 102-90 in the first match, Kyoto Industrial Wars, but showed their true strength in the following Nippon Taiku Taisen and won 89-73. This season’s match results against Hakuoh University include a loss in the Kanto University Championship, a win in the Kanto University Newcomer’s Tournament in June, and a 5-0 record with 1 win and 1 loss in the league match, so we can expect a heated battle where wills will clash.
The women’s quarterfinals were held on the 11th, with Hakuoh University, who won last year’s tournament, and Tokyo Medical and Health University, who won the league match, leading the way, as well as Waseda University and Tsukuba University, who advanced to the final four. Waseda University, which was in 7th place in the league and had a replacement game with a second division team, upset Takushoku University, who was in 4th place, 75-74. Rikkyo University, a member of the 2nd division, fought a never-ending battle against University of Tsukuba, which ranked 3rd in the 1st division, but ran out of steam in the end.
The intercollegiate semi-finals, third-place match, and final will be held at the Ota Ward General Gymnasium (Ota Ward, Tokyo) according to the schedule below.
■December 13th
Women’s semifinal
11:00~ Tokyo Medical and Health University vs. Waseda University
13:00~ Tsukuba University vs Hakugu University
Men’s semifinal
15:00~ Waseda University vs Nihon Keizai University
17:00~ Baiou University vs Donghai University
■December 14th
Women’s 3rd place match
10：00〜
Women’s final
12：00〜
Men’s 3rd place match
15：00〜
Men’s final
17：30〜
