Tachikawa Dice secured a dramatic comeback victory against the Gifu Swoops at Arena Tachikawa Tachihi, erasing an 18-point second-half deficit to claim a crucial win in B.ONE. Entering the home stretch of the contest down significantly, Tachikawa shifted the momentum through aggressive defense and a high-tempo transition game spearheaded by Mitsuteru Nagae.
The home side found themselves chasing the game after Gifu took an 18-24 lead at the end of the first quarter. Despite steady three-point shooting from Yugo Okuda to keep Tachikawa within striking distance through the first half, Gifu extended their advantage. With two minutes and nineteen seconds remaining in the third quarter, Tachikawa faced a daunting 18-point deficit.
Turning the Tide on Defense
The turning point arrived when Yuma Noguchi drove coast-to-coast for a layup, sparking an immediate response from the hosts. Nagae highlighted Noguchi’s effort as the catalyst that changed the team’s mindset, calling him the unsung MVP of the match. Immediately following that play, Nagae converted a steal into a fast-break layup, igniting a defensive surge.
Nagae finished the game with 16 points and five assists, recording all four of his steals in the second half. Tucker Haymond ultimately hit the game-winning shot with 14 seconds left on the clock to secure the victory, earning game MVP honors.
Head Coach Credits Second-Unit Energy
Head coach Riku Kawachi praised the defensive intensity shown by his squad after the break, noting that Nagae’s effort set a standard that the rest of the roster followed. Kawachi emphasized that the team’s core identity this season rests heavily on defensive pressure and winning loose balls.
By utilizing Edward Morris in the starting lineup since the Tokyo Hachioji Bee Trains series, Tachikawa has maintained strong internal competition during five-on-five practice sessions involving the bench players and Jordan Brown. Nagae logged 22 minutes and 51 seconds of playing time, playing the entire fourth quarter as Tachikawa hunted down and eventually overtook Gifu’s lead in front of an energized home crowd.
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