matchday programMatchday Program
Panasonic
Panthers
Tokyo Great Bears
home game
2024.1.13[ Sat ]
14:05~
home game
2024.1.14[ Sun ]
14:05~
Must-see! Highlights of this match
- Tokyo Great Bears Predicted Starting Lineup
- #17 Shingo Kasari, #18 Tetsuya Mutoh, #25 Rikuto Goto,
#8 Masahiro Yanagida, #11 Daigo Yamada, #3 Akihiro Fukatsu, (Libero: #10 Taichiro Koga)
Hello everyone. I am analyst Kyogo Iwasawa. Our home game this weekend is against the Tokyo Great Bears.
Although the Tokyo Great Bears are missing #20 Araujo (Opposite) and #16 Kameyama (Outside Hitter) due to injury, they are playing very well, thanks in part to the performance of new addition #25 Goto (Outside Hitter). The team's overall serve reception rate is 62.2%, ranking second in the league, and their tosses to both sides are extremely fast. They also have a characteristic of running combination attacks, including quicks, even from tosses by #10 Koga (Libero).
Players to watch on the Tokyo Great Bears are #8 Yanagida (Outside Hitter), #11 Yamada (Middle Blocker), and #25 Goto.
Yanagida has a high attack success rate of 50.4% and excels at hitting cross-court shots. His back-row attack success rate is second in the league (67.4%), making his pipe attacks a threat. Also, as you all know, he is a player who excels at serving, and since he is always attacking with sharp jump serves, it is crucial that we do not allow him to score points from his serve.
Yamada is also skilled at attacking, currently boasting a 60.6% attack success rate with the B-quick as his weapon. He has a fast swing and excels at hitting cross-court; when the toss is off, he can skillfully return the ball to the opponent's court with a soft shot, making him a player with few errors. While he can also hit a powerful jump serve, he has recently been using the floater serve as his main serve.
Goto is an outside hitter who has received an informal offer from Kindai University and is a player with a good balance between offense and defense. He has posted top-class numbers in the league, with a 62.5% serve reception success rate and a 52.7% attack success rate, and he is a player who can skillfully mix hard and soft shots into open zones while watching the opponent's court. He excels at shaking the opponent back and forth by varying the speed of his serves, and he uses both a jump floater serve and a spin serve from the same motion.
The Panthers will use these tactics to compete against the Tokyo Great Bears.
- (1) Put pressure on Yanagida with serves to make it difficult for him to participate in the attack.
- (2) Be prepared for combination attacks even from tosses by players other than the setter, and do not neglect defensive preparations.
- (3) Pay attention to the positioning of the block when the toss is short, and aggressively suppress cross-court attacks with the block.
This is our first home game of the new year. We want to build on our momentum with two consecutive wins, so we look forward to your continued support this year.
Laurent Tillie Head Coach Interview
The results of our practice are definitely leading to results in our matches.
- You won both matches in the first away series of 2024 against JT Thunders Hiroshima and are currently leading the league (15 wins, 1 loss).
You also won your first five-set match of the season and returned to Hirakata in good form; how do you feel about that? - I think we have been working hard to strengthen the coordination between the setter and the spikers, as well as scoring many side-outs to play as efficiently as possible, and we are doing well. To win the championship, we need to further strengthen our breaks. I believe that if we improve our conversion rate from blocks and defense, we will be in a better position, so I will keep working hard.
- In last weekend's matches, in addition to the double substitution of new player Nishiyama, Nakamura was used as a relief server, and Nakamoto and Nishikawa also played and delivered results.
- It was very good, and I think it was truly a positive experience.
Not only did Nakamura-senshu perform as a relief server, but the new player, Nishiyama-senshu, also played an active role in the double substitution, and Nakamoto-senshu and Nishikawa-senshu also contributed to the victory. I think this is the result of our practice. I am happy that we got these results, as it is proof that we have built a solid relationship of trust with each other. - You are currently ranked 1st in the V.League team rankings for attack success rate, serve efficiency, and serve reception return rate; how do you feel about that?
- We practice serves and passes a lot every day, so I am happy that what we have been doing is showing in the results.
Our blocking is not yet at the top level, so as I mentioned earlier, blocking and defense will be our key areas for improvement. - This weekend, you will face the Tokyo Great Bears (currently 8th in the league).
Even with players out due to injury, they have been winning against top-tier teams; what is your impression of them? - Like our team, I think they are a team with a good atmosphere and high spirit.
They stick to their own style of volleyball without adjusting to other teams, which is exactly why they are a difficult opponent. They are also a well-balanced team that doesn't rely on just one person, and I have the impression that the number of attacks is distributed fairly evenly among all their attackers. - The first home game of 2024.
You are continuing to break ticket sell-out records at Panasonic Arena. How does it feel to play at home? - The fact that tickets are sold out serves as motivation for the players, and I feel it also connects to our motivation for daily practice. It is clearly visible that you are supporting the team, and it gives us a sense of responsibility. I think it is truly wonderful.
This is the first time in my career that every match has been sold out, so it is truly amazing.
Thank you for your support!!
#10 Akihiro Yamauchi Interview
Let's build a Panthers-style game starting from total defense.
- You returned to Hirakata in good form after winning the first two matches of the new year.
How is the team's atmosphere right now? - It's the best!
Last week's match against JT Thunders Hiroshima was a tough game between top-tier teams, but being able to fully execute our style of volleyball in that environment led to growth for the team, so I want to deliver a similar performance in this weekend's matches. - As captain, what have you been conscious of during matches throughout the league so far?
- I am conscious of trying to keep the team running smoothly, but since there are many players who each possess their own captaincy and leadership, there is nothing special I need to do, and I believe that is the strength of the current team.
- How do you feel about your own performance since the start of the season?
- Although it has been gradual since the opening of the season, my condition has been improving, so I intend to further raise the quality of my play and aim to be in my best condition by the end of the league.
- I believe the role of the middle blockers is quite significant in countering the Tokyo Great Bears' fast-paced attacks; what are your thoughts on this?
- They have many fast attacks, but I think it is first important for us to take our positions firmly, limit their angles, and get touches on the ball. Furthermore, I believe that if we can transition from blocks into total defense and then attack, we can create a rhythm and play the kind of volleyball the Panthers want to play.
- A message for the fans who are looking forward to the home games.
- I am looking forward to everyone's cheers at Panasonic Arena again this year.
All of us on the Panthers will do our best for victory, so please cheer for us with your voices!
#18 Hiroto Nishiyama Interview
Give your all to fulfill your role.
- This season, you have become a regular in the double-substitution rotation and are constantly expected to deliver results.
What is your current condition, and what do you keep in mind when heading into a match? - At the start of the season, I was playing without being in top form, but recently I feel like I have regained my own style of play. When I play on the court, I try to give my all to fulfill my role with high spikes and blocks.
- How is the current atmosphere of the Panthers?
- We have many new players this season, and I think we have been able to play happily with the kind of good atmosphere that is typical of the Panthers since the opening.
- What is your impression of the Tokyo Great Bears?
What is necessary to win against them? - Tokyo Great Bears are a very formidable team because they use fast attacks to drop the ball in various places on the court and aim for block-outs, and they also have good receiving skills, so there may be situations where it is difficult to score points. I think we can win if we can score in those situations and fight tenaciously with the receiving that is the Panthers' strength.
- Please give a message to the fans who are looking forward to seeing your performance, Nishiyama-senshu.
- I believe that when I am on the court, I can play well precisely because my teammates and the fans cheer me on every time I score a point.
Please keep supporting us!
2023-24 Season Head-to-Head Record
away game |
October 21, 2023 |
0 - 3
|
|
away game |
October 22, 2023 |
0 - 3
|
