Remake of last season’s final to spark SV.League fever in Osaka

In a remake of last season’s final, defending champions Suntory Sunbirds Osaka, starring Ran Takahashi, and current leaders Osaka Bluteon, with Yuji Nishida among the stellar line-ups on the court, will go face to face in a double header this weekend to spark volleyball fever in Japan’s third most populous city and highlight the 18^th leg of the men’s Daido Life SV.League regular season, set to feature a total of 10 matches on Saturday and Sunday.

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Suntory Sunbirds Osaka will play host to Osaka Bluteon at the Ookini Arena Maishima. They will open Saturday’s competition day at 13:05 local time (04:05 UTC). Sunday’s starting time is set to 13:13 (04:13). With both teams already qualified for the playoffs, they will continue battling for the best possible positions in the bracket. The champions are running third in the current standings on a 24-8 win-loss ratio and 72 points. Enjoying the benefits of a 16-game winning streak in the league, Bluteon top the table on 29-3 and 85 and are gradually cruising towards securing a direct ticket to the semifinals.

The two stellar squads met in the opening leg in October. Bluteon upset Suntory in straight sets in the first match and followed up with a five-set win in the second. Last season the two clubs met five times. After losing February’s first two encounters in straight sets, Suntory Sunbirds persevered through two five-set battles to win both matches of their second double header in early March. In late March, Suntory mastered a 3-0 sweep of the final to celebrate the title.

Running on 27-7 and 80, Wolfdogs Nagoya are also well on their way to the fast-track pass to the semifinals. They could further consolidate in second place, if they live up to their status of favourites as they visit bottom-placed Voreas Hokkaido, trailing in 10^th place on 4-28 and 18. Both matches at the Recruit Staffing Rick&Sue Asahikawa Gymnasium on Saturday and Sunday are set to start at 13:35 (04:35). It will be the first time these two teams meet this season.

Another greatly anticipated encounter in this leg will feature the teams of JTEKT Stings Aichi and Tokyo Great Bears, fifth and fourth in the table, respectively, each hoping to become the next team qualified for the playoffs, possibly as soon as this weekend. Hosts Aichi stand on 19-15 and 51, and visitors Tokyo – on 19-15 and 60. When JTEKT visited Great Bears in November, they took home two 3-2 victories.

Nippon Steel Sakai Blazers are currently in sixth place, the last one that grants a spot in the playoffs. On a negative balance of 13-19 and 41, however, Sakai will have to work hard to keep that place for themselves, as Hiroshima Thunders are right behind them, in seventh place on 12-22 and 38. This weekend Nippon Steel Sakai Blazers will welcome Toray Arrows Shizuoka, standing eighth on 9-23 and 27 and also hoping to climb their way up to the quarterfinal spots. The games at the Nippon Steel Sakai Gymnasium will serve off at 15:05 (06:05) on Saturday and at 13:05 (04:05) on Sunday. Two of the previous four matches between the two teams this season were pushed to five sets. In one of them, Toray Arrows achieved their only win.

Hiroshima Thunders will play at home against Nagano Tridents, who are running second from the bottom, in ninth place on 8-24 and 20, but are also still among the contenders for the playoff berths. The two games will be played at the FPCO Arena Fukuyama at 14:05 (05:05) on Saturday and at 13:05 (04:05) on Sunday. In November, Nagano achieved a 3-2 home victory over Hiroshima, but lost in straight sets on the following day.

Men’s SV.League 2024-2025 18th leg:
Mar 08, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): Suntory Sunbirds Osaka v Osaka Bluteon
Mar 08, 13:35 local (04:35 UTC): Voreas Hokkaido v Wolfdogs Nagoya
Mar 08, 14:05 local (05:05 UTC): Hiroshima Thunders v Nagano Tridents
Mar 08, 14:05 local (05:05 UTC): JTEKT Stings Aichi v Tokyo Great Bears
Mar 08, 15:05 local (06:05 UTC): Nippon Steel Sakai Blazers v Toray Arrows Shizuoka
Mar 09, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): Hiroshima Thunders v Nagano Tridents
Mar 09, 13:05 local (04:05 UTC): Nippon Steel Sakai Blazers v Toray Arrows Shizuoka
Mar 09, 13:13 local (04:13 UTC): Suntory Sunbirds Osaka v Osaka Bluteon
Mar 09, 13:35 local (04:35 UTC): Voreas Hokkaido v Wolfdogs Nagoya
Mar 09, 14:05 local (05:05 UTC): JTEKT Stings Aichi v Tokyo Great Bears

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