Matchday 21, March 8, 2014
JT Thunders 3-0 FC Tokyo (25-19, 25-21, 25-17), Igor Omcren (JT) 18
Toyota Gosei Trefuerza 3-0 Panasonic Panthers, (25-20, 25-18, 25-20), Takuya Takamatsu (Toyota) 19
Sakai Blazers 3-2 Toray Arrows (19-25, 25-21, 19-25, 25-22, 16-14), Milan Pepic (Sakai) 24 & Yuta Yoneyama (Toray) 27
Suntory Sunbirds 3-2 J-TEKT Stings (21-25, 25-15, 17-25, 27-25, 15-12), Ryohsuke Tsubakiyama (Suntory) 35 & Yadier Sanchez (J-TEKT) 27
STANDINGS AFTER DAY 21, Wins, Sets Won-Lost
1. Panasonic Panthers, 15, 51-25
2. JT Thunders, 14, 48-37
3. Sakai Blazers, 14, 47-37
4. Toyota Gosei Trefuerza, 13, 47-34
----- Top 4 Teams Make Playoffs -----
5. Toray Arrows, 11, 47-43
6. Suntory Sunbirds, 10, 40-47
----- Bottom 2 Teams Make Relegation Playoffs -----
7. J-TEKT Stings, 4, 28-55
8. FC Tokyo, 3, 27-57
Starting the final leg (7 matches from tomorrow to finish the regular season)
J-TEKT and FC Tokyo are basically in the relegation playoffs
Suntory have played well lately, but their sets ratio will kill them.
Toray's loss today may have killed their playoff chances, 9 more set losses than Toyota hurts their sets ratio, plus two wins back.
Panasonic have been the best team but a 4-5 record against the top 4
JT in the same boat as Panasonic with a 4-5 record the top 4
Sakai and Toyota have the 5-4 records against the top 4
In my mind the current top 4 teams will make the playoffs, just the finishing spots could be different.