Japan Women's NT 2024

    Quote from sitenoise

    Best thing about the match today, and I think it's important, is that Japan didn't have one of those sets where they only score 15 points


    AND, a comeback win from 21-24 is gigantic

    Other than them finally getting a win over Brazil, these are also what I like the most! This will give them confidence since they will be going to be in the same pool with Brazil in Paris.


    Italy is a worse matchup for Japan being one of the best blocking teams imo, but at least they are already assured of a silver medal :lol:

    Only thing that would be more death-y about Japan's OG pool is if USA was in it instead of Kenya :lol:

    Didn't Japan beat Poland all the time in matches head to head up until they just can't beat them any more?


    And Brazil is Brazil

    I know the Koga Love isn't popular but there was this one play in the Tie Break at 10-10 where things were getting tense and nerves were fraying.


    Kojima chases one off court behind 5 and reverse sky balls it perfectly to Koga in 4 (so coming in over her shoulder), and Koga takes it like a normal set, doesn't lollipop it over, but fucking runs up under it and, against two blockers waiting for her, finds floor on the other side of the net. Mama :rose: That was the win



    This SF match was so full of fun stuff.


    I think we actually witnessed Kojima on the verge of despair after she made that from-her-belly-dig to keep the ball alive only to have Ana C fire a cannonball at her when it came back. The commentator says "What a cruel game"



    I'm just making stuff up now but in the time out in the Tie Break after Mayu shanked that receive I imagine Manabe saying to her "No more of that. Capisce?"


    Quote from litolapid

    -Clinches their first win against since 2022 and only their sixth in 46 encounters

    Assuming Brazil, the stat at the beginning of the match has Japan 4 to 33 Brazil in FIVB competitions


    More fun:


    Here's the one where Mayu chases the ball out of bounds to the other side of the net. Mayu hurls back to Koga




    who then ...... sets the ball for Mayu :rolll:



    Unfortunately Mayu hit it into the net. But that was a big ask :lol:

    I still stand by what I said about Koga and Mayu having zero chemistry but I think Mayu tries her best not to fall behind Koga. I mean Mayu calls Koga Koga-san not Sarina so that's all I really need to know about that


    Airi calls Kojima Kokosan in their behind the scenes JVA CAM thingy so some people on IG started listing Kojima as Koko Kojima when listing Japan's squad :lol: No one knows her first name

    Airi and Wada starting :super:

    Quote from haru_12

    i need that usual male commentator :gone:

    yeah, this girl talks too much for me

    Airi and Wada the slow starters. Time to step up :box:

    Japan has fewer options to find floor than Italy but Italy's defense is bumming me out :lol:

    Quote from litolapid

    ITA is clearing JPN out both in offense and defense. Its kind of diffcult to see how JPN could defeat them right now.

    I've already given up. Watching it on mute. No fun at all

    phew, made it past 15