In the continuation of the B League Division 2 season, the Fukui Breeze faced a tough defeat at the hands of the Rising Zephyr Fukuoka on March 22, 2025.
In their latest matchup held at the Teruha Sekisui House Arena in Fukuoka City, the Fukui Blowinds, currently ranked 4th in the East District, lost with a scoreline of 80-89 to their higher-ranked rivals.
This loss marks their fourth consecutive defeat, bringing their cumulative record to 27 wins and 23 losses, leaving them stagnant in 4th place.
The game kicked off with some back-and-forth action during the first quarter. Fukui started strong but soon allowed Fukuoka to take the lead. Ryan Kriener and Togo Kimura contributed significantly to keep Fukui in the game, closing the gap to just one point with a score of 19-20.
The second quarter showcased Perry Ellis doing well, scoring nine points; however, Fukuoka, equipped with a powerful offense led by their foreign players, managed to maintain their slight edge, leading to a closely contested halftime score of 38-39.
As the final quarter unfolded, both teams competed fiercely with the score tied at 61-62. Fukui seemed to flip the script after Akira Nishino sank a shot to make it 63-62, but soon thereafter, Fukuoka surged with a series of consecutive points from their foreign players.
Despite Ellis and Kimura making valiant attempts to answer back with a few three-point shots, the defensive structure of Fukui crumbled under pressure, leading to continued score deficits.
The Blowinds now look forward to an immediate rematch against Fukuoka, which will take place at the same venue on March 23, 2025. This back-to-back schedule sets up a crucial opportunity for Fukui to regroup and seek redemption against their adversaries.
With their position in the league increasingly precarious due to recent losses, fans of the Fukui Blowinds remain hopeful for a turnaround against Fukuoka in the upcoming contest.
