The battle for the final playoff spot in the 2024-2025 men’s Daido Life SV.League is intensifying. Hiroshima JT Thunders and Nippon Steel Sakai Blazers remain neck-and-neck after splitting victories during the 21st leg of the regular season.
On Saturday in Hiroshima, Sakai made a strong statement by securing a crucial 3-1 win, led by Canadian Sharone Vernon-Evans, who posted 19 points. But on Sunday, backed by their home crowd, Hiroshima JT Thunders responded with a commanding 3-0 sweep, with outside hitter Yudai Arai delivering a stellar 23-point performance.
Hiroshima (16-26) remain sixth, but Sakai (15-25), with two matches in hand, control their playoffs destiny.
Meanwhile, the race for semifinal spots shifted as Suntory Sunbirds Osaka overtook Wolfdogs Nagoya after a pair of wins, joining leaders Osaka Bluteon at the top. Both JTEKT Stings and Tokyo Great Bears, already playoff-bound, clashed with Aichi sweeping the series. Elsewhere, Toray Arrows and Nagano Tridents split their weekend games.
The SV.League resumes next weekend with five more exciting doubleheaders.
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