FC Tokyo suffered another five-set meltdown, this time against JTEKT, 17-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-27, 11-15, in the 2021-22 Japan V.League Division 1 men’s tournament at the Panasonic Arena in Osaka.
Marck Espejo and his FC Tokyo have been luckless on five-setters, with three of their four outings going the distance but always ended up not in their favor.
Espejo had his finest game so far with 19 points while going 18-of-34 in spiking. But that could not stop his squad from losing their fourth game in a row.
After a slow start, FC Tokyo found its groove in the second period and extended that momentum to take a 2-1 set advantage, 25-23.
However, the Stings proved to be the steadier team in the extended fourth frame, 27-25, to force a decider.
Down by just a point in the fifth, 11-12, JTEKT unleashed three straight points off Jin Tsuzuki’s crosscourt hit and tip, before a block iced the win.
Felipe Fonteles did everything for the Stings with 26 points on 19 attacks, four blocks, and three service aces.
Kento Miyaura added 14 points, while middle blocker Go Murayama had 10 points including four block kills.
Tsuzuki – who only played partly in the fourth set and the whole decider – ended with seven points in such limited time.
Yuma Nagatomo led the locals of FC Tokyo with 18 points, while Jonas Kvalen tallied 17.
Despite getting more points from attacks, 64-58, FC Tokyo trailed the Stings in blocking and service departments, 7-15, 2-8, respectively.
Espejo and co. will travel next to Toyoda Gosei Memorial Gymnasium Entryo, the home of the Wolfdogs on Saturday, Oct. 30, at 12:00 NN, for a chance to nail their first win.
