Nagoya made short work of the helpless FC Tokyo, 25-15, 25-23, 29-27, Saturday in the 2021-22 Japan V.League Division 1 men’s tournament at the Toyoda Gosei Memorial Gymnasium Entryo.
Marck Espejo only played in the first and second sets. He saw himself limited to just two points in 11 attempts.
FC Tokyo fought hard for dear life come the third period after dropping the first two sets.
Espejo’s squad was able to force four deuces in the third. But a quick kill and a backrow attack from Polish Bartosz Kurek finished off Tokyo, 29-27.
The 6-foot-7 Kurek beasted with 25 points scattered through 21 attacks, three service aces, and a block for a league-leading 4-1 record.
Middle blocker Ryota Denda got 11 points off six attacks, three block kills, and two aces, while Kenta Takanashi delivered 10 points of his own.
Jonas Kvalen topscored for the Tokyo side with 12 points while Yuma Nagatomo had 11.
FC Tokyo fell to 0-5.
Espejo and his team seek their first win tomorrow when they face Nagoya anew at 12:00 NN at the same venue.
