FC Tokyo yielded to JTEKT anew, 22-25, 10-25, 24-26, in the 2021-22 V.League Division 1 men’s tournament, Sunday at the Kariya City Gymnasium.
Marck Espejo played in every set but appeared to be still grappling for form, converting just 7-of-36 spiking attempts to end with just eight points.
The Filipino import returned to the lineup yesterday but played just a fraction of the second set, going scoreless. He missed the last three games prior due to a shoulder injury.
The league’s leading local scorer Kento Miyaura made it rain from the service line. He nailed five aces to go with 11 hits and a block, to finish with 17 points for the Stings.
Reinforcement Felipe Fonteles followed suit with 13 points. Meanwhile, middle blockers Taichi Fukuyama and Go Murayama made eight of JTEKT’s 10 blocks. The former got 13 points while the latter had eight.
The Stings sit just outside the Final 3 at 13-9, while FC Tokyo slipped to 6-16, just a game ahead of Oita Miyoshi.
Norwegian import Jonas Kvalen was the lone FC Tokyo player in double digits with 11 points.
Espejo and his squad will host Bryan Bagunas’ Weisse Adler next week at the Sumida City Gymnasium.
