Nagasaki Coach Blames Rebounding Woes for Finals Game 1 Loss, Vows Different Result in Game 2

Nagasaki Velca suffered a narrow 69-71 defeat in Game 1 of the Japanese B.League Finals against the Ryukyu Golden Kings. The loss, which occurred at the Yokohama Arena, puts Nagasaki in a precarious position in the best-of-three series, as securing a win in the first game significantly increases a team's chances of winning the championship.

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Nagasaki's problem was height. Nagasaki Velca lost Game 1 of the 2025-26 Japan Professional Basketball B.League Finals to the Ryukyu Golden Kings, 69-71.

The primary reason for Nagasaki's defeat was their struggle with rebounding. The team was heavily outrebounded by a margin of 33-50, with a particular disadvantage in offensive rebounds. Coach Takeshi Nagasaki identified this disparity as the main problem that needs addressing before the next game.

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Nagasaki was significantly outrebounded, especially on offense.

Despite the setback, Coach Nagasaki remains optimistic about his team's prospects. He acknowledged that while the team's shooting was not the issue, the lack of control on the boards proved costly. He expressed confidence that the team will make the necessary adjustments and that the outcome of the second game will be different, indicating a strong belief in his players' ability to bounce back.

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There is no problem with Hyun-jung Lee's shooting... The result of the second game will be different.