Samurai Strike Swiftly: Tokyo Dominates Rome 112-88 Behind Patel's All-Around Brilliance
Tokyo Shoots Past Rome as Patel and Caldwell Lead the Charge
By Elias Thorne
TOKYO – The Tokyo Samurai delivered a masterclass on the road, dismantling the Rome Centurions with a commanding 112-88 victory in Pro League action. A relentless offensive attack and stifling defense, particularly in the second half, propelled the Samurai to a decisive win that showcased their championship aspirations.
The Centurions struggled mightily with their shooting from the outset, failing to find a consistent rhythm. While Rome managed to keep the game within striking distance through the first quarter, the Samurai’s sharp perimeter shooting and efficient ball movement began to pull away in the second. Tokyo’s offense caught fire, hitting 18 three-pointers on the night, a testament to their offensive firepower.
Cassian Patel was the catalyst for the Samurai, orchestrating the offense with a near triple-double like performance of 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists. He was supported by Rhys Caldwell, who chipped in 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, and Ren Yoshida with 13 points and 4 assists. For Rome, Maya Dubois led the way with 16 points and 5 rebounds, while Mateo Delgado added 15 points and 4 assists, but their efforts were not enough to counter Tokyo’s balanced attack.
“We knew Rome would come out hard, but we focused on executing our game plan,” said Samurai coach Kenji Tanaka. “Our ball movement was exceptional tonight, and players like Cassian and Rhys really stepped up. This is the kind of performance we expect from ourselves.”
The Centurions’ offensive struggles were evident in their 30.2% field goal percentage, a stark contrast to Tokyo’s 46.2%. “We just couldn’t get our shots to fall, and they capitalized on every mistake,” lamented Centurions forward Owen Harper. “We need to regroup and find our identity moving forward.”
Key Notes:
- Tokyo Samurai shot a blistering 40.9% from three-point range.
- Cassian Patel recorded a game-high 10 rebounds and 21 points.
- The Samurai dished out 32 assists on 43 made field goals.
- Rome Centurions struggled with shooting efficiency, hitting just 30.2% of their field goals.