It was the first day in Tokyo for the Block Devils, who arrived in Japan for the final major event of this pre-season: the 2025 World Challenge Series, a two-day event in which the Bianconeri, the reigning European champions, will face Suntory Sunbird Osaka, the reigning Japanese champions, over two consecutive days.
The spotlight was on the Ariake Arena, a brand-new facility, designed and built in 2017, completed in December 2019, and officially inaugurated in February 2020 as part of the infrastructure for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (which later took place in 2021). In the great Japanese metropolis, the event attracted an incredible crowd, driven by the lure of Sir Safety Perugia and its champions; this was evident from the arrival of the boys, welcomed at the airport by President Gino Sirci: “Indeed, yes, this is a ‘first’ for us, being here, invited by the three-time Japanese champions of recent years, Suntory Sunbird. It’s a truly great experience to be here! We’ll be playing two matches at the Ariake Arena, which will be sold out both days. We’re very satisfied; not everyone can have this experience, so we feel privileged.”
AloJapan.com