Osaka Bluteon achieved their ultimate goal on Sunday, May 17, winning the SV.League Championship Finals.
In a dramatic back-and-forth men’s pro volleyball title series, Osaka overpowered the reigning champion Suntory Sunbirds Osaka in the decisive third match. As a result, Finnish coach Tuomas Sammelvuo’s squad defeated the Sunbirds 25-20, 25-20, 25-18.
Finals MVP Yuji Nishida, the team captain, sparked Bluteon with 15 points, including a trio of service aces. Cuban teammate Miguel Lopez displayed his dynamic talent with 19 points, including a block and an ace.
For Suntory, Dmitriy Muserskiy had 18 points, Egor Kliuka added eight and Japan national team standout Ran Takahashi contributed seven.
Lopez sealed Osaka’s Game 1 win with a spike for the final point.
In Game 2, Bluteon jumped out to a 7-1 lead.
The Sunbirds fell behind 11-5 in Game 3.
Nishida earned the championship-clinching point with an ace at Yokohama Arena before an announced crowd of 12,189.
Bluteon captain Yuji Nishida spikes the ball as the Sunbirds’ Ran Takahashi defends in Game 1 on May 17. (©KYODO)
“I’m unbelievably happy for the club and everyone who worked for this,” Sammelvuo commented after the match. “Today’s spirit on [the] court and our faces on [the] court after yesterday’s big win was something really amazing. We were so aggressive in a good way and played a great game at the most important moments.”
The coach continued: “Today, the first set was very important. We had many opportunities that we didn’t use but still managed to win the set by a good sideout. After that, we grew more and more and we defended with a lot of force. Mentally, they were so much in the zone and that was great.”
Reactions After the SV.League Finals
Captain Nishida shared his assessment of his team’s performance in the championship series.
“It was an extremely tough season, and even throughout this Championship Finals, especially in Games 2 and 3, the way our team prepared and responded was outstanding,” Nishida said. “With this, our season has come to a close.”
Nishida also said he’s grateful for media coverage of volleyball.
“Through the media, volleyball has been able to reach many people who may not normally watch the sport, and that is something players alone cannot achieve,” he said. “We are truly grateful for that support, and we look forward to next season as well.”
Suntory coach Olivier Lecat said, “First of all, I would like to congratulate Osaka Bluteon. They maintained their level from yesterday and did a great job fighting to stay alive in the Finals.”
After Sunday’s match, Lecat noted that “today was extremely tough [for us], especially handling the pressure in key moments.”
He then said, “Of course, losing in the Finals is disappointing. But after some time, I believe we will realize that we achieved a very consistent and successful season overall. We aimed for back-to-back championships, but that was not our reality this time. Still, it was an amazing Finals weekend with a fantastic atmosphere, and I believe the fans truly enjoyed these Finals.”
Finals MVP Yuji Nishida (©SANKEI)
Info on the SV.League Finals
In the opening match of the best-of-three SV.League Championship Finals, the Sunbirds won 26-24, 22-25, 25-16 on Friday.
Needing a victory in the second match on Saturday to extend the series to a winner-take-all showdown the next day, Osaka bounced back with a hard-fought 13-25, 25-23, 25-22, 20-25, 15-9 triumph.
Lopez led Bluteon with 21 points in their bounce-back win, while Nishida contributed 20 points. Suntory’s Muserskiy had a match-high 32 points.
During the regular season, the Sunbirds had the best record (40-4), and Bluteon went 38-6.
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Los Angeles Dodgers starter Roki Sasaki pitches in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels on May 17 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. (©William Liang/IMAGN IMAGES/via REUTERS)
Baseball
Sasaki Dominates in Dodgers’ Rout of Angels
Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki pitched seven strong innings and the two-time reigning World Series champions thumped the Los Angeles Angels 10-1 on Sunday, May 17.
It was the longest outing of Sasaki’s MLB career, which began in 2025.
Sasaki (2-3) allowed four hits and fanned eight batters, a career-high total in the majors.
The 24-year-old Iwate Prefecture native, who has struggled with his control since he joined the Dodgers (issuing 38 walks in 77 innings), didn’t walk a batter. That was the first such occurrence for Sasaki in 18 regular-season appearances.
“I was able to throw strikes where the catcher wanted, and the defense backed me up,” Sasaki was quoted as saying by Kyodo News. “The offense gave me plenty of run support, so I was able to pitch in a good rhythm.”
In the Dodgers’ series finale against the Angels, leadoff hitter Shohei Ohtani had a 3-for-5 performance at the plate. He drove in two runs with a fourth-inning single.
Before the LA vs LA series, Ohtani was given a two-game break from hitting duties. It appeared to rejuvenate Ohtani, who went 6-for-13 against the Angels, driving in seven runs.
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The Kobe Storks celebrate after beating the Fukushima Firebonds in Game 2 of the B.League second-division championship series to clinch the title on May 17 in Kobe. (©B.LEAGUE)
Basketball
Storks Claim B.League 2nd-Division Title
Kobe Storks forward Yoeli Childs scored a team-high 33 points and grabbed 14 rebounds and Shuto Terazono had 19 points and 10 assists in Game 2 of the best-of-three B.League second-division championship series on Sunday, May 17 in Kobe. The Storks beat the Fukushima Firebonds 109-93 to win the title.
Terazono sank 15 of 16 free-throw attempts.
Also for Kobe, Luke Maye chipped in with 29 points, while Allen Hachimura, Rui’s younger brother, scored 10.
For the Firebonds, big man Jack Nunge finished with 38 points.
In Game 1, Kobe defeated Fukushima 98-76 on Saturday.
The Storks, led by first-year head coach Taizo Kawabe, had a B2-best 55-5 record during the regular season, while the Firebonds went 42-18.
Miyuu Yamashita hits a tee shot on the 10th hole in the final round of the Kroger Queen City Championship at Maketewah Country Club in Cincinnati, Oho, on May 17. (©KYODO)
Golf
Yamashita Finishes 3rd in Cincinnati
Miyuu Yamashita had her best result on the LPGA Tour in 2026 at the Kroger Queen City Championship, which concluded on Sunday, May 17. She placed third at 8-under 271.
In Cincinnati, England’s Lottie Woad earned a two-stroke victory over South Korea’s Haeran Ryu, carding a 12-under 268.
Yamashita shot a 6-under 64 on Sunday. Her final round included seven birdies and an eagle.
“So it’s been a while since I had a good score like this, and the wind was strong. But I was able to play with a really good feeling throughout the round,” Yamashita told reporters through an interpreter.
In April, Yamashita, a two-time JLPGA Tour season champion, was fourth at the Aramco Championship.
Haruka Kitaguchi competes in the women’s javelin throw event at the Seiko Golden Grand Prix meet on May 17 in Tokyo. (©SANKEI)
Track and Field
Javelin Thrower Kitaguchi Places 5th in Season-Opening Meet
Former Olympic and world champion javelin thrower Haruka Kitaguchi made her 2026 season debut at the Seiko Golden Grand Prix meet in Tokyo on Sunday, May 17.
Kitaguchi finished fifth with a throw of 60.36 meters at MUFG Stadium, also known as National Stadium.
Momone Ueda was Japan’s top finisher, placing second (61.40), while Marina Saito was fourth (60.45).
Rhema Otabor of the Bahamas won the event with a top mark of 61.57 meters.
In the men’s 100 meters, reigning Olympic champion Noah Lyles triumphed in the men’s 100 meters in 9.95 seconds. American compatriot Tate Taylor, who is 18 years old, was second (10.05).
“I’m happy with the race, I’m happy with the time,” Lyles said, according to the World Athletics website. “It’s a great way to start the season.”
He added, “It wasn’t my fastest, but it was definitely in my top five fastest season openers, so I’d say it was very worth the journey and I’m excited that I got to have it in a fun place like Tokyo.”
Author: Ed Odeven
Follow Ed’s [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and he can be found on X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
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