Poland's Przyga held its 17th round last weekend, and Kuprum Rubin (hereinafter Rubin), which includes Japanese setter Seita Sekita, played against Ślebsk Maroch Suwałki (hereinafter Suwałki) away from home. They lost 1-3, marking their 12th loss of the season. Sekita started the game but was substituted midway through the first set. He returned to the court midway through the fourth set, but was unable to change the flow of the game.
This has been a very tough season for both the team and for Sekita himself.
Rubin started this season without all 14 players on the bench, as last season's main scorer, opposite Jimenez (Colombia), left the team at the last minute, and Poland U21 captain Gierzsot was late joining due to injury. In the early stages, it seemed that outside player Walinski (Poland) was fighting alone, and they had a hard time winning.
However, as the match progressed, the captain Ferens (Poland) started to stabilize, and Sekita's toss started to match the tall attackers of Poland and Germany. Then, in the fourth match at home against Suwałki, they won in straight sets for the first time. Sekita was also selected as the MVP of the match.
But that doesn't mean the team has been doing well since then. Although they have rarely lost in straight sets since then, they have not been able to win many games. After 16 games, they are currently in 11th place out of 14 teams with 4 wins and 12 losses. If they continue like this, it will be very difficult for them to finish in the top 8, which is the condition for advancing to the playoffs, and there is still a good chance that they will end up in the bottom two teams with the possibility of being relegated.
Sekita is also in a difficult situation personally. It is commendable that he has been able to play in most games as a starter, but as a setter, Sekita is also the first to be replaced when the team's situation worsens. There are not many top teams where the setter is the first to be replaced when the team is at a disadvantage. The setter is the brain and heart of the team, so changing him can completely change the team, for better or worse, so special care must be taken when changing setters.
It is true that Sekita's block is low, making it easier for the opponent's attack from the left side to pass through. Also, Rubin's attackers may be thin. But more than that, I'm worried that the coach and other players still don't have enough trust in him.
The backup setter, Stempien (Poland), is certainly taller than Sekita, but he is only 185 cm, so he too can be a hole in the block in the Polish league. In that sense, I don't think there is much difference between him and Sekita in terms of blocking.
One short setter who is active in the Polish League is Toniutti, who plays for the French national team. He is only 183cm tall, but since transferring to the Polish League, he has won every season except for one. He has already won the Super Cup with Jastrzebski Wenger, to whom he transferred this season. He is a true championship contractor, but even if his team is at a disadvantage and there is a 2m tall setter waiting behind him, no coach would be the first to bench him. I think Toniutti is one of the setters who is absolutely trusted by both coaches and players.
I want Sekita to aim for this as well. I want him to be a setter who stays on the court until the end and leads the team to victory. It may be tough, to be honest, but I don't think we have all the right players. Still, I want him to be a setter who leads the team to victory. Honestly, if things continue like this, it will be tough for Sekita to stay in the Polish league. He can't end up being just evaluated as "amazing for a small kid."
There are 10 games left in the league. First, Rubin will be the setter. And then he will be the setter who will win.
Photo: PLPS
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