SEKISUI Challengers Fight Hard but Fall 3-14 to Reigning Champion Panasonic in X League Premier Week 3

The SEKISUI Challengers faced the two-time reigning champion Panasonic Impulse in Week 3 of the X League Premier, suffering a 3-14 defeat.

Although the team has faced a challenging start to the season with two losses and one draw, they improved their coordination during the two weeks following their previous match against the Elecom Kobe Finies, fighting resiliently against the defending champions until the final whistle.

The Challengers' defense put up a strong fight against a Panasonic offense boasting some of the league's top talent. Vice-captain LB #10 Tsubokura led the team on and off the field, recording 5 tackles. DL #9 Braden consistently pressured Panasonic’s formidable offensive line and made his presence felt not only on defense but also on the kicking unit.

Panasonic opened the scoring, putting the Challengers on the defensive. However, in the second quarter, K #4 Sato successfully converted a field goal, bringing the score to 3-7 at halftime. The defensive unit continued to hold firm in the second half, but the offense struggled to establish a rhythm and failed to add more points.

Panasonic subsequently extended their lead, bringing the final score to 3-14. In the fourth quarter, the offense began to click, driving deep into opponent territory with plays like a big catch by WR #3 Kameyama, but they were unable to score before the game ended.

While the result was a loss, the game showcased a gritty defensive performance against the league champions and demonstrated clear progress over the past two weeks. However, as the team aims for the playoffs, results are critical, making this match a source of both valuable lessons and clear areas for improvement.

The upcoming Week 4 matchup will be a home game for the Challengers, held as the "Amagasaki Bowl" against IBM BIG BLUE. IBM is carrying momentum into Amagasaki after defeating the Nojima Sagamihara Rise in their previous match—the same team the Challengers drew with in their season opener. For the winless Challengers, this is a must-win game to remain in the playoff hunt. The team will fight alongside their home fans to capture their first victory of the season.

[Match Information] X League Premier Week 4 (Amagasaki Bowl) Date/Time: Sunday, July 5, 2026, 16:00 Kickoff Opponent: vs IBM BIG BLUE Venue: Baycom Stadium Special Website: https://amagasakibowl.studio.site Ticket Purchase: https://xleague.tstar.jp/cart/fc/Xpremium/login