Japan: XLeague – Quarterfinals Offer Big Blue, Rise Chance For Revenge

The remaining eight teams do battle in Japan this weekend with rain forecast once again. Top seeded Panasonic Impulse should have no trouble getting past an All Mitsubishi Lions team that staged an upset in the wild card round and champions Fujitsu Frontiers will be expected to advance at the expense of Elecom Kobe Finies.

The other two game though are much more evenly matched and both are rematches from earlier in the season. Will Devin Gardner lead his high octane Nojima Sagamihara Rise offense past an Obic Seagulls team that forced four turnovers in the first game? Will IBM Big Blue get revenge for the epic late comeback win that Lixil Deers staged in week five?

Our thoughts below.