Seagulls aim for 4th title, 1st since 2005
By Ken Marantz
    As one of the X-League's most powerful teams, there will be nothing
unusual if the Obic Seagulls go on to win the Pearl Bowl on Thursday night.
    What is rare is that they set a goal to do it this time.
   "In the past, our view was that if we can win it with what we've got,
that's fine, but it was never the objective," head coach Makoto Ohashi said
at a pregame press conference Monday in Tokyo.
   Obic previously used the spring tournament more as a scrimmage to test
out players and formations, with success a testament less to preparation and
more to overall strength.
   When the Seagulls face the Fujitsu Frontiers at Tokyo Dome for the title,
they are hoping the change in approach results in a fourth title overall and
first since 2005.
     Obic, which has made it to the playoffs every X-League season dating
back to 1998, got even stronger this season with the addition of former
Onward Skylarks star quarterback Shun Sugawara.
    Sugawara had been among the remnants of the Skylarks that formed a club
team, the Sagamihara Rise, when Onward disbanded the team after the 2008
season. The Rise had to start out in the third division and tore the
opposition apart, often winning by triple digits.
    But Sugawara did not want to wait another year until the Rise rose to
the X1, the league's top division, and on his own volition, approached the
Seagulls about joining them.
    "He fit right in," said wide receiver Ken Shimizu. "There's competition
for the quarterback position, but everyone gets along fine."
    The 1.72-meter Sugawara, blessed with a strong arm, quick feet and a
sturdy field presence, has shared the quarterbacking duties with fellow
24-year-old Masato Kinoshita and veteran Manabu Tatsumura.
    None of the three have really been tested so far, as Obic won its two
preliminary group games by a combined score of 100-7, then mauled the Meiji
Yasuda Pirates 62-7 in the semifinals.
    In the three games, Sugawara completed 28 of 38 passes for 311 yards and
one touchdown and no interceptions. He also ran for a TD.
    Although a newcomer, Sugawara is well familiar with Obic's leading
rusher, as Masatoshi Sugihara was also a member of Onward who joined the
Seagulls directly after the team folded. Sugihara has amassed 220 yards on
20 carries with five touchdowns.
   Shimizu, among the league's top kick returners, has caught 10 passes for
178 yards and two touchdowns.
   The defense is led by linebacker/defensive back and team captain Naoki
Kosho and defensive end Kevin Jackson. Kosho made the all-X-League team for
a sixth straight time last season, while Jackson made it five in a row.
   At the press conference, Fujitsu head coach Satoshi Fujita and the three
players present all praised Obic as a "strong team."
   "I don't know why everyone is saying we're so strong," countered Ohashi.
"This year is a new beginning, but we feel like we're improving. They have
speed which they use well. I'm looking forward to it, and I'm a little
scared."

Ken Marantz is a sportswriter for The Daily Yomiuri in Tokyo.