By JR Salazar (Bongaboi)
March 23, 2011
Match Day 11 in the 2011 International Saimoe League Preliminaries, and Match Day 3 of Phase II, saw some surprise victories, but for the most part, the stage is set for some fun tussles on Thursday.
In Bracket A, Elucia de Lute Irma could be on her way to her first-ever ISML after beating Minatsu Shiina 3,975-3,477, but she is facing a tough nut to crack in Rin Tosaka, who trashed Fuuko Ibuki 4,392-3,328.
There could be two forms of Misaka coming into this year's ISML after Last Order rocked Ryoko Okami in her Bracket B match 5,013-2,583. However getting past Asami Iwasawa, who beat Cecilia Alcott 4,323-3,408, will not be easy.
Bracket C will have a dandy of an affair. In on corner is the silent kendo mistress Houki Shinonono, who routed Kanon Nakagawa 4,133-3,202. In the other corner is ISML veteran Ikaros, who bounced Merry Nightmare 4,154-3,126.
Another Infinite Stratos hopeful is one win away from punching her ticket to the regular season. Charlotte Dunios annihilated Mio Isurugi 5,158-2,119 in Bracket D and will take on Ayase Aragaki, who dismissed Ritsu Tainaka 4,438-3,491.
It will be a blue-haired battle in Bracket E. Ika-Musume slammed Isumi Saginomiya 4,114-3,236 and will take on ISML veteran Nymph, who kicked Ruiko Saten 3,965-3,639.
Huang Lingyin is also hoping to fly the flag of the IS school in the ISML. She defeated Mizuki Himeji 4,191-3,233 in Bracket F and will face Kurimu Sakurano, who rocked Nanoha Takamachi 4,040-3,006.
Could Ui Hirasawa be making a grand return to the regular season? The younger sister of Yui Hirasawa rolled past Nozomi Kiriya 4,323-3,428 in Bracket G and will face Sora Kasugano, who defeated Ami Kawashima 4,132-3,297.
In Bracket H, Yuri Nakamura doesn't have to put up with Haruhi Suzumiya crashing the party, as she cruised past Shiori Shiomiya 5,491-2,340. In her way in Konjiki no Yami-Golden Darkness, who outmuscled Shouko Kirishima 3,766-3,449.
As for Yui, she whipped Kuroko Shirai 4,767-3,260 in Bracket I and will look for an Index sweep when she takes on Index Prohibitorum, who knocked out Illyasviel von Einzbern 4,290-3,337.
Last season, Tsumugi Kotobuki was denied a chance to dance, and is hoping that she will not have to go through Phase II to get in. She defeated Tsukasa Hiiragi 4,282-3,356 in Bracket J and will face Mikuru Asahina, who knocked off Mato Kuroi 4,068-3,811.
A possible tune-up to the regular season will be in the works over in Bracket K. Tomoyo Sakagami rolled past Maria 4,635-2,919 and will take on Nagi Sanzen'in, who stomped Kotomi Ichinose 4,211-3,418.
Another matchup of veterans will be on the cards in Bracket L. Saber slashed past Laura Bodewig 4,313-3,420 and will take on C.C., who beat Astraea 4,189-3,213.
Yet another showdown of old faces will be on the cards in Bracket M. Kyou Fujibayashi crushed Mikan Yuuki 4,486-2,936 and will take on Holo, who chomped up Sakura Kinomoto 4,482-2,933.
In Bracket N, Nagisa Furukawa wiped out Rika Furude 4,346-2,774. She will take on Seraphim, who pulled an upset victory over Fate Testarossa 3,861-3,495.
In Bracket O, Hitagi Senjougahara ruled the roost over Haruna 4,376-3,340. She will face Louise Francoise Le Blanc De LA Valliere, who went like Pyotr and decapitated Mami Tomoe 4,252-3,202.
Finally, in Bracket P, Nadeko Sengoku tore down Homura Akemi 4,407-3,091 and will face off against Mafuyu Shiina, who busted Shiina of Angel Beats! 3,925-3,639.
We got ourselves a slate of matches to determined the next 16 entrants to this year's International Saimoe League. Preliminaries Match Day 12, and Match Day 4 of Phase II is scheduled for Thursday, Match 24. Vote for your favorite candidates at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate.
