ISML 2015: Yukino, Ayase win Circlets

ISML 2015: Yukino, Ayase win Circlets
Yukinoshita takes Sapphire, Aragaki wins Diamond, Nao Tomori claims Summer Diadem

By Jo-Ryan Salazar
The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue
November 9, 2015

Match Day 4 of the 2015 International Saimoe League Postseason concluded with Yukino Yukinoshita winning the Sapphire Circlet and Ayase Aragaki overcoming regular season difficulties to run away with the Diamond Circlet.

In the Nova Division, Yukinoshita blew apart Kosaki Onodera, 3713-3356 to finish tops of the Division. Wrapping up Nova play for the year, Yui Yuigahama thrashed Chitoge Kirisaki 45073-2203, Chiyo Sakura throttled Jibril 4905-2425, Yoshino silenced Shiro 3575-2809, Shino Asada defeated Kurousagi 3671-3370, Isuzu Sento drove past Marika Tachibana 3790-3211, Kurumi Tokisaki shot down Tohka Yatogami 3888-2887 and Tsukiko Tsutsukakushi won a 3439-3375 thriller over Maki Nishikino.

"Aquamarine and Sapphire heists, not too bad," said Yukinoshita at a press conference in Tokyo. "But now, the real work begins. I want to make this month a month to remember. I am in it to win it. I want that Tiara."

Aragaki took the Diamond circlet with a clinical 3948-3319 smashing of Mashiro Shiina. Because of Aragaki's late-season struggles in the regular season, this is declared by the Bedlam as the Upset of the Round. Wrapping up Stella play for the year, Eru Chitana leveled Yuri Nakamura 4067-3086, Saber slashed past Nanami Aoyama 3899-3024, Kurisu Makise trounced Saber 3678-2704, Illyasviel von Einzbern defeated Rikka Takanashi 3721-3534, Rin Tohsaka routed Kuroyukihime 3847-3190, Eucliwood Hellscythe silenced Azusa Nakano 3562-3531 and Taiga Aisaka roared past Yui-nyan 3671-3555.

"Finally!" Ayase said, raising her fists high like a heavyweight champion after a massive prize fight at the press conference. "It feels good to be back on top and win the trust of the voters. I hope that I can enjoy this feeling one more time and join Ruri among the retired of this competition with a Tiara victory because I've been doing this way too long!"

Nao Tomori won the Summer Diadem with a 4024-3248 scalping of Umaru Doma, while Kurumi Ebisuzawa claimed third place with the closest victory of the round, a 3491-3445 nailbiter over Ayumi Otosaka.

"I want to thank Yuu (Otosaka) personally for his faith in me as well as Joujirou and Yusa and Ayumi for their support," said Tomori at a press conference in Tokyo. "All the voters came out and wanted to give me a taste into what I can expect next year. I won't disappoint you all. I'm going to give it everything I got and make a splash in the Nova in 2016!"

Finally, in other news, Accelerator won the Sapphire crown while Lelouch Lamperouge claimed the Diamond Crown. Accelerator now becomes the odds-on favorite at EVEN to earn the Scepter over Hachiman Hikigaya, who has been downgraded to a 3-2 second choice.

Match Day 5 of the 2015 International Saimoe League Postseason is scheduled for November 15, 2015. Vote for your favorite candidates at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate. And keep it right here on the Bedlam on Baltic Avenue for continuing coverage of the International Saimoe League, the world's premier anime character competition!

Are the Ottawa REDBLACKS for real!!?

Veteran Henry Burris never doubted his ability, despite age not being on his side at this point in his career.

Burris threw for six touchdowns and set a single-season record for completions and the Ottawa RedBlacks clinched first place in the East Division with a 44-28 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday.

Burris finished the day with 28 pass completions to give him 481 on the season. It broke the old record of 479 set by Ricky Ray with the Edmonton Eskimos back in 2005.

"I've always felt in my heart that I still have it," said the 40-year old pivot.

"I'm not doing anything different than I did last year, I think the thing for me is I never stopped believing in what I could do. I knew I still had the physical ability and the mental toughness to get the job done, and I've been put in the right situation to get the job done."

Ottawa's Greg Ellingson caught three touchdown passes from his quarterback.

Burris set the record with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Brad Sinopoli early in the fourth quarter to give the RedBlacks a 37-26 lead. He then added to the record on his first pass of the next Ottawa series, connecting with Ellingson for a 43-yard gain.

Seconds later Burris threw his sixth touchdown pass of the afternoon as Chris Williams converted a 24-yard catch and run score. The conversion by Chris Milo gave the RedBlacks a 44-28 lead.

A win or a loss by less than six points would have given Ottawa the East Division regular-season crown.

The victory means the RedBlacks, who were 2-16 in their inaugural season a year ago, will host the East Final in two weeks. They will play the winner of next weekend's East semifinal between Hamilton and Toronto.

"Everybody's excited. It's big for the city, it's big for this team to get first place overall," said Ellingson, who had 152 yards receiving to become the fourth RedBlacks receiver this season to go over 1,000 yards — along with Sinopoli, Williams and Ernest Jackson.

"We're proud of this accomplishment but not satisfied," said RedBlacks coach Rick Campbell, before adding: "We're always proud of individual accomplishments but the one we like the most is we had the most wins in the East. We're going to play good teams from here on out and we're just going to keep trying to get better."

Ellingson agreed with his coach about individual accomplishments.

"It's not as important as the success we've had as a team," he said. "Getting 12 wins is huge and first place in the East is way bigger than any milestone I may have myself, but it does feel good to get there."