Neo-Tokyo Completes Epic Season

[Akira]

In the 25 year history of the Akira franchise dating back to its LRS days the team has never finished in first place. Having the misfortune of being in the same division as the perennial powerhouse The Evil Empire - aka the Shin Seiki Evas – Neo-Tokyo has always been like the younger step-brother, never quite able to outdo their bigger sibling. Even as they edged above their crowded division rivals down the stretch last years late season collapse lurked in the back of everyone’s mind.

So in a season where a 100 win Toyama team couldn’t make the playoffs NeTo shattered expectations and overcame the biggest hurdle in their history – first place in the Rising Sun Division. Finishing first in a division with four teams with winning seasons of 89+ victories was a satisfying accomplishment. The playoffs felt almost anticlimactic after that achievement. A match up against Shin Seiki in the second round seemed the perfect spot for an Eva upset but the Akira rolled through the Sovereign League playoffs to reach another milestone: a spot in the PEBA Championship Series.

Alas, Imperial League opponent the West Virginia Alleghenies was a mountain that was too high for this team to climb. With the glass ceiling shattered the Akira can now turn their attention to the biggest prize left: a Rodriguez Cup Trophy. Can this organization keep the momentum going or was this season a flash in the pan? Offseason moves will determine the answer to that question.
Yet as players and coaches headed their separate ways for the winter and their fans were basking in the glow of this unprecedented season another surprise awaited the team…

[Sandgnats]

Great job this year!