The first stage of the '2026 PERSOL Climax Series Pa' will open on the 10th at Belluna Dome. On the 9th, Seibu Lions manager Fumiya Nishiguchi, whose team finished second in the regular season, attended a pre-game press conference at their home stadium. When asked about the team's nine-game losing streak in the Climax Series since 2018, he gave a wry smile and said, 'I wish you hadn't mentioned that.' He then steeled himself, adding, 'I'm not thinking about that; we'll take it one game at a time and entrust tomorrow's start to Taira.'

Regarding the key to breaking through the CS, he said, "For our team, the key will be how well the lineup connects and whether we can string hits together. I'm going to have the players give it their all. We were 12-12-1 against Nippon-Ham throughout the season, and although we had a losing record at home, I want to do my best so that we can somehow win," as he aimed to stop the CS losing streak and advance to the Final Stage.

Seibu Lions' 9-game losing streak in the Climax Series

2018 Season Finale

Game 3: Seibu Lions 4-15 Softbank Hawks (Belluna Dome)

Game 4: Seibu Lions 2-8 Softbank Hawks (Belluna Dome)

Game 5: Seibu Lions 5-6 Softbank Hawks (Belluna Dome)

2019 Final Stakes

Game 1: Seibu Lions 4-8 Softbank Hawks (Belluna Dome)

Game 2: Seibu Lions 6-8 Softbank Hawks (Belluna Dome)

Game 3: Seibu Lions 0-7 Softbank Hawks (Belluna Dome)

Game 4: Seibu Lions 3-9 Softbank Hawks (Belluna Dome)

2022 1st Stage

Game 1: Softbank Hawks 5-3 Seibu Lions (PayPay Dome)

Game 2: Softbank Hawks 8-2 Seibu Lions (PayPay Dome)