The "2026 PERSOL Climax Series Pa" opened on Saturday, October 10th. After a fierce first baseman Stage battle that went to a third game, the 3rd-place Hokkaido Nippon-Ham emerged victorious, advancing for the third consecutive year to the Final Stage where the league champion Fukuoka Softbank awaits.

The Final Stage finally kicks off today, Wednesday the 14th. While Fukuoka Softbank has come out on top in both of the past two years, what kind of battle will unfold this year? We asked Hatsuhiko Tsuji for his outlook and key players.

Who is the key player for Hokkaido Nippon-Ham to break through the Final Stage? In a short series, 'discernment is crucial'.

Starting this season, a new rule was introduced where the final stage is played as a best-of-five (best-of-five) seven-game format with a first-first baseman game gap of 10 or more, or if the first baseman stage winner's winning percentage is below 50%, giving the first-place team a two-win advantage in advance. As a result, Fukuoka Softbank with a Hokkaido Nippon-Ham and a 13-game difference award a two-win advantage.

Looking at the regular season battles, Fukuoka Softbank holds a clear winning record of 18 wins, 5 losses, and 2 draws, making it seem overwhelmingly advantageous. Tsuji nodded, saying, "I think that's absolutely right," and praised The Hawks 's shrewdness, saying, " is good at managing matches, and both veterans and young players know how to win."

When asked what Hokkaido Nippon-Ham needs to advance to the next level, Tsuji said, "First, it's important to make sure the starting pitcher doesn't runs." Regarding Fukuya Yamazaki pitcher, who is entrusted with the crucial start of the first game, he expressed his expectations from the opponent's perspective, saying, "If you get stuck, it'll be quite a struggle pitcher so you don't know. I think it'll be interesting."

Additionally, the team's regular season batting average of .248 is second behind Fukuoka Softbank, making their hitting power a major asset for Hokkaido Nippon-Ham. Among them, Reyes was named the key player for the Final Stage, declaring, "Reyes has to hit first, right?"

" first baseman Stage, he returned from injury and wasn't in full shape yet, but if he can show his true ability, the team will gain momentum. Since it's a short-term decisive match, there may be some trigger that could boost his form. In that sense, The Fighters The batting lineup has many players who can ride the momentum besides Reyes. There's also a chance that players like Mannami (Chukamasa) and Kiyomiya (Kotaro) will gain momentum, so I'm looking forward to it."

Furthermore, regarding the short-term decisive game style where a single mistake can be fatal, Mr. Tsuji, who managed Saitama Seibu Lions for six years since 2017, emphasized, "Careful judgment is crucial." He continued, "There are 'series guys' like lucky boys appearing, but conversely, there are players who can't hit, so judging those aspects becomes extremely important. It's good to endure and use them, but if you wait until you get back into form, it's already too late. Even in our time, even Kiyohara (Kazuhiro) was left out because he couldn't hit. To give opportunities to players in good form, discernment is extremely important," he explained.

Will the champions Fukuoka Softbank, led by manager Hiroki Kokubo, continue to advance, or will Hokkaido Nippon-Ham, led by manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo, secure a spot in the "SMBC Japan Series 2026" with a "third attempt at Honesty"? The first game of the "2026 Persol Climax Series Pac" Final will be today, Wednesday the 14th, at 6 PM Play Ball.

Interview and text by Mayuko Goto