The Seibu Lions will hold an exchange competition in Taiwan next year. In the legendary OB competition, Gao Zhizang (first from the right) is looking forward to a duel with the Seibu beast Guo Taiyuan (third from the right). (Provided by Uni-President Lion)
[Reporter Ni Wanjun/Report from Taipei] The Seibu Lions made a major announcement today before the Uni-President Lions’ home game in Asia-Pacific. In addition to two exchange games in Taiwan on February 27 and 28 next year, the legendary showdown of "Seibu OB vs. Taiwan OB" will be held on February 28 next year. Before the game, the legendary Seibu stars lined up. Watanabe Hisanobu even smiled and shouted to "Orient Express" Guo Taiyuan: "I hope to see him shoot 150!" But Guo Taiyuan immediately answered with three "impossible".
The two-Lions exchange between the Uni-President Lions and the Seibu Lions has entered its 11th year this year. After this game, Seibu Lions president Tsuyoshi Okumura and legendary Seibu OBs Hisanobu Watanabe, Tetsuya Shiozaki, and Taiyuan Guo officially announced that the Seibu Lions will host the Japan-Taiwan exchange game "SEIBU LIONS TAIWAN SERIES – LEGENDS GAME –" at the Dome next year. The Seibu Lions will face the Unified Lions on February 27 next year. The opponent on February 28 has yet to be announced, but there will be a large OB game on that day.
As for the opportunity to hold the legendary showdown, in addition to Lin Anke joining Seibu from the Uni-President Lions this year, many Taiwanese players have joined Seibu in the past, including Guo Taiyuan, Xu Mingjie, Wu Nianting and others. In addition, Hisanobu Watanabe also played as a player in Taiwan, and current Seibu Supervisor Fumiya Nishiguchi also served as the Uni-President Lions coach after his retirement. Over the years, the Seibu Lions have established a deep connection with Taiwan Professional Baseball.
This is also the first time that the Seibu Lions will play in a large dome that can accommodate about 40,000 people. It is worth mentioning that in the legendary matchup, Unified Lions head coach Lin Yueping and co-ordinating coach Gao Zhigang will represent Taiwan OB. About 30 OB players, including Taiyuan Kuo, who is both a Taiwan representative and Seibu OB, and senior consultants such as Hisanobu Watanabe and Tetsuya Shiozaki who supported Seibu’s golden era, are expected to participate in the game. The list will be announced one after another. Tickets are expected to go on sale around September, and relevant ticketing information and event details will be announced once confirmed.
Gao Zhigang is looking forward to playing against Guo Taiyuan. He said that when he was a child, he was watching the TV in front of the TV and chasing Mr. Guo against Seibu. How could he know that fate is so magical? When he grows up, not only can he wear the same jersey with Mr. Guo and fight hand in hand in professional baseball and the national team, but now he can also communicate through this OB game. Regarding Watanabe's call for him to throw 150 kilometers, Guo Taiyuan laughed and said: "Impossible, impossible, impossible", which also became an interesting scene.
Seibu mythical beast Guo Taiyuan. (Provided by Uni-President Lion)
