How to escape other player's katamari?

Nintendo Switch port of Katamari Damacy contains a local 2 players (competitive) mini-game.

In this mode each player uses only one joycon controller to move their katamari ball, and it is possible to catch the other player (with their ball) into yours.

When this happens, a U.I showing the joycon stick, and the left joycon face button, with an arrow facing to the right between them ; is displayed.

It seems that pressing this buttons has some effect (the U.I flashes), but I am never able to escape even after pressing the keys repeatedly, etc.

Which commands exactly should we input when trying to untangle our katamari balls?