B3 League Round 48: Kagoshima is defeated by Shizuoka

The games are now more important than at the beginning of the Regular Season. We may still expect few shocking results in upcoming 8 rounds. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most important game in the last round took place in Renova between second ranked Kagoshima (29-8) and fifth ranked Shizuoka (26-9) on Sunday night. Kagoshima was crushed by Shizuoka at home 97-55. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Kagoshima. Shizuoka dominated down low during the game scoring 72 of its points in the paint compared to Kagoshima's 28. Shizuoka forced 22 Kagoshima turnovers and outrebounded them 45-27 including a 33-15 advantage in defensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists comparing to just 7 passes made by Kagoshima's players. Worth to mention a great performance of Beninese power forward Muusa Dama (207-1996, college: EIU, agency: Blacktop Management) who helped to win the game recording 29 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists (on 12-of-15 shooting from the field) and American center Ryan Stephan (208-1994, college: CMU) who added 21 points, 15 rebounds and 4 assists during the contest. The best for the losing side was American forward Christian Cunningham (201-1997, college: JSU) with 13 points and 9 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Shizuoka have an impressive eight-game winning streak. They moved-up to fourth place. Kagoshima at the other side dropped to the third position with eight games lost. Shizuoka will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Kagoshima will play at home against Gifu and is hoping to win this game.
B3 League top team - Nagasaki (35-3) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed fifteenth ranked Kanazawa (1-39) 119-70. The winners were led by American forward Matt Bonds (196-1995, college: St.Michael's, agency: Duran International) who had that evening a double-double by scoring 23 points and 15 rebounds (on 10-of-11 shooting from the field) and Javier Carter supported him with 19 points and 9 rebounds. Even 14 points and 6 rebounds by point guard Yugo Okuda (176-1999) did not help to save the game for Kanazawa. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Nagasaki have an impressive seven-game winning streak. Newly promoted Nagasaki maintains first position with 35-3 record. Kanazawa lost ninth consecutive game. They stay dead last with 39 lost games. Nagasaki will play against Yamaguchi (#12) at home in the next round which should be another easy win for them. Kanazawa will play against Okayama to get more than just one victory in their record.

In the last two games of round 48 Aisin AW destroyed Gifu on the opponent's court 78-54. Yamaguchi unfortunately lost to Chiba in a home game 89-103.

Kagoshima - Shizuoka 55-97

The most important game in the last round took place in Renova between second ranked Kagoshima (29-8) and fifth ranked Shizuoka (26-9) on Sunday night. Kagoshima was crushed by Shizuoka at home 97-55. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Kagoshima. Shizuoka dominated down low during the game scoring 72 of its points in the paint compared to Kagoshima's 28. Shizuoka forced 22 Kagoshima turnovers and outrebounded them 45-27 including a 33-15 advantage in defensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists comparing to just 7 passes made by Kagoshima's players. Worth to mention a great performance of Beninese power forward Muusa Dama (207-1996, college: EIU, agency: Blacktop Management) who helped to win the game recording 29 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists (on 12-of-15 shooting from the field) and American center Ryan Stephan (208-1994, college: CMU) who added 21 points, 15 rebounds and 4 assists during the contest. The best for the losing side was American forward Christian Cunningham (201-1997, college: JSU) with 13 points and 9 rebounds and his fellow American import swingman Anthony Gaines Jr (195-1993, college: LCU) scored 11 points and 5 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Shizuoka have an impressive eight-game winning streak. They moved-up to fourth place. Kagoshima at the other side dropped to the third position with eight games lost. Shizuoka will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Kagoshima will play at home against Gifu and is hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Shizuoka: M.Dama 29+8reb+4ast, R.Stephan 21+15reb+4ast, A.Elsener 18+6reb+2ast, Y.Okada 9+2reb+6ast, Y.Kentaro 7+2ast, A.Yuta 5+6reb+1ast
Kagoshima: C.Cunningham 13+9reb, A.Gaines Jr. 11+5reb+1ast, D.Vicentic 6+1reb, K.Takahashi 6, K.Matsuzaki 5+1reb+1ast, C.Diop 4+2reb

Gifu - Aisin AW 54-78

Very expected game when 10th ranked Gifu (16-26) was crushed at home by sixth ranked Aisin AW (25-15) 78-54. Americans were the main players on the court. The winners were led by forward Jordan Faison (201-1994, college: CPP) who had that evening a double-double by scoring 29 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists and center Nigel Spikes (208-1989, college: Marshall) supported him with 20 points and 20 rebounds. Even a double-double of 14 points and 26 rebounds by center Jayce Johnson (213-1997, college: Marquette) did not help to save the game for Gifu. Forward Jerrell Wright (204-1991, college: La Salle) added 19 points and 14 rebounds. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Aisin AW maintains sixth position with 25-15 record. Gifu at the other side keeps the tenth place with 26 games lost. Aisin AW will play against Saitama (#8) at home in the next round. Gifu will play against Kagoshima in Renova and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Aisin AW: J.Faison 29+13reb+7ast, N.Spikes 20+20reb+2ast, M.Ko 7+2reb, N.Ishikawa 6+4reb+1ast, M.Dove 4+8reb, K.Nagasawa 3
Gifu: J.Wright 19+14reb+1ast, J.Johnson 14+26reb, S.Asuka 12+2reb+1ast, F.Kosuke 4+1reb+3ast, S.Norio 3+2reb+1ast, K.Morito 2+2ast

Yamaguchi - Chiba 89-103

Very predictable result when third ranked Chiba (29-4) defeated on the road 12th ranked Yamaguchi (11-31) 103-89. Chiba dominated down low during the game scoring 78 of its points in the paint compared to Yamaguchi's 38. They outrebounded Yamaguchi 39-19 including a 25-9 advantage in defensive rebounds. Chiba players were unselfish on offense dishing 28 assists. The winners were led by American power forward Evan Ravenel (204-1989, college: Ohio St.) who scored that evening 42 points (!!!), 7 rebounds and 4 assists (on 19-of-22 shooting from the field) and the other American import forward Kevin Kotzur (203-1989, college: St.Mary's, TX) supported him with 21 points and 12 rebounds (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field). Even 25 points and 9 assists by point guard Yuki Ide (178-1996) did not help to save the game for Yamaguchi. Point guard Atomu Yamada (179-1998) added 23 points and 4 assists. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Chiba have an impressive eight-game winning streak. They moved-up to second place. Yamaguchi lost eleventh consecutive game. Yamaguchi at the other side, also newcomer in the league, keeps the twelfth position with 31 games lost. Chiba will play against Yokohama EX (#11) in Tokyo in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Yamaguchi will play on the road against the league's leader Nagasaki and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Chiba: E.Ravenel 42+7reb+4ast, K.Kotzur 21+12reb+2ast, R.Dozier 15+10reb+2ast, Y.Okada 10+1reb+2ast, Y.Otsuka 7+2reb+5ast, K.Sugimoto 5+4reb+10ast
Yamaguchi: Y.Ide 25+9ast, A.Yamada 23+1reb+4ast, R.Sampson 19+8reb, H.Yamashita 9+1reb+1ast, R.Yamaguchi 5+1ast, N.Shin 4+4reb

Nagasaki - Kanazawa 119-70

B3 League top team - Nagasaki (35-3) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed fifteenth ranked Kanazawa (1-39) 119-70. Nagasaki dominated down low during the game scoring 60 of its points in the paint compared to Kanazawa's 36. Nagasaki forced 24 Kanazawa turnovers and outrebounded them 39-27 including 29 on the defensive glass. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 22 assists comparing to just 9 passes made by Kanazawa's players. Kanazawa was plagued by 25 personal fouls down the stretch. The winners were led by American forward Matt Bonds (196-1995, college: St.Michael's, agency: Duran International) who had that evening a double-double by scoring 23 points and 15 rebounds (on 10-of-11 shooting from the field) and American-Panamanian center Javier Carter (203-1991, college: USA, agency: Slash Sports) supported him with 19 points and 9 rebounds. Four Nagasaki players scored in double figures. Even 14 points and 6 rebounds by point guard Yugo Okuda (176-1999) did not help to save the game for Kanazawa. Point guard Yuki Matsuya (170-1998) added 12 points. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Nagasaki have an impressive seven-game winning streak. Newly promoted Nagasaki maintains first position with 35-3 record. Kanazawa lost ninth consecutive game. They stay dead last with 39 lost games. Nagasaki will play against Yamaguchi (#12) at home in the next round which should be another easy win for them. Kanazawa will play against Okayama to get more than just one victory in their record.
Top scorers:
Nagasaki: M.Bonds 23+15reb+2ast, J.Carter 19+9reb, K.Matsumoto 17+3reb+1ast, J.Gibbs 11+3reb+4ast, Y.Rin 9+2reb, T.Kanji 9+1reb+4ast
Kanazawa: O.Yugo 14+6reb, M.Yuki 12+4reb+3ast, N.Takuya 9+1reb, K.Tomoki 8+3reb+3ast, K.Takuto 7+6reb, T.Shodai 5



Tags : MUUSA DAMA, SHIZUOKA VELTEX, JAPANESE BASKETBALL