B2 League Round 29: Bambitious N. defeats leader Chiba

B2 League is at the halfway of the Regular Season and there are still another 29 rounds left. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most surprising game was a loss of top-ranked Chiba (25-6) in Nara on Wednesday night. Visitors were defeated by seventh ranked Bambitious N. (9-22) 90-86. It ended at the same time the 14-game winning streak of Chiba. Senegalese center Cheikh Mbodj (208-1987, college: Cincinnati) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 23 points, 16 rebounds and 6 blocks. The former international forward Naoki Uto (188-1991) contributed with 20 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists for the winners. Bambitious N.'s coach used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. American forward Leo Lyons (206-1987, college: Missouri) answered with 23 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists (was perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line !!!) for Chiba. Bambitious N. moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Kagawa FA. Newly promoted Chiba still keeps top position with six games lost. They share it with Koshigaya A. and Saga B.. Bambitious N. is looking forward to face league's second-placed Nagasaki at home in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Chiba will play against Ehime OV and is hoping to win this game.
An interesting game for Koshigaya A. (25-6) which played road game in Aomori against 4th placed Aomori W. (14-17). Second ranked Koshigaya A. managed to get a 6-point victory 81-75. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Aomori W.. American forward Justin Harper (208-1989, college: Richmond) stepped up and scored 30 points and 6 rebounds for the winners and Isaac Butts chipped in 10 points and 11 rebounds. American center Max Hisatake (203-1998, college: IlIinois Tech) responded with a double-double by scoring 13 points and 10 rebounds. Aomori W.'s coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Koshigaya A. have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with Saga B. and Chiba. Aomori W. at the other side keeps the fourth place with 17 games lost. They share the position with Nishinomiya S.. Koshigaya A. will play against Kagawa FA (#7) in Takamatsu in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Aomori W. will play at home against Fukuoka R. and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
An interesting game for Nagasaki (20-11) which hosted in Nagasaki 3rd placed Kumamoto V. (17-14). Second ranked Nagasaki had an easy win 98-73. Matt Bonds nailed a double-double by scoring 28 points, 19 rebounds and 8 assists for the winning side. Benjamin Lawson came up with a double-double by scoring 29 points and 13 rebounds (on 12-of-15 shooting from the field) for Kumamoto V. in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Newly promoted Nagasaki maintains second place with 20-11 record having five points less than leader Chiba. Loser Kumamoto V. keeps the third position with 14 games lost. Nagasaki will meet Bambitious N. (#6) in the next round. Kumamoto V. will play against Fukushima and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

There were no big surprises in other games of round 29: Yamagata beat Tokyo Z on the road 98-90. Nishinomiya S. lost to Fukushima on its own court 80-90. Ehime OV was outscored by Fukuoka R. in a road game 72-98. Saga B. managed to beat Kagawa FA at home 87-80.

Aomori W. - Koshigaya A. 75-81

An interesting game for Koshigaya A. (25-6) which played road game in Aomori against 4th placed Aomori W. (14-17). Second ranked Koshigaya A. managed to get a 6-point victory 81-75. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Aomori W.. It was a great shooting night for Koshigaya A. especially from behind the arc, where they had solid 52.4 percentage. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 22 assists. American forward Justin Harper (208-1989, college: Richmond) stepped up and scored 30 points and 6 rebounds for the winners and his fellow American import center Isaac Butts (208-1989, college: App State) chipped in 10 points and 11 rebounds. American center Max Hisatake (203-1998, college: IlIinois Tech) responded with a double-double by scoring 13 points and 10 rebounds and guard Kohei Tsuneta (186-1999) scored 10 points and 7 assists. Four Aomori W. players scored in double figures. Aomori W.'s coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Koshigaya A. have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They keep a position of league leader, which they share with Saga B. and Chiba. Aomori W. at the other side keeps the fourth place with 17 games lost. They share the position with Nishinomiya S.. Koshigaya A. will play against Kagawa FA (#7) in Takamatsu in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Aomori W. will play at home against Fukuoka R. and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Koshigaya A.: J.Harper 30+6reb+3ast, K.Hayate 12+4reb, I.Butts 10+11reb+2ast, M.Shun 9+4reb+5ast, T.Hasegawa 8+1reb+2ast, K.Makoto 7+4reb+4ast
Aomori W.: E.Montgomery 13+5reb, M.Hisatake 13+10reb+1ast, K.Aita 12+1reb+2ast, K.Tsuneta 10+1reb+7ast, A.Davis 9+4reb+2ast, I.Yuichi 6+5ast

Tokyo Z - Yamagata 90-98

The game between closely ranked teams ended with sixth ranked Yamagata's (13-18) road victory over 7th ranked Tokyo Z (5-26) 98-90 on Wednesday. Yamagata made 16-of-17 free shots (94.1 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 29 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Yamagata made 7 blocks. American James Bell (196-1992, college: Villanova, agency: Slash Sports) nailed a double-double by scoring 30 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals (was perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line !!!) for the winning side and American-Panamanian center Javier Carter (203-1991, college: USA, agency: Slash Sports) accounted for 22 points and 8 rebounds. Four Yamagata players scored in double figures. Yamagata's coach allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. American power forward Ishmael Lane (203-1997, college: NSU) came up with a double-double by scoring 32 points and 15 rebounds and the other American import guard Addison Spruill (195-1993, college: UNCW) added 18 points and 9 rebounds respectively for Tokyo Z in the defeat. Yamagata moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Ehime OV. Tokyo Z lost their eighth game in a row. They keep the seventh position with 26 games lost. Yamagata will meet at home league's leader Saga B. in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Tokyo Z will play against Nishinomiya S. (#5) in Hyogo and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Yamagata: J.Bell 30+12reb+8ast, J.Carter 22+8reb+3ast, T.Tahara 20+4reb+2ast, T.Welsh 11+12reb+3ast, D.Suzuki 7+3reb+6ast, J.Maniwa 3+1ast
Tokyo Z: I.Lane 32+15reb, K.Kimura 20+3reb+5ast, A.Spruill 18+9reb+3ast, K.Fujioka 6+2reb+4ast, K.Tsubasa 6+4reb+4ast, J.Kano 6+1reb+2ast

Nishinomiya S. - Fukushima 80-90

Rather expected game when 5th ranked Nishinomiya S. (14-17) lost to third ranked Fukushima (16-15) in Hyogo 80-90 on Wednesday. Fukushima shot the lights out from three sinking 12 long-distance shots on high 52.2 percentage. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. Venezuelan center Gregory Echenique (206-1990, college: Creighton, agency: Pensack Sports) nailed 28 points and 7 rebounds (was perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line !!!) for the winning side and American forward Josh Harrellson (208-1989, college: Kentucky) accounted for 24 points. American forward DeQuan Jones (203-1990, college: Miami, FL) came up with 24 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists (was perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line !!!) and the other American import forward Trey Porter (208-1996, college: Nevada) added 20 points, 9 rebounds and 5 blocks respectively for Nishinomiya S. in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Fukushima maintains third place with 16-15 record having nine points less than leader Chiba. Loser Nishinomiya S. dropped to the fourth position with 17 games lost. They share it with Aomori W.. Fukushima will meet at home Kumamoto V. (#3) in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Nishinomiya S. will play against Tokyo Z and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Fukushima: G.Echenique 28+7reb, J.Harrellson 24+4reb+1ast, N.Hashimoto 10+1reb+1ast, G.Cheon 8+1reb+6ast, S.Murakami 7+3reb+2ast, T.Hasegawa 7+2reb+7ast
Nishinomiya S.: D.Jones 24+6reb+4ast, T.Porter 20+9reb+1ast, K.Sena 9+3reb+1ast, R.Nakanishi 8+3reb+2ast, S.Watanabe 8+2reb+5ast, N.Tani 6+2reb+3ast

Bambitious N. - Chiba 90-86

The most surprising game was a loss of top-ranked Chiba (25-6) in Nara on Wednesday night. Visitors were defeated by seventh ranked Bambitious N. (9-22) 90-86. It ended at the same time the 14-game winning streak of Chiba. Senegalese center Cheikh Mbodj (208-1987, college: Cincinnati) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 23 points, 16 rebounds and 6 blocks. The former international forward Naoki Uto (188-1991) contributed with 20 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists for the winners. Bambitious N.'s coach used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. American forward Leo Lyons (206-1987, college: Missouri) answered with 23 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists (was perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line !!!) and the other American import Brandon Ashley (206-1994, college: Arizona) added 16 points and 7 rebounds in the effort for Chiba. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Bambitious N. moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Kagawa FA. Newly promoted Chiba still keeps top position with six games lost. They share it with Koshigaya A. and Saga B.. Bambitious N. is looking forward to face league's second-placed Nagasaki at home in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Chiba will play against Ehime OV and is hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Bambitious N.: C.Mbodj 23+16reb+1ast, C.James 20+2reb+4ast, N.Uto 20+5reb+7ast, J.Wilson 14+12reb, F.Naoyuki 7+5ast, M.Komaki 4+1reb
Chiba: L.Lyons 23+9reb+6ast, B.Ashley 16+7reb+2ast, F.Kota 13+5reb+3ast, T.Kida 13+2reb+3ast, Y.Otsuka 10+2reb+2ast, K.Kotzur 6+10reb+2ast

Fukuoka R. - Ehime OV 98-72

We could consider it a predictable result in the game between close teams when fifth ranked Fukuoka R. (12-19) rolled over at home 4th placed Ehime OV (13-18) 98-72 on Wednesday. Fukuoka R. looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. American point guard Marvelle Harris (196-1993, college: Fresno St., agency: Slash Sports) nailed 23 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists for the winning side and his fellow American import forward Jordan Glynn (200-1989, college: SF Austin) accounted for 16 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Four Fukuoka R. players scored in double figures. American-Filipino forward Eugene Phelps (198-1990, college: LBSU) came up with a double-double by scoring 24 points and 17 rebounds (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field) and American-German power forward Ryan Kriener (208-1998, college: Iowa, agency: Pensack Sports) added 15 points and 6 rebounds respectively for Ehime OV in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Fukuoka R. maintains fifth place with 12-19 record. Ehime OV lost their seventh game in a row. They keep the fourth position with 18 games lost. They share it with Yamagata. Fukuoka R. will meet higher ranked Aomori W. (#4) on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Ehime OV will play against the league's leader Chiba and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Fukuoka R.: M.Harris 23+5reb+7ast, I.Yuma 18+2reb, J.Glynn 16+8reb+4ast, S.Shigetomi 11+2reb+4ast, G.Slaughter 9+2reb, D.Gordon 8+11reb+2ast
Ehime OV: E.Phelps 24+17reb+2ast, R.Kriener 15+6reb+2ast, Y.Toshino 12+2reb+6ast, S.Ishii 7+3ast, A.Fitzgerald 6+6reb, S.Kouno 5+2ast

Saga B. - Kagawa FA 87-80

Not a big story in a game when 6th ranked Kagawa FA (9-22) lost on the road to first ranked Saga B. (25-6) 87-80 on Wednesday. Saga B. made 19-of-25 free shots (76.0 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Saga B. made 7 blocks. American Chase Fieler (202-1992, college: FGCU) nailed a double-double by scoring 21 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists for the winning side and Canadian forward Mikyle McIntosh (201-1994, college: Oregon) accounted for 26 points and 6 rebounds. British forward Myles Hesson (198-1990, agency: Octagon Europe) came up with 28 points and 4 assists (was perfect 12-for-12 from the free throw line !!!) and American Kyle Richardson (200-1991, college: Portland St.) added 16 points and 8 rebounds respectively for Kagawa FA in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The victory was the third consecutive win for Saga B.. They maintain first place with 25-6 record, which they share with Koshigaya A. and Chiba. Loser Kagawa FA keeps the sixth position with 22 games lost. They share it with Bambitious N.. Saga B. will meet Yamagata (#6) on the road in the next round which should be theoretically an easy game. Kagawa FA will play against the league's second-placed Koshigaya A. and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Saga B.: M.McIntosh 26+6reb+2ast, C.Fieler 21+13reb+6ast, S.Taiki 14+3reb+6ast, K.Atsuki 6, Y.Mitsuhara 6+2reb, Y.Nishi 6+1ast
Kagawa FA: M.Hesson 28+2reb+4ast, K.Richardson 16+8reb, R.Adams 9+6reb+1ast, R.Vague 8+3reb+4ast, T.Kodama 6+4reb+5ast, I.Ryo 5+2ast

Nagasaki - Kumamoto V. 98-73

An interesting game for Nagasaki (20-11) which hosted in Nagasaki 3rd placed Kumamoto V. (17-14). Second ranked Nagasaki had an easy win 98-73. Nagasaki looked well-organized offensively handing out 33 assists. American forward Matt Bonds (196-1995, college: St.Michael's) nailed a double-double by scoring 28 points, 19 rebounds and 8 assists for the winning side and his fellow American import forward Jeffrey Gibbs (188-1980, college: Otterbein) accounted for 7 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists. Four Nagasaki players scored in double figures. British forward Benjamin Lawson (216-1995, college: WKU) came up with a double-double by scoring 29 points and 13 rebounds (on 12-of-15 shooting from the field) and American guard Terrance Woodbury (201-1987, college: Georgia) added 13 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists respectively for Kumamoto V. in the defeat. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Newly promoted Nagasaki maintains second place with 20-11 record having five points less than leader Chiba. Loser Kumamoto V. keeps the third position with 14 games lost. Nagasaki will meet Bambitious N. (#6) in the next round. Kumamoto V. will play against Fukushima and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Nagasaki: M.Bonds 28+19reb+8ast, M.Karimata 15+1reb+4ast, E.Yamamoto 13+1reb+2ast, J.Heading 12+4reb+4ast, T.Kanji 9+1ast, D.Noguchi 7+1reb+2ast
Kumamoto V.: B.Lawson 29+13reb, T.Woodbury 13+8reb+4ast, I.Hiroaki 12+1reb+3ast, Y.Shota 6+1reb+1ast, N.Yuto 3, K.Nagomu 3+2reb+2ast



Tags : CHEIKH MBODJ, BAMBITIOUS NARA, JAPANESE BASKETBALL