B2 League Round 33: Nagasaki beats Yamagata by three after a very close game

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Sixth-ranked Yamagata (14-21) used its home court advantage to challenge second ranked Nagasaki (24-11) on Sunday. The visitors from Nagasaki managed to secure only three-point victory 88-85. However their fans expected much easier game. Nagasaki looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. American players dominated the game. It was a good game for forward Matt Bonds (196-1995, college: St.Michael's) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 24 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists. Forward Jeffrey Gibbs (188-1980, college: Otterbein) contributed with 18 points and 10 rebounds for the winners. James Bell (196-1992, college: Villanova, agency: Slash Sports) answered with 20 points and 6 rebounds for Yamagata. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Nagasaki have an impressive series of five victories in a row. Newly promoted Nagasaki maintains second place with 24-11 record having just three points less than leader Saga B. Yamagata at the other side dropped to the fifth position with 21 games lost. They share it with Fukuoka R.. Nagasaki are looking forward to face league's second-placed Chiba at home in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Yamagata will play against Aomori W. and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Third-ranked Aomori W. (17-18) was very close to win a game against second ranked Chiba (26-9). Chiba managed to secure only two-point victory 88-86. However their fans expected easier game. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Aomori W.. American Brandon Ashley (206-1994, college: Arizona) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 25 points and 10 rebounds for the winners and Yuto Otsuka chipped in 23 points and 4 assists. The best for the losing side was American center Max Hisatake (203-1998, college: IlIinois Tech) with 20 points and 9 rebounds. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Newly promoted Chiba maintains second place with 26-9 record behind leader Saga B. Aomori W. at the other side keeps the third position with 18 games lost. Chiba will play against league's second-placed Nagasaki on the road in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Aomori W. will play against Yamagata and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Very important is a home loss of third ranked Kumamoto V. (20-15) against seventh ranked Tokyo Z (7-28) on Sunday night. Host Kumamoto V. was defeated by Tokyo Z in Kumamoto 77-64. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Kumamoto V.. Reginald Buckner nailed a double-double by scoring 14 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists for the winning side. Jamel McLean came up with 21 points for Kumamoto V. in the defeat. Kumamoto V.'s coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Tokyo Z maintains seventh place with 7-28 record. Loser Kumamoto V. keeps the third position with 15 games lost. Tokyo Z will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Kumamoto V. will play against Nishinomiya S. and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

In the last game of round 33 Bambitious N. beat Kagawa FA on the road 86-74.

Yamagata - Nagasaki 85-88

Sixth-ranked Yamagata (14-21) used its home court advantage to challenge second ranked Nagasaki (24-11) on Sunday. The visitors from Nagasaki managed to secure only three-point victory 88-85. However their fans expected much easier game. Nagasaki looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. American players dominated the game. It was a good game for forward Matt Bonds (196-1995, college: St.Michael's) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 24 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists. Forward Jeffrey Gibbs (188-1980, college: Otterbein) contributed with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 10 rebounds for the winners. James Bell (196-1992, college: Villanova, agency: Slash Sports) answered with 20 points and 6 rebounds and center Thomas Welsh (213-1996, college: UCLA, agency: Pensack Sports) added 14 points and 10 rebounds in the effort for Yamagata. Four Yamagata players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Nagasaki have an impressive series of five victories in a row. Newly promoted Nagasaki maintains second place with 24-11 record having just three points less than leader Saga B. Yamagata at the other side dropped to the fifth position with 21 games lost. They share it with Fukuoka R.. Nagasaki are looking forward to face league's second-placed Chiba at home in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Yamagata will play against Aomori W. and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Yamagata: J.Bell 20+6reb+3ast, T.Welsh 14+10reb+2ast, D.Suzuki 13+3reb+3ast, S.Murakami 12+2reb+1ast, T.Tahara 7+5reb+1ast, J.Carter 7+2reb+3ast
Nagasaki: M.Bonds 24+12reb+4ast, J.Gibbs 18+10reb+3ast, J.Heading 14+4reb+3ast, T.Kanji 8+1reb+1ast, E.Yamamoto 8+2reb+2ast, M.Karimata 7+1reb+5ast

Chiba - Aomori W. 88-86

Third-ranked Aomori W. (17-18) was very close to win a game against second ranked Chiba (26-9). Chiba managed to secure only two-point victory 88-86. However their fans expected easier game. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Aomori W.. Chiba players were unselfish on offense dishing 25 assists. American Brandon Ashley (206-1994, college: Arizona) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 25 points and 10 rebounds for the winners and forward Yuto Otsuka (188-1987) chipped in 23 points and 4 assists. The best for the losing side was American center Max Hisatake (203-1998, college: IlIinois Tech) with 20 points and 9 rebounds and the other American import power forward EJ Montgomery (208-1999, college: Kentucky) scored 24 points and 6 rebounds. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Newly promoted Chiba maintains second place with 26-9 record behind leader Saga B. Aomori W. at the other side keeps the third position with 18 games lost. Chiba will play against league's second-placed Nagasaki on the road in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Aomori W. will play against Yamagata and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Aomori W.: E.Montgomery 24+6reb+2ast, M.Hisatake 20+9reb+3ast, A.Davis 17+7reb+2ast, H.Mone 6+3reb, I.Yuichi 6+8ast, K.Tsuneta 6+1reb+1ast
Chiba: B.Ashley 25+10reb+2ast, Y.Otsuka 23+3reb+4ast, L.Lyons 9+9reb+5ast, K.Sugimoto 7+3reb+7ast, T.Kida 7+3reb+1ast, F.Kota 6+2ast

Kagawa FA - Bambitious N. 74-86

We could consider it a predictable result in the game between close teams when seventh ranked Bambitious N. (10-25) beat 6th ranked Kagawa FA (10-25) in Takamatsu 86-74 on Sunday. Bambitious N. made 31-of-38 free shots (81.6 percent) during the game. Bambitious N. outrebounded Kagawa FA 43-30 including 33 on the defensive glass. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. Senegalese center Cheikh Mbodj (208-1987, college: Cincinnati) nailed a double-double by scoring 16 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 blocks for the winning side and point guard Naoyuki Fujisawa (174-1998) accounted for 17 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals. Four Bambitious N. players scored in double figures. British forward Myles Hesson (198-1990, agency: Octagon Europe) came up with 23 points and 6 rebounds and American Kyle Richardson (200-1991, college: Portland St.) added 21 points and 7 rebounds (went 7 for 7 at the free throw line) respectively for Kagawa FA in the defeat. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Bambitious N. moved-up to sixth place, which they share with defeated Kagawa FA. Bambitious N. will meet higher ranked Ehime OV (#4) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Kagawa FA will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Kagawa FA: M.Hesson 23+6reb+3ast, K.Richardson 21+7reb+3ast, R.Adams 9+5reb, T.Kodama 7+2reb+6ast, R.Vague 6+4reb+1ast, I.Takaya 5+1reb+3ast
Bambitious N.: N.Uto 19+6reb+2ast, F.Naoyuki 17+5reb+7ast, C.Mbodj 16+10reb+4ast, C.James 14+7reb+7ast, I.Shinpei 9, J.Wilson 8+9reb+2ast

Kumamoto V. - Tokyo Z 64-77

Very important is a home loss of third ranked Kumamoto V. (20-15) against seventh ranked Tokyo Z (7-28) on Sunday night. Host Kumamoto V. was defeated by Tokyo Z in Kumamoto 77-64. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Kumamoto V.. American power forward Reginald Buckner (206-1991, college: Ole Miss) nailed a double-double by scoring 14 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists for the winning side and point guard Keitaro Kimura (176-1993) accounted for 22 points. American center Jamel McLean (202-1988, college: Xavier) came up with 21 points and British forward Benjamin Lawson (216-1995, college: WKU) added 10 points and 12 rebounds respectively for Kumamoto V. in the defeat. Kumamoto V.'s coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. Tokyo Z maintains seventh place with 7-28 record. Loser Kumamoto V. keeps the third position with 15 games lost. Tokyo Z will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Kumamoto V. will play against Nishinomiya S. and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Kumamoto V.: J.McLean 21+4reb, B.Lawson 10+12reb+1ast, R.Motomura 6+3reb+4ast, N.Ren 6+3ast, H.Taniguchi 6+3reb, Y.Shota 6+3reb+1ast
Tokyo Z: K.Kimura 22+3reb+2ast, M.Joho 18+2reb, R.Buckner 14+13reb+4ast, I.Lane 7+9reb+1ast, K.Tsubasa 6+1reb+1ast, Y.Ide 4+2reb+4ast



Tags : MATT BONDS, NAGASAKI VELCA, JAPANESE BASKETBALL