B2 League Round 45 (Regular Season): Kumamoto V. lose to Ehime

The games at this stage are more interesting as they can be crucial for the final standings in Regular Season. Despite we already know who is stronger and who is weaker, there may be still last minute surprises and upsets. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game between third ranked Volters (32-24) and sixth ranked Orange Vikings (22-34) was the most important one in the last round on Sunday night. Volters were defeated by Orange Vikings in a tough game in Kumamoto 81-88. Ehime looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. It was a good game for American-Filipino forward Eugene Phelps (198-1990, college: LBSU) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 28 points and 18 rebounds (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field). point guard Takumi Furuno (178-1993) contributed with 25 points and 6 assists for the winners. Orange Vikings' coach used an eleven-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American forward Aaron White (206-1992, college: Iowa) answered with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 13 rebounds for Kumamoto V.Orange Vikings have a solid series of three victories in a row. Ehime maintains sixth place with 22-34 record. Kumamoto V. lost seventh consecutive game. They keep the third position with 24 games lost. Ehime are looking forward to face higher ranked Shizuoka (#5) at home in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Kumamoto V. will play against the league's second-placed Fukuoka R. and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Another exciting game for Bambitious (21-35) which hosted in Nara against 4th placed Nishinomiya S. (27-29). Seventh ranked Bambitious won 79-72. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Storks. American players dominated the game. Power forward Cameron Jackson (203-1996, college: Wofford) stepped up and scored 22 points and 5 rebounds for the winners and Shaquille Hines chipped in 16 points and 10 rebounds. The best for the losing side was forward Jordan Caroline (201-1996, college: Nevada) with 33 points (!!!) and 9 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Bambitious moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Fukushima. Nishinomiya S. at the other side keeps the fourth position with 29 games lost. Bambitious will play against higher ranked Aomori W. (#4) on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Nishinomiya S. will play against the league's leader Shiga L-Stars and hopes to get back on the winning track.
B2 League top team - Chiba (52-4) managed to deliver another win on Sunday. This time they beat sixth ranked Big Bulls (17-39) in Iwate 73-64. Dererk Pardon nailed a double-double by scoring 21 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists for the winning side. Eric Thompson came up with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 15 rebounds for Iwate in the defeat. Both coaches tested many bench players saving starting five for next games. Chiba have an impressive series of nine victories in a row. Newly promoted Chiba maintains first place with 52-4 record. Iwate at the other side, also newcomer in the league, keeps the sixth position with 39 games lost. Chiba will meet at home league's second-placed Koshigaya A. in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Iwate will play against Yamagata (#3) and hope to secure a win.

There were no big surprises in other games of round 45: Koshigaya A. smashed Fukushima on the road 101-75. Shizuoka lost to Aomori W. on its own court 79-96. Niigata A. was outscored by Yamagata in a road game 59-84.
The most impressive performance of 45th round was 18 points and 4 assists by Michael Finke of Yamagata.



Fukushima - Koshigaya A. 75-101

No shocking result in a game when second ranked Alphas (34-22) crushed 5th ranked Firebonds (21-35) in Fukushima 101-75 on Sunday. Koshigaya A. outrebounded Fukushima 44-26 including a 33-18 advantage in defensive rebounds. Koshigaya A. looked well-organized offensively handing out 32 assists. Guard Kenshin Hoshikawa (190-2001) nailed 21 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists for the winning side and American forward Justin Harper (208-1989, college: Richmond) accounted for 18 points and 7 rebounds. Five Alphas players scored in double figures. Alphas' coach felt very confident that he used entire bench saving starting five for next games. Lithuanian forward Rapolas Ivanauskas (208-1998, college: Cincinnati) came up with 17 points and 7 rebounds and Venezuelan center Gregory Echenique (208-1990, college: Creighton, agency: Pensack Sports) added 21 points and 5 rebounds respectively for Fukushima in the defeat. Alphas have a solid series of three victories in a row. Koshigaya A. maintains second place with 34-22 record having seven points less than leader Chiba. Fukushima lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the fifth position with 35 games lost. They share it with Bambitious. Koshigaya A. will meet league's leader Chiba on the road in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Fukushima will play against Niigata A. (#7) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Koshigaya A.: H.Kenshin 21+6reb+4ast, J.Harper 18+7reb+3ast, M.Shun 13+7ast, I.Soichiro 12+4reb, I.Butts 11+12reb+3ast, S.Reiju 8+1reb+3ast
Fukushima: G.Echenique 21+5reb, R.Ivanauskas 17+7reb+2ast, D.Tsuchiya 14+7ast, R.Tawatari 7+6reb+6ast, T.King 6+4reb, K.Taketo 6+2reb+3ast

Iwate - Chiba 64-73

B2 League top team - Chiba (52-4) managed to deliver another win on Sunday. This time they beat sixth ranked Big Bulls (17-39) in Iwate 73-64. Chiba dominated down low during the game scoring 50 of its points in the paint compared to Big Bulls's 30. American center Dererk Pardon (203-1996, college: Northwestern) nailed a double-double by scoring 21 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists for the winning side and his fellow American import forward Alex Davis (206-1992, college: Fresno St., agency: Diamond Sports) accounted for 12 points and 8 rebounds. American center Eric Thompson (204-1993, college: Pacific) came up with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 15 rebounds and point guard Kokoro Sekiya (179) added 12 points respectively for Iwate in the defeat. Both coaches tested many bench players saving starting five for next games. Chiba have an impressive series of nine victories in a row. Newly promoted Chiba maintains first place with 52-4 record. Iwate at the other side, also newcomer in the league, keeps the sixth position with 39 games lost. Chiba will meet at home league's second-placed Koshigaya A. in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Iwate will play against Yamagata (#3) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Chiba: D.Pardon 21+10reb+4ast, A.Davis 12+8reb, T.Kida 11+2reb+2ast, K.Sugimoto 9+2reb+6ast, C.Liu 6+4reb, M.Reo 6+1reb+3ast
Iwate: E.Thompson 15+15reb+3ast, S.Kokoro 12+2reb+2ast, U.Hiroki 11+1reb+1ast, Y.Toshiki 8+2reb+5ast, I.Harumichi 6+2reb, K.Martin 6+3reb+1ast

Kumamoto V. - Ehime OV 81-88

The game between third ranked Volters (32-24) and sixth ranked Orange Vikings (22-34) was the most important one in the last round on Sunday night. Volters were defeated by Orange Vikings in a tough game in Kumamoto 81-88. Ehime looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. It was a good game for American-Filipino forward Eugene Phelps (198-1990, college: LBSU) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 28 points and 18 rebounds (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field). Point guard Takumi Furuno (178-1993) contributed with 25 points and 6 assists for the winners. Orange Vikings' coach used an eleven-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. American forward Aaron White (206-1992, college: Iowa) answered with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 13 rebounds and guard Shota Yamamoto (188-1999) added 24 points in the effort for Kumamoto V.Orange Vikings have a solid series of three victories in a row. Ehime maintains sixth place with 22-34 record. Kumamoto V. lost seventh consecutive game. They keep the third position with 24 games lost. Ehime are looking forward to face higher ranked Shizuoka (#5) at home in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Kumamoto V. will play against the league's second-placed Fukuoka R. and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Ehime OV: E.Phelps 28+18reb+2ast, T.Furuno 25+4reb+6ast, N.Gadson 18+2reb+6ast, N.Spikes 8+6reb+1ast, T.Martel 4+4reb, Y.Toshino 3+1reb+3ast
Kumamoto V.: Y.Shota 24+3reb+2ast, A.White 15+13reb+3ast, N.Sugasawa 10+2reb+1ast, S.Ichioka 9+8reb+1ast, N.Yuma 8+2reb, N.Ren 7+5ast

Bambitious N. - Nishinomiya S. 79-72

Another exciting game for Bambitious (21-35) which hosted in Nara against 4th placed Nishinomiya S. (27-29). Seventh ranked Bambitious won 79-72. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Storks. American players dominated the game. Power forward Cameron Jackson (203-1996, college: Wofford) stepped up and scored 22 points and 5 rebounds for the winners and Shaquille Hines (201-1993, college: UTRGV) chipped in 16 points and 10 rebounds. The best for the losing side was forward Jordan Caroline (201-1996, college: Nevada) with 33 points (!!!) and 9 rebounds and center Max Hisatake (203-1998, college: IlIinois Tech, agency: Slash Sports) produced a double-double by scoring 13 points and 12 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Bambitious moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Fukushima. Nishinomiya S. at the other side keeps the fourth position with 29 games lost. Bambitious will play against higher ranked Aomori W. (#4) on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Nishinomiya S. will play against the league's leader Shiga L-Stars and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Bambitious N.: C.Jackson 22+5reb+2ast, S.Hines 16+10reb+2ast, J.Honda 14+1ast, H.Eiji 9+6reb+2ast, M.Komaki 6+1ast, K.Kohei 6+3reb+8ast
Nishinomiya S.: J.Caroline 33+9reb+1ast, M.Hisatake 13+12reb+3ast, K.Sena 7, K.Patrick 6+6reb+1ast, T.Porter 6+5reb+1ast, N.Dohara 5+3reb+2ast

Shizuoka - Aomori W. 79-96

The game between closely ranked teams ended with 5th ranked Shizuoka's (25-31) home loss to fourth ranked Watts (29-27) 79-96 on Sunday. Aomori W. dominated down low during the game scoring 60 of its points in the paint compared to Shizuoka's 38. American forward Jordan Hamilton (201-1990, college: Texas) nailed a double-double by scoring 24 points and 11 rebounds for the winning side and Czech Patrik Auda (206-1989, college: Seton Hall, agency: Octagon Europe) accounted for 21 points and 5 rebounds (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field). American forward John Harrar (205-1999, college: Penn St.) came up with a double-double by scoring 12 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists and Liberian-American guard Thomas Bropleh (196-1991, college: Boise St.) added 22 points and 5 rebounds respectively for Shizuoka in the defeat. Four Aomori W. and five Shizuoka players scored in double figures. Aomori W. moved-up to third place, which they share with Yamagata. Newly promoted Shizuoka keeps the fifth position with 31 games lost. Aomori W. will meet at home Bambitious (#7) in the next round. Shizuoka will play against Ehime in Matsuyama and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Aomori W.: J.Hamilton 24+11reb+2ast, P.Auda 21+5reb, K.Tsuneta 15+2reb+3ast, E.Montgomery 14+9reb+1ast, K.Aita 9+2reb+2ast, H.Mone 6+3reb+1ast
Shizuoka: T.Bropleh 22+5reb, Y.Okada 15+1reb+5ast, J.Harrar 12+12reb+4ast, K.Lawson 12+6reb+2ast, N.Hashimoto 11+3reb+3ast, S.Kanou 4+2reb+1ast

Yamagata - Niigata A. 84-59

Rather predictable result when fourth ranked Wyverns (29-27) rolled over 7th ranked Niigata A. (7-49) in Yamagata 84-59 on Sunday. Yamagata outrebounded Niigata A. 39-25 including 30 on the defensive glass. Yamagata looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. American forward Michael Finke (208-1996, college: GCU, agency: Players Group) nailed 18 points and 4 assists for the winning side and his fellow American import TJ Holyfield (203-1995, college: Texas Tech) accounted for 9 points and 9 rebounds. Finke is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. American forward Stacy Davis (198-1994, college: Pepperdine) came up with 17 points and 7 rebounds and the former international center Pape Faye (200-1987) added 7 points and 6 rebounds respectively for Niigata A. 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. Yamagata moved-up to third place, which they share with Aomori W. Niigata A. lost their sixth game in a row. They keep the seventh position with 49 games lost. Yamagata will meet at home Iwate (#6) in the next round. Niigata A. will play against Fukushima and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Yamagata: M.Finke 18+3reb+4ast, O.Kazuma 17+1reb+1ast, J.Bell 13+4reb+1ast, T.Holyfield 9+9reb+2ast, R.Adams 8+11reb, S.Murakami 5+2reb+4ast
Niigata A.: S.Davis 17+7reb+2ast, D.Tomioka 8+2reb+1ast, P.Faye 7+6reb, S.Tanaka 7+1reb+2ast, Y.Ikeda 5+4reb+1ast, O.Ayumu 5