B2 League Round 9 (Regular Season): Ehime beats Bambitious in the most crucial game of the week

- October 27, 2025

POSTED BY: Eurobasket News

Matt Haarms

It's still too early stage of the Regular Season in B2 League, but even now we can clearly see the difference between stronger teams and outsiders. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Matsuyama. Second ranked Orange Vikings faced 4th placed Nara. Host Orange Vikings (7-2) smashed guests from Nara (4-5) 84-47. Ehime looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Bambitious' players. The best player for the winners was Dutch center Matt Haarms (221-1997, college: BYU) who scored 19 points and 7 rebounds. American center Mitchell Watt (208-1989, college: Buffalo, agency: Octagon Europe) chipped in 16 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field). Orange Vikings' coach felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the other side the best for losing team was American center Nigel Spikes (208-1989, college: Marshall) who recorded a double-double by scoring 13 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists. Orange Vikings have a solid series of four victories in a row. Ehime maintains second place with 7-2 record behind leader Fukushima. Bambitious at the other side keep the fourth position with five games lost. They share it with Iwate. Ehime are looking forward to face Aomori W. (#7) at home in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Bambitious will play against Shinshu in Nagano and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Leader Storks delivered the eighth victory. This time they beat 6th ranked Volters (1-8) 74-68 in Hyogo. It was a good game for American Yoeli Childs (203-1998, college: BYU) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 20 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists. Shuto Terazono contributed with 23 points and 5 assists for the winners. Storks' coach let to play all 12 players and allowed the starting five to rest. American forward Mitch Lightfoot (203-1997, college: Kansas, agency: Slash Sports) answered with 14 points and 9 rebounds for Kumamoto V.Storks have a solid series of four victories in a row. Kobe S. maintains first place with 8-1 record, which they share with Fukushima. Kumamoto V. lost seventh consecutive game. They keep the sixth position with eight games lost. They share it with Shizuoka. Kobe S. will play against Fukuoka R. (#3) on the road in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Kumamoto V. will play against the league's second-placed Fukui B. to get more than just one victory in their record.
Leader Firebonds recorded the eighth victory on Sunday night. This time they beat 6th ranked Wyverns (2-7) 75-67 in Yamagata. Kenny Manigault stepped up with a double-double by scoring 19 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners. Firebonds' coach Ryan Marchand used an eleven-player rotation saving starting five for next games. The best for the losing side was Ryusei Abe with 20 points and 6 rebounds (went 11 for 11 at the free throw line !!!). Firebonds (8-1) have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. Fukushima maintains first place, which they share with Kobe S. Yamagata lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the sixth position with seven games lost. They share it with Aomori W.. Fukushima will meet at home Iwate (#4) in the next round. Yamagata will play against Yokohama and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

In the last two games of round 9 Aomori W. was defeated by Kagoshima in Renova 71-62. Iwate beat Shizuoka at home 77-71.

Kagoshima - Aomori W. 71-62

There was no surprise in Renova where 7th ranked Watts (2-7) were defeated by fifth ranked Rebnise (4-4) 71-62 on Sunday. Kagoshima looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. American swingman Anthony Gaines Jr (195-1993, college: LCU) stepped up and scored 19 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners and American-British center Josh Sharma (213-1995, college: Stanford) chipped in 12 points and 10 rebounds. The best for the losing side was American Rashard Kelly (203-1995, college: Wichita St.) with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 13 rebounds and the other American import center Max Hisatake (203-1998, college: IlIinois Tech, agency: Slash Sports) scored 11 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Both coaches used bench players saving starting five for next games. Kagoshima moved-up to fourth place. Aomori W. lost sixth consecutive game. They dropped to the sixth position with seven games lost. They share it with Yamagata. Kagoshima will meet Shizuoka (#7) on the road in the next round. Aomori W. will play against the league's second-placed Ehime in Matsuyama and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Aomori W.: T.Dalger 15+4reb+3ast, R.Kelly 15+13reb+3ast, M.Hisatake 11+9reb+5ast, W.Wang 6+4reb+1ast, K.Takahiro 5+2reb, M.Beni 4+1reb+2ast
Kagoshima: A.Gaines Jr. 19+7reb+6ast, J.Sharma 12+10reb+1ast, N.Rabay 10+4reb+2ast, T.Kodama 9+3reb+3ast, S.Sato 6+1reb+1ast, P.Auda 5+3reb

Iwate - Shizuoka 77-71

No shocking result in a game in Iwate where fourth ranked Big Bulls (4-5) defeated 7th ranked Veltex (1-8) 77-71 on Sunday. stepped up and scored 27 points and 4 assists for the winners and Serbian power forward Marko Tejic (209-1995) chipped in 16 points and 5 rebounds. Four Big Bulls players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was Norwegian forward Chris-Ebou Ndow (199-1993, college: NW Missouri St.) with 10 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists and German Tim Schneider (208-1997) scored 16 points and 8 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players saving starting five for next games. Iwate maintains fourth place with 4-5 record, which they share with Bambitious. Shizuoka lost seventh consecutive game. They dropped to the sixth position with eight games lost. They share it with Kumamoto V.. Iwate will meet league's leader Fukushima on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Shizuoka will play against Kagoshima (#4) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Shizuoka: T.Schneider 16+8reb+1ast, A.Brandt 12+8reb+5ast, C.Ndow 10+9reb+8ast, K.Masuda 9+2reb+1ast, S.Hayashi 7+2reb+1ast, H.Ryoma 6+1reb+1ast
Iwate: M.Clay 27+4reb+4ast, M.Tejic 16+5reb+2ast, S.Kokoro 12+2reb+2ast, Y.Sogo 10+6reb+4ast, N.Takumi 5+1reb, M.Keijiro 4+6reb+1ast

Kobe S. - Kumamoto V. 74-68

Leader Storks delivered the eighth victory. This time they beat 6th ranked Volters (1-8) 74-68 in Hyogo. It was a good game for American Yoeli Childs (203-1998, college: BYU) who led his team to a victory with a double-double by scoring 20 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists. contributed with 23 points and 5 assists for the winners. Storks' coach let to play all 12 players and allowed the starting five to rest. American forward Mitch Lightfoot (203-1997, college: Kansas, agency: Slash Sports) answered with 14 points and 9 rebounds and Montenegrin Nemanja Djurisic (202-1992, college: Georgia, agency: Slash Sports) added 15 points and 9 rebounds in the effort for Kumamoto V.Storks have a solid series of four victories in a row. Kobe S. maintains first place with 8-1 record, which they share with Fukushima. Kumamoto V. lost seventh consecutive game. They keep the sixth position with eight games lost. They share it with Shizuoka. Kobe S. will play against Fukuoka R. (#3) on the road in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Kumamoto V. will play against the league's second-placed Fukui B. to get more than just one victory in their record.
Top scorers:
Kumamoto V.: N.Djurisic 15+9reb+1ast, Y.Shota 14+6reb+4ast, M.Lightfoot 14+9reb+2ast, H.Isono 8, C.Tanaka 5+2reb+2ast, L.Mbodj 5+5reb
Kobe S.: T.Shuto 23+3reb+5ast, Y.Childs 20+12reb+6ast, D.Noriaki 8+1reb, H.Alen 6+5reb, I.Butts 6+6reb, R.Alkins 6+12reb+5ast

Ehime OV - Bambitious N. 84-47

An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Matsuyama. Second ranked Orange Vikings faced 4th placed Nara. Host Orange Vikings (7-2) smashed guests from Nara (4-5) 84-47. Ehime looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Bambitious' players. The best player for the winners was Dutch center Matt Haarms (221-1997, college: BYU) who scored 19 points and 7 rebounds. American center Mitchell Watt (208-1989, college: Buffalo, agency: Octagon Europe) chipped in 16 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field). Orange Vikings' coach felt very confident that he used entire bench which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the other side the best for losing team was American center Nigel Spikes (208-1989, college: Marshall) who recorded a double-double by scoring 13 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists and the other American import power forward Jordan Dallas (208-1997, college: Seattle, agency: Octagon Europe) added 9 points and 7 rebounds respectively. Orange Vikings have a solid series of four victories in a row. Ehime maintains second place with 7-2 record behind leader Fukushima. Bambitious at the other side keep the fourth position with five games lost. They share it with Iwate. Ehime are looking forward to face Aomori W. (#7) at home in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Bambitious will play against Shinshu in Nagano and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Bambitious N.: N.Spikes 13+13reb+4ast, S.Tatsuya 10+1ast, J.Dallas 9+7reb+1ast, O.Yuto 8+2reb+3ast, H.Jumpei 5+1reb+1ast, K.Masaya 2+2reb+1ast
Ehime OV: M.Haarms 19+7reb+2ast, M.Watt 16+6reb+4ast, S.Hines 16+5reb+3ast, E.Hayashi 9+1reb, M.Parker 9+7reb+3ast, Y.Toshino 6+2reb+2ast

Yamagata - Fukushima 67-75

Leader Firebonds recorded the eighth victory on Sunday night. This time they beat 6th ranked Wyverns (2-7) 75-67 in Yamagata. American swingman Kenny Manigault (195-1991, college: Pikeville) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 19 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners and Egyptian-American center Patrick Gardner (211-1999, college: Marist) chipped in 13 points. Firebonds' coach Ryan Marchand used an eleven-player rotation saving starting five for next games. The best for the losing side was point guard Ryusei Abe (181-1995) with 20 points and 6 rebounds (went 11 for 11 at the free throw line !!!) and American center Noah Waterman (211-2000, college: Louisville) produced a double-double by scoring 13 points and 13 rebounds. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Firebonds (8-1) have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. Fukushima maintains first place, which they share with Kobe S. Yamagata lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the sixth position with seven games lost. They share it with Aomori W.. Fukushima will meet at home Iwate (#4) in the next round. Yamagata will play against Yokohama and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Yamagata: R.Abe 20+6reb+2ast, N.Waterman 13+13reb+1ast, J.Bell 11+4reb+3ast, M.Shinya 10+1reb+2ast, S.Doorson 5+4reb+2ast, L.Jonghyun 4+5reb+1ast
Fukushima: K.Manigault 19+10reb+4ast, P.Gardner 13+3reb+2ast, D.Bamba 11+6reb, J.Nunge 10+6reb+1ast, K.Kohei 7+3reb+2ast, O.Yuuki 6+2reb+3ast