B3 League Round 25 (Regular Season): Tokushima Gam. defeats Niigata A. in the game between Top 4 teams

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

An interesting game for Gambarous (20-4) which hosted in Tokushima 4th placed Albirex (16-10). First ranked Gambarous managed to get a 14-point victory 80-66. Worth to mention a great performance of American power forward Tavrion Dawson (202-1996, college: CSUN, agency: One Motive Sports) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 11 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists. His fellow American import forward Ryan Logan (200-1994, college: Stonehill) contributed with 17 points for the winners. American forward BJ Mack (203-2000, college: S.Carolina) answered with 20 points for Niigata A.Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Gambarous have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. Tokushima Gam. maintains first place with 20-4 record. Niigata A. lost third consecutive game. They keep the fourth position with ten games lost. They share it with Okayama. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Important game to mention about took place in Saitama. Ninth ranked United (11-13) saved a 3-point victory on the road edging 6th ranked Broncos (14-8) 78-75 on Sunday evening. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Broncos. American center Jacob Polakovich (208-2000, college: S.Indiana) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 15 rebounds for the winners and Earnest Ross chipped in 17 points and 9 rebounds. At the losing side American Devin Oliver (203-1992, college: Dayton) responded with 14 points and 7 rebounds. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Shanan Utd maintains ninth place with 11-13 record. Saitama at the other side keeps the sixth position with eight games lost. Shanan Utd will play against Yamaguchi (#12) on the road in the next round. Saitama will play against Tokyo (#3) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
The game between fifth ranked Try Hoop (16-10) and 15th ranked Veertien Mie (6-18) in Okayama on Sunday ended with biggest points difference. Try Hoop outscored guests from Yokkaichi 100-65. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Veertien Mie. American players dominated the game. Terrance King nailed 25 points and 5 rebounds for the winning side. Takaya Sawaki came up with 18 points for Veertien Mie 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. Okayama moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Niigata A. Loser Veertien Mie stay at the bottom position with 18 games lost. Okayama will meet league's second-placed Kagawa in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Veertien Mie will have a break next round.

Other games in round 25 were not that significant. Shinagawa was beaten by Tokyo Utd on the road 91-76. Tokyo Z lost to Yamaguchi on its own court 78-87. Gifu unfortunately lost to Kagawa in Takamatsu 82-91.
The most impressive performance of 25th round was 20 points and 6 rebounds by Christian Cunningham of Shanan Utd.



Tokyo Utd - Shinagawa 91-76

Everything could happen in Tokyo at the game between two tied teams. Both eleventh ranked United and 13th ranked Shinagawa had identical 7-16 record. This time United used a home court advantage and beat the opponent from Shinagawa 91-76 on Sunday night. Tokyo Utd made 16-of-19 free shots (84.2 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. Bula Glorida nailed a double-double by scoring 15 points and 13 rebounds for the winning side and Hiroki Higashi accounted for 22 points. Four United players scored in double figures. American forward Victor Hart (203-2001, college: Southern Miss) came up with 31 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists and the other American import forward Marius Grazulis (211-2002, college: GVSU, agency: Diamond Sports) added 11 points and 9 rebounds respectively for Shinagawa in the defeat. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Tokyo Utd maintains eleventh place with 8-16 record. Loser Shinagawa keeps the thirteenth position with 17 games lost. They share it with Tokyo Z. Tokyo Utd will meet higher ranked Tachikawa (#7) on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Shinagawa will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Tokyo Utd: H.Higashi 22+3reb+2ast, W.Furukawa 15+1reb+2ast, B.Glorida 15+13reb+1ast, K.Hayden 10+12reb+4ast, K.Tanaka 8+1reb+3ast, S.Kedrick 8+1reb+4ast
Shinagawa: V.Hart 31+9reb+4ast, R.Tawatari 12+1reb+6ast, M.Grazulis 11+9reb+1ast, O.Kunitatsu 8, G.Vasiliauskas 5+5reb, O.Tomoya 4+2reb+1ast

Tokyo Z - Yamaguchi 78-87

There was a minor upset when 12th ranked Earthfriends (7-17) lost to fourteenth ranked Pats Five (8-18) in Tokyo 78-87 on Sunday. Yamaguchi looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. American center Even Brauns (206-2002, college: Iowa, agency: Diamond Sports) nailed a double-double by scoring 22 points and 21 rebounds for the winning side and Bostyn Holt accounted for 14 points and 8 rebounds. Four Pats Five players scored in double figures. American guard Jaycee Hillsman (200-1996, college: Illinois St.) came up with a double-double by scoring 25 points and 13 rebounds and the other American import forward Malik Benlevi (198-1997, college: Georgia St.) added 19 points and 11 rebounds respectively for Tokyo Z in the defeat. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Yamaguchi moved-up to twelfth place. Tokyo Z lost their third game in a row. They dropped to the thirteenth position with 17 games lost. They share it with Shinagawa. Yamaguchi will meet at home higher ranked Shanan Utd (#9) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Tokyo Z will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Yamaguchi: B.Even 22+21reb+2ast, E.Takuma 19+6reb, B.Holt 14+8reb+3ast, R.Yamaguchi 12+3reb+1ast, S.Kishinaga 9+4reb+11ast, S.Tanaka 7+1reb
Tokyo Z: J.Hillsman 25+13reb+1ast, M.Benlevi 19+11reb+1ast, N.Ryutaro 9+2reb+2ast, S.Sho 8+5reb+2ast, J.Combs 7+7reb+1ast, K.Kazuma 5+1reb+4ast

Okayama - Veertien Mie 100-65

The game between fifth ranked Try Hoop (16-10) and 15th ranked Veertien Mie (6-18) in Okayama on Sunday ended with biggest points difference. Try Hoop outscored guests from Yokkaichi 100-65. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Veertien Mie. Okayama dominated down low during the game scoring 56 of its points in the paint compared to Veertien Mie's 34 and made 20-of-23 free shots (87.0 percent) during the game. Okayama forced 21 Veertien Mie turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. American players dominated the game. Forward Terrance King (198-1990, college: ESU, agency: Diamond Sports) nailed 25 points and 5 rebounds for the winning side and forward Cherif Sow (201-1992) accounted for 15 points and 8 rebounds. Center Even Brauns (206-2002, college: Iowa, agency: Diamond Sports) came up with 18 points and power forward Damonte Dodd (211-1994, college: Maryland) added 10 points and 8 rebounds respectively for Veertien Mie 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. Okayama moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Niigata A. Loser Veertien Mie stay at the bottom position with 18 games lost. Okayama will meet league's second-placed Kagawa in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Veertien Mie will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Okayama: K.Terrance 25+5reb+3ast, S.Cherif 15+8reb+2ast, S.Josh 13+5reb+2ast, M.Nakamura 8+2reb+1ast, S.Ishihara 8+1reb+4ast, K.Wakasa 7+1reb+1ast
Veertien Mie: S.Takaya 18+3reb+1ast, D.Dodd 10+8reb+1ast, S.Yusei 10+2reb+2ast, K.Tatsuya 9, D.Doblas 7+7reb+3ast, A.Fuga 6+2reb+3ast

Tokushima Gam. - Niigata A. 80-66

An interesting game for Gambarous (20-4) which hosted in Tokushima 4th placed Albirex (16-10). First ranked Gambarous managed to get a 14-point victory 80-66. Worth to mention a great performance of American power forward Tavrion Dawson (202-1996, college: CSUN, agency: One Motive Sports) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 11 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists. His fellow American import forward Ryan Logan (200-1994, college: Stonehill) contributed with 17 points for the winners. American forward BJ Mack (203-2000, college: S.Carolina) answered with 20 points and added 12 points, 11 rebounds and 5 blocks in the effort for Niigata A.Five Tokushima Gam. and four Niigata A. players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Gambarous have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. Tokushima Gam. maintains first place with 20-4 record. Niigata A. lost third consecutive game. They keep the fourth position with ten games lost. They share it with Okayama. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Tokushima Gam.: L.Ryan 17+2reb+2ast, M.Naoto 11+4reb+1ast, T.Aoyama 11+1reb, M.Chris 11+4reb, D.Tavrion 11+12reb+4ast, Y.Tsukamoto 8+2ast
Niigata A.: B.Mack 20+3reb+3ast, N.Mitsuki 14+3reb+3ast, P.Pogue 12+1reb, J.Mutombo 12+11reb, H.Aoi 6+4reb+4ast, T.Kawamura 2+2reb

Kagawa FA - Gifu 91-82

Very predictable result when second ranked Five Arrows (17-5) won against 8th ranked Swoops (12-12) in Takamatsu 91-82 on Sunday. Kagawa forced 22 Gifu turnovers. American forward Jacob Lampkin (206-1996, college: Alaska-Anch.) nailed 19 points and 5 rebounds for the winning side and his fellow American import forward Alex Davis (206-1992, college: Fresno St., agency: Diamond Sports) accounted for 15 points and 5 rebounds. Four Five Arrows players scored in double figures. Five Arrows' coach Koki Yabuuchi used entire bench and allowed the starting five to rest. Forward Terrance King (198-1990, college: ESU, agency: Diamond Sports) came up with a double-double by scoring 15 points and 16 rebounds and forward Cherif Sow (201-1992) added 18 points respectively for Gifu in the defeat. The victory was the third consecutive win for Five Arrows. Kagawa maintains second place with 17-5 record having five points less than leader Tokushima Gam. Loser Swoops keeps the eighth position with 12 games lost. Kagawa will meet at home Okayama (#5) in the next round. Gifu will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Kagawa FA: L.Jacob 19+5reb+1ast, D.Alex 15+5reb+1ast, H.Imabayashi 13+3reb+3ast, Y.Ukeda 11+1reb+2ast, H.Tucker 10+6reb+3ast, T.Kobayashi 10+4ast
Gifu: T.Kodai 18+4reb+3ast, S.Andre 15+16reb, K.Morito 13+3ast, J.Giles 9+1reb+1ast, R.Yamazaki 9+1reb+5ast, T.Masahiro 8+1reb

Saitama - Shanan Utd 75-78

Important game to mention about took place in Saitama. Ninth ranked United (11-13) saved a 3-point victory on the road edging 6th ranked Broncos (14-8) 78-75 on Sunday evening. It ended at the same time the five-game winning streak of Broncos. Shanan Utd dominated down low during the game scoring 50 of its points in the paint compared to Broncos's 30. American center Jacob Polakovich (208-2000, college: S.Indiana) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 15 rebounds for the winners and Guamanian-American guard Earnest Ross (198-1991, college: Missouri, agency: Haylett Sports) chipped in 17 points and 9 rebounds. At the losing side American Devin Oliver (203-1992, college: Dayton) responded with 14 points and 7 rebounds and the other American import forward Trent Buttrick (206-1998, college: UMass) scored 13 points and 5 rebounds. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Shanan Utd maintains ninth place with 11-13 record. Saitama at the other side keeps the sixth position with eight games lost. Shanan Utd will play against Yamaguchi (#12) on the road in the next round. Saitama will play against Tokyo (#3) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Shanan Utd: C.Christian 20+6reb+1ast, R.Earnest 17+9reb+2ast, P.Jacob 12+15reb+2ast, I.Takaya 8+1reb+3ast, S.Takagi 8+3reb+1ast, S.Shigetomi 7+2reb+2ast
Saitama: D.Oliver 14+7reb+3ast, T.Buttrick 13+5reb, A.Tajima 8+1reb+3ast, M.Yuta 8+2reb+2ast, M.Keijuro 7+1reb+1ast, K.Masaharu 6