B3 League Round 41 of Regular Season

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game in Tokyo was quite interesting. Fifth ranked Albirex (24-16) played at the court of 6th ranked Hachioji Trains (21-19). Albirex defeated Hachioji Trains 98-85 on Sunday. Niigata A. made 16-of-20 free shots (80.0 percent) during the game. Center Mutombo Jean-Pierre (206-2002) orchestrated the victory by scoring 17 points and 9 rebounds. American forward BJ Mack (203-2000, college: S.Carolina) contributed with 17 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. American forward Taren Sullivan (198-1995, college: Findlay, OH) answered with a double-double by scoring 29 points and 10 rebounds for Tokyo. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Albirex have a solid series of three victories in a row. Niigata A. maintains fifth place with 24-16 record. Tokyo lost sixth consecutive game. They dropped to the seventh position with 19 games lost. Niigata A. are looking forward to face Tachikawa (#6) at home in the next round. Tokyo will play against Veertien Mie in Yokkaichi and is hoping to prove to their supporters that they can break losing series.
The game in Gifu was also worth to mention about. Second ranked Five Arrows (31-7) played at the court of 8th ranked Swoops (18-20). Five Arrows defeated Swoops 87-75. American forward Jacob Lampkin (206-1996, college: Alaska-Anch.) stepped up and scored 24 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners and Alex Davis chipped in 7 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Five Arrows' coach Koki Yabuuchi used entire bench and allowed the starting five to rest. New Zealand forward Daniel Fotu (203-1999, college: SMC) responded with 21 points. Five Arrows have an impressive series of fifteen victories in a row. Kagawa keeps a position of league leader. Gifu lost fifth consecutive game. They keep the eighth place with 20 games lost. Kagawa will play against Shinagawa (#14) at home in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Gifu will play against Tokyo Z (#12) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
The game between seventh ranked Dice (21-17) and 15th ranked Veertien Mie (7-31) in Tachikawa on Sunday ended with biggest points difference. Dice outscored guests from Yokkaichi 91-68. LJ Peak nailed 22 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists for the winning side. David Doblas came up with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 10 rebounds 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. Tachikawa moved-up to sixth place. Veertien Mie lost their tenth game in a row. They stay dead last with 31 lost games. Tachikawa will meet higher ranked Niigata A. (#5) on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Veertien Mie will play against Tokyo (#7) and hope to secure a win.

There were no big surprises in other games of round 41: Tokyo Z was beaten by Saitama on the road 102-86. Shinagawa destroyed Yamaguchi on its own court 79-60. Okayama managed to outperform Kanazawa in a road game 77-65.



Saitama - Tokyo Z 102-86

No shocking result in a game when third ranked Broncos (31-9) beat 12th ranked Earthfriends (13-27) in Saitama 102-86 on Sunday. Saitama shot the lights out from three sinking 16 long-distance shots on high 55.2 percentage. American players dominated the game. Forward Kennedy Meeks (208-1995, college: UNC) nailed 25 points and 7 rebounds for the winning side and Devin Oliver (203-1992, college: Dayton) accounted for 19 points and 6 rebounds. Power forward Jeremy Combs (201-1995, college: Texas Southern) came up with a double-double by scoring 24 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists and forward Malik Benlevi (198-1997, college: Georgia St.) added 16 points and 5 assists respectively for Tokyo Z in the defeat. Four Saitama and five Tokyo Z players scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players saving starting five for next games. The victory was the fifth consecutive win for Broncos. Saitama moved-up to second place, which they share with Tokushima Gam. Tokyo Z lost their third game in a row. They keep the twelfth position with 27 games lost. Saitama will meet at home Yamaguchi (#13) in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Tokyo Z will play against Gifu and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Tokyo Z: J.Combs 24+11reb+5ast, M.Benlevi 16+3reb+5ast, M.Takumi 15+3reb+1ast, T.Ide 13+3reb+2ast, F.Ryoga 10+3reb+6ast, J.Spencer 8+4reb+2ast
Saitama: M.Kennedy 25+7reb+2ast, O.Devin 19+6reb+1ast, K.Matsui 17+3reb, B.Trent 15+8reb+2ast, M.Kataoka 7+1reb, Y.Matsushita 6+3reb+7ast

Shinagawa - Yamaguchi 79-60

We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams when 13th ranked Pats Five (11-31) was smashed on the road by fourteenth ranked Shinagawa (10-30) 79-60 on Sunday. American forward Victor Hart (203-2001, college: Southern Miss) nailed a double-double by scoring 23 points and 12 rebounds for the winning side and Lithuanian Grantas Vasiliauskas (204-1999) accounted for 13 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. American center Antavion Collum (206-2000, college: McNeese St.) came up with a double-double by scoring 17 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists and the other American import center Even Brauns (206-2002, college: Iowa) added 14 points and 9 rebounds respectively for Yamaguchi in the defeat. Both coaches tested many bench players saving starting five for next games. Shinagawa maintains fourteenth place with 10-30 record. Yamaguchi at the other side keeps the thirteenth position with 31 games lost. Shinagawa will meet league's leader Kagawa in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Yamaguchi will play against the league's second-placed Saitama (#2) and will have a slim chance for a victory.
Top scorers:
Yamaguchi: A.Collum 17+12reb+4ast, E.Brauns 14+9reb+2ast, K.Shuto 8+5reb+3ast, Y.Rikiya 6+2reb+1ast, H.Bostyn 5+1reb+3ast, T.Enokida 4+1reb+3ast
Shinagawa: H.Victor 23+12reb+3ast, T.Ryo 15+4reb+3ast, V.Grantas 13+8reb+4ast, K.Ogata 6+5reb+1ast, A.Bagir 5+1reb+1ast, S.Shimoji 4+3ast

Tachikawa - Veertien Mie 91-68

The game between seventh ranked Dice (21-17) and 15th ranked Veertien Mie (7-31) in Tachikawa on Sunday ended with biggest points difference. Dice outscored guests from Yokkaichi 91-68. Tachikawa dominated down low during the game scoring 60 of its points in the paint compared to Veertien Mie's 30. Tachikawa forced 19 Veertien Mie turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. American swingman LJ Peak (196-1996, college: Georgetown) nailed 22 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists for the winning side and Lithuanian power forward Rokas Gustys (206-1994, college: Hofstra) accounted for 14 points and 12 rebounds. Five Dice players scored in double figures. Spanish center David Doblas (208-1981) came up with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 10 rebounds and point guard Fuga Aramoto (171-2002) added 11 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists 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. Tachikawa moved-up to sixth place. Veertien Mie lost their tenth game in a row. They stay dead last with 31 lost games. Tachikawa will meet higher ranked Niigata A. (#5) on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Veertien Mie will play against Tokyo (#7) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Veertien Mie: D.Doblas 18+10reb, M.Yasuyuki 13+4reb, A.Fuga 11+8reb+7ast, S.Takaya 8+2reb+2ast, S.Yusei 7+5reb+2ast, K.Ryu 4+1reb+1ast
Tachikawa: P.LJ 22+6reb+5ast, R.Gustys 14+12reb+2ast, J.Machii 11+3reb+2ast, F.Andrew 10+9reb+3ast, J.Yoshikawa 10+6ast, S.Osaki 7+4reb+2ast

Tokyo HT - Niigata A. 85-98

The game in Tokyo was quite interesting. Fifth ranked Albirex (24-16) played at the court of 6th ranked Hachioji Trains (21-19). Albirex defeated Hachioji Trains 98-85 on Sunday. Niigata A. made 16-of-20 free shots (80.0 percent) during the game. Center Mutombo Jean-Pierre (206-2002) orchestrated the victory by scoring 17 points and 9 rebounds. American forward BJ Mack (203-2000, college: S.Carolina) contributed with 17 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. Four Albirex players scored in double figures. American forward Taren Sullivan (198-1995, college: Findlay, OH) answered with a double-double by scoring 29 points and 10 rebounds and U.S. Virgin Islands-Puerto Rican forward Ivan Aska (201-1990, college: Murray St., agency: 011 Sports) added 14 points in the effort for Tokyo. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Albirex have a solid series of three victories in a row. Niigata A. maintains fifth place with 24-16 record. Tokyo lost sixth consecutive game. They dropped to the seventh position with 19 games lost. Niigata A. are looking forward to face Tachikawa (#6) at home in the next round. Tokyo will play against Veertien Mie in Yokkaichi and is hoping to prove to their supporters that they can break losing series.
Top scorers:
Tokyo HT: T.Sullivan 29+10reb, I.Aska 14+4reb+2ast, Y.Oshiro 9+3reb+1ast, K.Takaya 9+1reb+1ast, I.Towa 6, K.Steve 5+7reb
Niigata A.: M.Dominique 18+3reb+3ast, M.BJ 17+6reb+1ast, M.Jean-Pierre 17+9reb, A.Hamada 10+1reb+1ast, M.Nagao 10+2reb+5ast, Y.Sato 8+2reb

Kanazawa - Okayama 65-77

Very predictable result when fourth ranked Try Hoop (26-14) won against 9th ranked Samuraiz (17-21) in Ishikawa 77-65 on Sunday. Okayama made 20-of-26 free shots (76.9 percent) during the game. American power forward Josh Scott (210-1993, college: Colorado, agency: Pensack Sports) nailed 8 points and 14 rebounds for the winning side and guard Mamadou Fofana (185-1998) accounted for 16 points. Four Try Hoop players scored in double figures. Dutch forward Jediael Cordilia (206-2002, college: Mt.St.Mary's) came up with 14 points and 6 rebounds (on 7-of-8 shooting from the field) and New Zealand forward Hyrum Harris (204-1996, college: Umpqua CC) added 7 points and 8 rebounds respectively for Kanazawa in the defeat. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to get some rest. The victory was the third consecutive win for Try Hoop. Okayama maintains fourth place with 26-14 record. Kanazawa at the other side keeps the ninth position with 21 games lost. They share it with Tokyo Utd. Okayama will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Kanazawa will play against Tokushima Gam. (#3) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Kanazawa: J.Cordilia 14+6reb, M.Burton 12+1ast, T.Issei 11+5reb, M.Gashu 8+3reb, H.Harris 7+8reb+3ast, M.Ryuji 7+2reb+1ast
Okayama: M.Fofana 16+3reb+2ast, H.Kameron 14+4reb+1ast, T.Yokogawa 12+2reb+5ast, A.Hikaru 10+3reb+1ast, S.Josh 8+14reb+2ast, K.Terrance 7+1reb+2ast

Gifu - Kagawa FA 75-87

The game in Gifu was also worth to mention about. Second ranked Five Arrows (31-7) played at the court of 8th ranked Swoops (18-20). Five Arrows defeated Swoops 87-75. Kagawa dominated down low during the game scoring 52 of its points in the paint compared to Swoops's 32. Kagawa outrebounded Gifu 34-23 including 23 on the defensive glass. American forward Jacob Lampkin (206-1996, college: Alaska-Anch.) stepped up and scored 24 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists for the winners and his fellow American import forward Alex Davis (206-1992, college: Fresno St.) chipped in 7 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Five Arrows' coach Koki Yabuuchi used entire bench and allowed the starting five to rest. New Zealand forward Daniel Fotu (203-1999, college: SMC) responded with 21 points and Senegalese power forward Andre Sambou (203-1999) scored 12 points and 9 rebounds. Four Gifu players scored in double figures. Five Arrows have an impressive series of fifteen victories in a row. Kagawa keeps a position of league leader. Gifu lost fifth consecutive game. They keep the eighth place with 20 games lost. Kagawa will play against Shinagawa (#14) at home in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Gifu will play against Tokyo Z (#12) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Gifu: D.Fotu 21+4reb+2ast, K.Morito 13+1reb+2ast, S.Andre 12+9reb, T.Kodai 11+2reb+2ast, J.Giles 8+2reb+1ast, R.Yamazaki 4+3reb+2ast
Kagawa FA: L.Jacob 24+6reb+4ast, P.Kalonji 12+4reb, Y.Ukeda 8+1reb+2ast, T.Koyo 7+2ast, D.Alex 7+9reb+5ast, K.Takahashi 6+2reb