B3 League Round 42 (Regular Season): Tokushima Gam. is defeated by Kanazawa

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most important game in the last round took place in Tokushima between third ranked Gambarous (31-10) and ninth ranked Samuraiz (18-21) on Saturday night. Gambarous were crushed by Samuraiz at home 98-77. Kanazawa outrebounded Tokushima Gam. 36-22 including 25 on the defensive glass. New Zealand forward Hyrum Harris (204-1996, college: Umpqua CC) had a double-double by scoring 19 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) to lead the charge for the winners and Dutch forward Jediael Cordilia (206-2002, college: Mt.St.Mary's) chipped in 24 points and 7 rebounds during the contest. The best for the losing side was American forward Ryan Logan (200-1994, college: Stonehill) with 25 points and 7 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Kanazawa moved-up to eighth place, which they share with Gifu. Tokushima Gam. at the other side keeps the third position with ten games lost. Kanazawa will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Tokushima Gam. will play at home against Kanazawa and is hoping to win this game.
B3 League top team - Five Arrows (32-7) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed fourteenth ranked Shinagawa (10-31) in Takamatsu 93-62. American guard Tucker Haymond (195-1994, college: W.Michigan) notched 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists to lead the effort and Alex Davis supported him with 6 points and 8 rebounds. Even 16 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists by the former international point guard Ryo Tawatari (180-1993, college: Dominican, CA) did not help to save the game for Shinagawa. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Five Arrows have an impressive 16-game winning streak. Kagawa maintains first position with 32-7 record. Shinagawa at the other side keeps the fourteenth place with 31 games lost. Kagawa will again play against Shinagawa (#14) at home in the next round which should be another easy win for them. Shinagawa will have a break next round.
Fifteenth-ranked Veertien Mie (7-32) gave a tough game to seventh ranked Hachioji Trains (22-19) in Yokkaichi on Saturday. The visitors from Tokyo managed to secure only three-point victory 82-79. However their fans expected much easier game. The best player for the winners was Keitaro Takaoka who scored 16 points and 4 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was David Doblas who recorded a double-double by scoring 19 points and 12 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Tokyo moved-up to sixth place. Veertien Mie lost eleventh consecutive game. They stay dead last with 32 lost games. Tokyo will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Veertien Mie will play against Tokyo (#6) and hope to secure a win.

There were no shocking results in the other games in round 42: Yamaguchi lost to Saitama on the opponent's court 76-92. Tokyo Z managed to outperform Gifu in a home game 74-64. Tachikawa recorded a loss to Niigata A. on the road 83-79.



Saitama - Yamaguchi 92-76

Very expected game in Saitama where 13th ranked Pats Five (11-32) was defeated by second ranked Broncos (32-9) 92-76 on Saturday. Saitama outrebounded Yamaguchi 40-25 including a 32-19 advantage in defensive rebounds. Saitama looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists comparing to just 12 passes made by Yamaguchi's players. Americans were the main players on the court. The best player for the winners was Devin Oliver (203-1992, college: Dayton) who had a double-double by scoring 18 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists. Forward Kennedy Meeks (208-1995, college: UNC) chipped in 16 points and 6 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was center Even Brauns (206-2002, college: Iowa) who recorded 19 points and center Antavion Collum (206-2000, college: McNeese St.) added 11 points and 8 rebounds respectively. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Broncos have an impressive six-game winning streak. Saitama maintains second position with 32-9 record having just two point less than leader Kagawa FA. Loser Pats Five keeps the thirteenth place with 32 games lost. Saitama will meet at home Yamaguchi (#13) in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Yamaguchi will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Yamaguchi: E.Brauns 19+4reb+1ast, Y.Rikiya 14+1ast, H.Bostyn 12+3reb, A.Collum 11+8reb+1ast, T.Enokida 7+2reb+1ast, I.Yuki 7+3reb+1ast
Saitama: O.Devin 18+10reb+9ast, M.Kennedy 16+6reb+3ast, Y.Matsushita 14+4reb+1ast, H.Gondo 11+1ast, M.Kataoka 9+1reb+2ast, B.Trent 9+10reb+1ast

Tokyo Z - Gifu 74-64

There was a surprise result in Tokyo where twelfth ranked Earthfriends (14-27) defeated higher ranked Swoops (18-21) 74-64 on Saturday. Tokyo Z looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. The best player for the winners was American power forward Jeremy Combs (201-1995, college: Texas Southern) who had a double-double by scoring 25 points and 11 rebounds. The other American import forward Malik Benlevi (198-1997, college: Georgia St.) chipped in a double-double by scoring 20 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists. Benlevi is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. At the other side the best for losing team was American forward Blake Preston (206-2000, college: Northwestern) who recorded a double-double by scoring 14 points and 17 rebounds and guard Morito Koga (190-1998) added 12 points respectively. Swoops' coach rotated eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Tokyo Z maintains twelfth position with 14-27 record. Gifu lost sixth consecutive game. They keep the eighth place with 21 games lost. They share the position with Kanazawa. Tokyo Z will meet at home higher ranked Gifu (#8) in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Gifu will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Gifu: B.Preston 14+17reb+2ast, J.Giles 14+2reb+2ast, K.Morito 12+4reb+2ast, S.Andre 4+2reb, D.Fotu 4+4reb+1ast, T.Kodai 4+2reb+6ast
Tokyo Z: C.Jeremy 25+11reb+3ast, B.Malik 20+10reb+4ast, S.James 16+3reb+1ast, T.Masuko 6+5reb+4ast, I.Takumi 3+1reb+8ast, R.Fujiwara 2+2reb+1ast

Niigata A. - Tachikawa 83-79

The game between closely ranked teams ended with 6th ranked Dice's (21-18) road loss to fifth ranked Albirex (25-16) 79-83 on Saturday. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Niigata A. made 11 blocks. The best player for the winners was center Mutombo Jean-Pierre (206-2002) who had a double-double by scoring 14 points, 10 rebounds and 8 blocks. point guard Mitsuki Nagao (174-1999) chipped in 14 points and 6 assists. Five Albirex players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was American swingman LJ Peak (196-1996, college: Georgetown) who recorded 28 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and Lithuanian power forward Rokas Gustys (206-1994, college: Hofstra) added 7 points and 21 rebounds respectively. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Albirex have a solid four-game winning streak. Niigata A. maintains fifth position with 25-16 record. Loser Dice dropped to the seventh place with 18 games lost. Niigata A. will meet at home Tachikawa (#7) in the next round. Tachikawa will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Tachikawa: L.Peak 28+5reb+4ast, M.Jota 13+2ast, S.Fumiya 9+1reb+1ast, A.Fitzgerald 8+3reb+2ast, G.Rokas 7+21reb+2ast, E.Shouta 4+1ast
Niigata A.: M.Jean-Pierre 14+10reb+1ast, M.Nagao 14+2reb+6ast, M.Dominique 13+6reb+1ast, M.BJ 11+6reb+3ast, Y.Sato 10+5reb, P.Pogue 6+2reb

Veertien Mie - Tokyo HT 79-82

Fifteenth-ranked Veertien Mie (7-32) gave a tough game to seventh ranked Hachioji Trains (22-19) in Yokkaichi on Saturday. The visitors from Tokyo managed to secure only three-point victory 82-79. However their fans expected much easier game. The best player for the winners was point guard Keitaro Takaoka (182-1999) who scored 16 points and 4 assists. American forward Taren Sullivan (198-1995, college: Findlay, OH) chipped in 11 points and 6 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was Spanish center David Doblas (208-1981) who recorded a double-double by scoring 19 points and 12 rebounds and point guard Yusei Sano (173-2002) added 21 points respectively. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Tokyo moved-up to sixth place. Veertien Mie lost eleventh consecutive game. They stay dead last with 32 lost games. Tokyo will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Veertien Mie will play against Tokyo (#6) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Veertien Mie: S.Yusei 21+1reb+3ast, D.Doblas 19+12reb, K.Takao 14+2reb+6ast, D.Dodd 10+8reb+1ast, C.Olivier 9+8reb+1ast, M.Yasuyuki 2+2reb+2ast
Tokyo HT: K.Takaoka 16+1reb+4ast, S.Taren 11+3reb+6ast, T.Kudou 11+5reb, S.Kubema 10+7reb+1ast, T.Ishibashi 9+2reb+1ast, R.Matsumura 9+6reb

Tokushima Gam. - Kanazawa 77-98

The most important game in the last round took place in Tokushima between third ranked Gambarous (31-10) and ninth ranked Samuraiz (18-21) on Saturday night. Gambarous were crushed by Samuraiz at home 98-77. Kanazawa outrebounded Tokushima Gam. 36-22 including 25 on the defensive glass. New Zealand forward Hyrum Harris (204-1996, college: Umpqua CC) had a double-double by scoring 19 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) to lead the charge for the winners and Dutch forward Jediael Cordilia (206-2002, college: Mt.St.Mary's) chipped in 24 points and 7 rebounds during the contest. The best for the losing side was American forward Ryan Logan (200-1994, college: Stonehill) with 25 points and 7 rebounds and his fellow American import power forward Tavrion Dawson (202-1996, college: CSUN, agency: One Motive Sports) scored 10 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Kanazawa moved-up to eighth place, which they share with Gifu. Tokushima Gam. at the other side keeps the third position with ten games lost. Kanazawa will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Tokushima Gam. will play at home against Kanazawa and is hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Tokushima Gam.: R.Logan 25+7reb+1ast, A.Teruya 13+1reb+3ast, T.Dawson 10+5reb+4ast, I.Eitaro 8+2ast, N.Moriyama 8+4reb+1ast, D.Kongolo 4+5reb+1ast
Kanazawa: C.Jediael 24+7reb, B.Mark 23+1reb+3ast, H.Hyrum 19+10reb+4ast, I.Tomida 9+3reb+3ast, A.Ichihashi 6+1reb, T.Omori 5+1reb

Kagawa FA - Shinagawa 93-62

B3 League top team - Five Arrows (32-7) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed fourteenth ranked Shinagawa (10-31) in Takamatsu 93-62. Kagawa dominated down low during the game scoring 48 of its points in the paint compared to Shinagawa's 18. Kagawa players were unselfish on offense dishing 26 assists. American guard Tucker Haymond (195-1994, college: W.Michigan) notched 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists to lead the effort and the other American import forward Alex Davis (206-1992, college: Fresno St.) supported him with 6 points and 8 rebounds. Even 16 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists by the former international point guard Ryo Tawatari (180-1993, college: Dominican, CA) did not help to save the game for Shinagawa. American forward Victor Hart (203-2001, college: Southern Miss) added 11 points and 8 rebounds. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Five Arrows have an impressive 16-game winning streak. Kagawa maintains first position with 32-7 record. Shinagawa at the other side keeps the fourteenth place with 31 games lost. Kagawa will again play against Shinagawa (#14) at home in the next round which should be another easy win for them. Shinagawa will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Shinagawa: R.Tawatari 16+5reb+6ast, V.Hart 11+8reb+3ast, S.Horiuchi 9+2reb+1ast, G.Vasiliauskas 8+4reb+1ast, B.Ali 6+1reb, H.Yamane 5+1ast
Kagawa FA: H.Tucker 20+6reb+4ast, T.Kobayashi 12+1reb+3ast, H.Imabayashi 12+3reb, K.Takahashi 10+1reb+1ast, S.Negoro 10+2reb+1ast, L.Jacob 8+4reb+2ast