B3 League Round 46 (Regular Season): Saitama is defeated by Tokyo Utd

The games are now more important than at the beginning of the Regular Season. We may still expect few shocking results in upcoming 9 rounds. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most important game in the last round took place in Tokyo between third ranked Broncos (36-10) and eighth ranked United (21-23) on Saturday night. Broncos were defeated by United in a tough game on the road 90-94. Tokyo Utd made 21-of-26 free shots (80.8 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. American forward Jordan Faison (201-1994, college: CPP, agency: 011 Sports) scored 21 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists to lead the charge for the winners and Australian forward Rhys Vague (206-1996) chipped in 9 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists during the contest. At the losing side American forward Kennedy Meeks (208-1995, college: UNC) responded with a double-double by scoring 23 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Tokyo Utd maintains eighth position with 21-23 record, which they share with Kanazawa. Saitama at the other side dropped to the second place with ten games lost. They share the position with Tokushima Gam.. Tokyo Utd is looking forward to face league's second-placed Saitama at home in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Saitama will have a break next round.
Important game to mention about took place in Tachikawa. Eleventh ranked United (17-27) saved a 3-point victory on the road edging higher ranked Dice (24-20) 92-89 on Saturday evening. American center Jacob Polakovich (208-2000, college: S.Indiana) notched a double-double by scoring 14 points, 17 rebounds and 7 assists to lead the effort and Earnest Ross supported him with 23 points and 5 rebounds. Even a double-double of 17 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists by Lithuanian power forward Rokas Gustys (206-1994, college: Hofstra) did not help to save the game for Tachikawa. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Shanan Utd maintains eleventh position with 17-27 record. Tachikawa at the other side dropped to the sixth place with 20 games lost. Shanan Utd will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Tachikawa will play at home against Shanan Utd (#11) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Tenth ranked Swoops (20-24) crushed at home 15th ranked Veertien Mie (7-37) by 23 points 85-62, which is the biggest margin this round on Saturday night. Jordan Giles fired 18 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. Yusei Sano produced 16 points for lost side. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Gifu maintains tenth position with 20-24 record. Veertien Mie lost sixteenth consecutive game. They stay dead last with 37 lost games. Gifu will again meet at home bottom-ranked Veertien Mie (#15) in the next round where they are favorite. Veertien Mie will have a break next round.

There were no shocking results in the other games in round 46: Tokyo lost to Tokushima Gam. on the opponent's court 61-78. Kanazawa managed to outperform Shinagawa in a home game 80-73. Niigata A. managed to beat Okayama on the road 75-69. Tokushima Gam. crushed Tokyo on its own court 85-64.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 25 points by Naoto Moriyama of Tokushima Gam..



Tokushima Gam. - Tokyo HT 78-61

Rather expected game in Tokushima where 6th ranked Hachioji Trains (24-22) were defeated by third ranked Gambarous (36-10) 78-61 on Friday. American power forward Tavrion Dawson (202-1996, college: CSUN, agency: One Motive Sports) fired 15 points for the winners. The other American import forward Ryan Logan (200-1994, college: Stonehill) chipped in 12 points and 6 rebounds. Power forward Steve Kubema (204-2001) produced 16 points and 7 rebounds (on 8-of-9 shooting from the field) and American forward Taren Sullivan (198-1995, college: Findlay, OH) added 16 points and 5 rebounds respectively for lost side. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Gambarous have an impressive five-game winning streak. Tokushima Gam. moved-up to second place, which they share with Saitama. Loser Hachioji Trains dropped to the seventh position with 22 games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Tokushima Gam.: D.Tavrion 15+3reb+1ast, L.Ryan 12+6reb, Y.Tsukamoto 9+2ast, A.Roosevelt 8+7reb+1ast, Y.Tsunai 8+3reb+2ast, M.Naoto 7+4reb+1ast
Tokyo HT: T.Sullivan 16+5reb, K.Steve 16+7reb, I.Aska 7+9reb, Y.Fuki 7+2reb+3ast, I.Shuto 7+2reb, T.Keitaro 4+4reb+1ast

Tokyo Utd - Saitama 94-90

The most important game in the last round took place in Tokyo between third ranked Broncos (36-10) and eighth ranked United (21-23) on Saturday night. Broncos were defeated by United in a tough game on the road 90-94. Tokyo Utd made 21-of-26 free shots (80.8 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. American forward Jordan Faison (201-1994, college: CPP, agency: 011 Sports) scored 21 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists to lead the charge for the winners and Australian forward Rhys Vague (206-1996) chipped in 9 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists during the contest. At the losing side American forward Kennedy Meeks (208-1995, college: UNC) responded with a double-double by scoring 23 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists and his fellow American import forward Trent Buttrick (206-1998, college: UMass) scored 16 points and 8 rebounds. Five Saitama players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Tokyo Utd maintains eighth position with 21-23 record, which they share with Kanazawa. Saitama at the other side dropped to the second place with ten games lost. They share the position with Tokushima Gam.. Tokyo Utd is looking forward to face league's second-placed Saitama at home in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Saitama will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Tokyo Utd: F.Jordan 21+7reb+6ast, H.Higashi 20+3ast, R.Kawashima 11+1reb+1ast, S.Kedrick 9+3reb+3ast, V.Rhys 9+13reb+5ast, D.Taguchi 7+2ast
Saitama: K.Meeks 23+10reb+5ast, T.Buttrick 16+8reb+3ast, A.Tajima 13+1reb+5ast, M.Yuta 12+1reb+2ast, D.Oliver 11+8reb+5ast, R.Kawabe 8+4reb

Tachikawa - Shanan Utd 89-92

Important game to mention about took place in Tachikawa. Eleventh ranked United (17-27) saved a 3-point victory on the road edging higher ranked Dice (24-20) 92-89 on Saturday evening. Shanan Utd made 18-of-22 charity shots (81.8 percent) during the game. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 24 assists. American center Jacob Polakovich (208-2000, college: S.Indiana) notched a double-double by scoring 14 points, 17 rebounds and 7 assists to lead the effort and Guamanian-American guard Earnest Ross (198-1991, college: Missouri, agency: Haylett Sports) supported him with 23 points and 5 rebounds. Even a double-double of 17 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists by Lithuanian power forward Rokas Gustys (206-1994, college: Hofstra) did not help to save the game for Tachikawa. American swingman LJ Peak (196-1996, college: Georgetown) added 26 points for lost side. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Shanan Utd maintains eleventh position with 17-27 record. Tachikawa at the other side dropped to the sixth place with 20 games lost. Shanan Utd will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Tachikawa will play at home against Shanan Utd (#11) and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Shanan Utd: R.Earnest 23+5reb+3ast, I.Takaya 17+5reb+8ast, P.Jacob 14+17reb+7ast, T.Ishii 11+2reb+1ast, S.Takagi 9+5reb, P.Jeffrey 7+5reb+1ast
Tachikawa: L.Peak 26+3reb+2ast, A.Fitzgerald 23+3reb+3ast, G.Rokas 17+14reb+4ast, M.Yuto 10+3reb+1ast, E.Shouta 5+3reb+3ast, S.Fumiya 3+1reb+2ast

Kanazawa - Shinagawa 80-73

Very predictable result in Ishikawa where ninth ranked Samuraiz (21-23) defeated 14th ranked Shinagawa (10-34) 80-73 on Saturday. Dutch forward Jediael Cordilia (206-2002, college: Mt.St.Mary's) fired 15 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. New Zealand forward Hyrum Harris (204-1996, college: Umpqua CC) chipped in 8 points and 10 rebounds. Four Samuraiz players scored in double figures. American forward Victor Hart (203-2001, college: Southern Miss) produced 24 points and 9 rebounds and the former international point guard Ryo Tawatari (180-1993, college: Dominican, CA) added 16 points and 6 assists respectively for lost side. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Kanazawa moved-up to eighth place, which they share with Tokyo Utd. Shinagawa lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the fourteenth position with 34 games lost. Kanazawa will again meet at home Shinagawa (#14) in the next round where they are favorite. Shinagawa will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Kanazawa: C.Jediael 15+6reb+1ast, A.KJ 12+4reb, R.Mitsuo 11+2reb+1ast, A.Shimizu 11+2ast, B.Mark 10+1reb+1ast, H.Hyrum 8+10reb+3ast
Shinagawa: V.Hart 24+9reb+2ast, R.Tawatari 16+6ast, M.Grazulis 10+6reb+1ast, B.Ali 7+2reb, G.Vasiliauskas 6+7reb+1ast, S.Shuichiro 5+2reb

Gifu - Veertien Mie 85-62

Tenth ranked Swoops (20-24) crushed at home 15th ranked Veertien Mie (7-37) by 23 points 85-62, which is the biggest margin this round on Saturday night. American forward Jordan Giles (200-1998, college: UMKC, agency: One Motive Sports) fired 18 points and 7 rebounds for the winners. The other American import forward Blake Preston (206-2000, college: Northwestern) chipped in 13 points and 7 rebounds. Four Swoops players scored in double figures. point guard Yusei Sano (173-2002) produced 16 points and American power forward Damonte Dodd (211-1994, college: Maryland) added 6 points and 6 rebounds respectively for lost side. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Gifu maintains tenth position with 20-24 record. Veertien Mie lost sixteenth consecutive game. They stay dead last with 37 lost games. Gifu will again meet at home bottom-ranked Veertien Mie (#15) in the next round where they are favorite. Veertien Mie will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Gifu: G.Jordan 18+7reb+2ast, R.Takagi 16+2reb+2ast, P.Blake 13+7reb+3ast, F.Daniel 10+9reb+1ast, S.Okubo 9+2reb+2ast, M.Koga 9+1reb+2ast
Veertien Mie: S.Yusei 16+4reb+1ast, D.Doblas 9+3reb+1ast, S.Takaya 7+2reb+2ast, D.Dodd 6+6reb+1ast, W.Shogo 6+2reb, K.Tatsuya 5+1reb+1ast

Okayama - Niigata A. 69-75

We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams in Okayama where one of their biggest challengers Try Hoop (27-17) was defeated by fifth ranked Albirex (27-17) 75-69 on Saturday. Niigata A. shot 24 for 37 from the free-throw line, while Okayama only scored five points from the stripe. Center Mutombo Jean-Pierre (206-2002) fired 9 points and 10 rebounds for the winners. point guard Aruma Hamada (178-1997) chipped in 11 points. American power forward Josh Scott (210-1993, college: Colorado, agency: Pensack Sports) produced a double-double by scoring 15 points and 19 rebounds and point guard Toshiki Yokogawa (177-1995) added 12 points and 5 assists respectively for lost side. Four Okayama players scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Niigata A. moved-up to fourth place, which they share with Okayama. Okayama lost third consecutive game. Niigata A. will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Okayama will play against Niigata A. (#4) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Niigata A.: K.Igarashi 15+1ast, A.Hamada 11+4reb+3ast, P.Eugene 9+6reb+1ast, M.BJ 9+2reb, M.Jean-Pierre 9+10reb, M.Nagao 9+1ast
Okayama: F.Mamadou 15+3ast, J.Scott 15+19reb+2ast, Y.Toshiki 12+2reb+5ast, T.King 10+5reb, K.Hankerson 8+1reb+2ast, H.Akiyama 5+2reb+2ast

Tokushima Gam. - Tokyo HT 85-64

Everything went according to plan in Tokushima where third ranked Gambarous (36-10) outscored 6th ranked Hachioji Trains (24-22) 85-64 on Saturday. Swingman Naoto Moriyama (195-1996) fired 25 points (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field) for the winners. American forward Ryan Logan (200-1994, college: Stonehill) chipped in 11 points and 6 rebounds. American forward Taren Sullivan (198-1995, college: Findlay, OH) produced 15 points and 7 rebounds and U.S. Virgin Islands-Puerto Rican forward Ivan Aska (201-1990, college: Murray St., agency: 011 Sports) added 12 points and 6 rebounds respectively for lost side. 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. Gambarous have an impressive five-game winning streak. Tokushima Gam. moved-up to second place, which they share with Saitama. Loser Hachioji Trains dropped to the seventh position with 22 games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest.
Top scorers:
Tokushima Gam.: M.Naoto 25+3reb+1ast, L.Ryan 11+6reb+3ast, K.Kono 9, D.Tavrion 9+4reb+3ast, Y.Tsukamoto 9+1reb+2ast, A.Roosevelt 5+4reb
Tokyo HT: T.Sullivan 15+7reb+3ast, I.Aska 12+6reb+1ast, K.Steve 9+6reb, T.Keitaro 8+2reb, I.Shuto 7+3reb+2ast, J.Janssen 5+4reb