B3 League Round 51 (Regular Season): Saitama lose to Tokushima Gam. in the game between Top 4 teams

The teams have now bigger motivation at this stage of Regular Season. Every game can be crucial and decide about teams' position at the end of Regular Season. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game between Top Four teams took place in Tokushima. Third ranked host Gambarous (38-10) defeated second-best Broncos (38-12) 80-69. Americans were the main players on the court. It was a great evening for power forward Tavrion Dawson (202-1996, college: CSUN, agency: One Motive Sports) who led his team to a victory scoring 30 points and 6 rebounds. Forward Ryan Logan (200-1994, college: Stonehill) helped adding 12 points and 7 rebounds. The best for the losing side was forward Kennedy Meeks (208-1995, college: UNC) with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 15 rebounds. 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. moved-up to second place. Saitama at the other side dropped to the third position with 12 games lost. Tokushima Gam. are looking forward to face Tachikawa (#6) on the road in the next round. Saitama will have a break next round.
B3 League top team - Five Arrows (41-7) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed eleventh ranked United (17-31) in Takamatsu 92-69. It was a quality performance for American forward Alex Davis (206-1992, college: Fresno St., agency: Diamond Sports) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 13 points and 10 rebounds. Hajime Imabayashi accounted for 13 points and 7 rebounds. American center Jacob Polakovich (208-2000, college: S.Indiana) came up with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 12 rebounds for Shanan Utd 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. The victory was the twenty fifth consecutive win for Five Arrows. Kagawa maintains first place with 41-7 record. Shanan Utd lost their fifth game in a row. They keep the eleventh position with 31 games lost. Kagawa will play against Kanazawa (#8) in Ishikawa in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Shanan Utd will play at home against Tokyo Z and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
An interesting game took place in Shinagawa where higher ranked Albirex (29-19) was upset on the court of fourteenth ranked Shinagawa (11-37) 74-64 on Sunday. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Albirex. The best player for the winners was Victor Hart who scored 17 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was Eugene Phelps who recorded 25 points and 5 rebounds. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Shinagawa maintains fourteenth place with 11-37 record. Loser Albirex keeps the fifth position with 19 games lost. Shinagawa will meet higher ranked Yamaguchi (#13) on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Niigata A. will play against Veertien Mie (#15) and hope to secure a win.

There were no shocking results in the rest of the games of round 51: bottom-ranked Veertien Mie was destroyed by Tokyo Utd on the opponent's court 94-69. Tokyo Z was outscored by Kanazawa in a home game 65-90. Tokyo managed to beat Gifu on the road 72-60. Okayama defeated Tachikawa on its own court 75-68.



Tokyo Utd - Veertien Mie 94-69

Very expected game in Tokyo where 15th ranked Veertien Mie (7-41) was crushed by ninth ranked United (25-23) 94-69 on Sunday. Tokyo Utd forced 21 Veertien Mie turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 29 assists. The best player for the winners was Australian forward Rhys Vague (206-1996) who scored 18 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. American forward Jordan Faison (201-1994, college: CPP, agency: 011 Sports) chipped in 15 points and 6 rebounds (perfect from the field making all six shots). At the other side the best for losing team was American forward Chris Olivier (202-1992, college: OK State, agency: Diamond Sports) who recorded a double-double by scoring 21 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists and Spanish center David Doblas (208-1981) added 18 points and 13 rebounds respectively. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for United. Tokyo Utd moved-up to eighth place, which they share with Kanazawa. Veertien Mie lost their twentieth game in a row. They stay dead last with 41 lost games. Tokyo Utd will meet at home Gifu (#10) in the next round. Veertien Mie will play against Niigata A. (#5) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Tokyo Utd: V.Rhys 18+6reb+4ast, F.Jordan 15+6reb+3ast, S.Kedrick 13+1reb+2ast, S.Tokugawa 11+2reb, R.Kawashima 9+1reb+6ast, H.Higashi 8+1reb+4ast
Veertien Mie: C.Olivier 21+12reb+4ast, D.Doblas 18+13reb+3ast, S.Takaya 9, K.Ryu 7+1reb+3ast, A.Fuga 5+2reb+5ast, K.Takao 3+1reb+1ast

Shinagawa - Niigata A. 74-64

An interesting game took place in Shinagawa where higher ranked Albirex (29-19) was upset on the court of fourteenth ranked Shinagawa (11-37) 74-64 on Sunday. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Albirex. The best player for the winners was American forward Victor Hart (203-2001, college: Southern Miss) who scored 17 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. The former international point guard Ryo Tawatari (180-1993, college: Dominican, CA) chipped in 18 points and 4 assists. Four Shinagawa players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was American-Filipino forward Eugene Phelps (198-1990, college: LBSU) who recorded 25 points and 5 rebounds and point guard Aruma Hamada (178-1997) added 12 points respectively. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Shinagawa maintains fourteenth place with 11-37 record. Loser Albirex keeps the fifth position with 19 games lost. Shinagawa will meet higher ranked Yamaguchi (#13) on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Niigata A. will play against Veertien Mie (#15) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Shinagawa: T.Ryo 18+3reb+4ast, H.Victor 17+7reb+5ast, V.Grantas 13+6reb+1ast, T.Ochiai 10+4reb+1ast, G.Marius 6+6reb+1ast, H.Seiya 6
Niigata A.: E.Phelps 25+5reb+2ast, H.Aruma 12+2reb+3ast, D.Morrison 10+2reb, J.Mutombo 7+9reb, H.Aoi 5+1reb+4ast, N.Mitsuki 2+2reb

Tokyo Z - Kanazawa 65-90

Rather predictable result in Tokyo where eighth ranked Samuraiz (25-23) smashed 12th ranked Earthfriends (15-33) 90-65 on Sunday. Kanazawa looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. The best player for the winners was New Zealand forward Hyrum Harris (204-1996, college: Umpqua CC) who scored 12 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. American point guard Mark Burton (183-1998, college: Fayetteville St., agency: Haylett Sports) chipped in 12 points. Five Samuraiz players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was American power forward Jeremy Combs (201-1995, college: Texas Southern) who recorded a double-double by scoring 20 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists and point guard Takumi Ide (174-1999) added 8 points and 9 assists respectively. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players and allowed the starting five to get some rest. The victory was the sixth consecutive win for Samuraiz. Kanazawa maintains eighth place with 25-23 record, which they share with Tokyo Utd. Tokyo Z lost their sixth game in a row. They keep the twelfth position with 33 games lost. Kanazawa will meet at home league's leader Kagawa in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Tokyo Z will play against Shanan Utd (#11) in Kanagawa and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Kanazawa: I.Tomida 13+3reb+1ast, B.Mark 12+4reb+3ast, H.Hyrum 12+8reb+6ast, A.KJ 11+3reb+3ast, C.Jediael 10+6reb+2ast, A.Ichihashi 9
Tokyo Z: J.Combs 20+14reb+4ast, J.Hillsman 11+8reb, J.Spencer 8+4reb+1ast, T.Ide 8+2reb+9ast, S.Sho 7+3reb, M.Takumi 5+3reb+3ast

Gifu - Tokyo HT 60-72

Not a big story in a game in Gifu where 10th ranked Swoops (21-27) were defeated by seventh ranked Hachioji Trains (26-24) 72-60 on Sunday. Tokyo made 18-of-23 free shots (78.3 percent) during the game. Tokyo had a 31-18 advantage in offensive rebounds. The best player for the winners was point guard Fuki Yamamoto (177-1998) who scored 21 points (went 7 for 7 at the free throw line). U.S. Virgin Islands-Puerto Rican forward Ivan Aska (201-1990, college: Murray St., agency: 011 Sports) chipped in 13 points and 8 rebounds. Four Hachioji Trains players scored in double figures. 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 11 points and 13 rebounds and New Zealand forward Daniel Fotu (203-1999, college: SMC) added 8 points and 6 rebounds respectively. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Tokyo maintains seventh place with 26-24 record. Gifu lost their third game in a row. They keep the tenth position with 27 games lost. Tokyo will meet at home higher ranked Okayama (#4) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Gifu will play against Tokyo Utd (#9) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Tokyo HT: F.Yamamoto 21+2reb+2ast, T.Ishibashi 15+6reb, A.Ivan 13+8reb+2ast, S.Kubema 10+7reb, J.Jonathan 5+2reb, K.Takaoka 4+3reb
Gifu: B.Preston 11+13reb+1ast, T.Ryo 8+1reb, M.Koga 8+1reb+1ast, D.Fotu 8+6reb+1ast, J.Giles 5+3reb+1ast, T.Kodai 5+4reb

Okayama - Tachikawa 75-68

Everything went according to plan in Okayama where fourth ranked Try Hoop (31-17) beat 6th ranked Dice (26-22) 75-68 on Sunday. Okayama outrebounded Tachikawa 52-39 including a 36-25 advantage in defensive rebounds. Americans were the main players on the court also this time. The best player for the winners was power forward Josh Scott (210-1993, college: Colorado, agency: Pensack Sports) who had a double-double by scoring 10 points and 19 rebounds. Forward Terrance King (198-1990, college: ESU, agency: Diamond Sports) chipped in 12 points and 5 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was swingman LJ Peak (196-1996, college: Georgetown) who recorded 21 points and power forward Andrew Fitzgerald (202-1990, college: Oklahoma, agency: Octagon Europe) added 11 points and 9 rebounds respectively. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. The victory was the fourth consecutive win for Try Hoop. Okayama maintains fourth place with 31-17 record. Loser Dice keeps the sixth position with 22 games lost. Okayama will meet Tokyo (#7) on the road in the next round. Tachikawa will play against the league's second-placed Tokushima Gam. and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Okayama: K.Terrance 12+5reb+1ast, S.Josh 10+19reb+3ast, K.Wakasa 9+7reb+1ast, S.Cherif 9+5reb+1ast, K.Takabatake 8+3reb+1ast, H.Kameron 8+3reb+3ast
Tachikawa: L.Peak 21+3reb+1ast, M.Yuto 12+3ast, A.Fitzgerald 11+9reb, M.Jota 7+1reb+1ast, G.Rokas 5+13reb, O.Mori 4+1ast

Tokushima Gam. - Saitama 80-69

The game between Top Four teams took place in Tokushima. Third ranked host Gambarous (38-10) defeated second-best Broncos (38-12) 80-69. Americans were the main players on the court. It was a great evening for power forward Tavrion Dawson (202-1996, college: CSUN, agency: One Motive Sports) who led his team to a victory scoring 30 points and 6 rebounds. Forward Ryan Logan (200-1994, college: Stonehill) helped adding 12 points and 7 rebounds. The best for the losing side was forward Kennedy Meeks (208-1995, college: UNC) with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 15 rebounds and Devin Oliver (203-1992, college: Dayton) produced a double-double by scoring 18 points and 12 rebounds. 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. moved-up to second place. Saitama at the other side dropped to the third position with 12 games lost. Tokushima Gam. are looking forward to face Tachikawa (#6) on the road in the next round. Saitama will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Tokushima Gam.: D.Tavrion 30+6reb+2ast, L.Ryan 12+7reb+3ast, A.Roosevelt 11+4reb+1ast, Y.Tsukamoto 9+3reb+4ast, M.Naoto 8+1reb, K.David 4+9reb+1ast
Saitama: K.Meeks 20+15reb+2ast, D.Oliver 18+12reb+1ast, T.Buttrick 10+7reb, A.Tajima 7+1reb+1ast, M.Yuta 6+2reb+5ast, K.Masaharu 2+2reb

Kagawa FA - Shanan Utd 92-69

B3 League top team - Five Arrows (41-7) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed eleventh ranked United (17-31) in Takamatsu 92-69. Kagawa dominated down low during the game scoring 50 of its points in the paint compared to United's 26. Kagawa forced 19 Shanan Utd turnovers. It was a quality performance for American forward Alex Davis (206-1992, college: Fresno St., agency: Diamond Sports) who led the winners with a double-double by scoring 13 points and 10 rebounds. point guard Hajime Imabayashi (184-1999) accounted for 13 points and 7 rebounds for the winning side. American center Jacob Polakovich (208-2000, college: S.Indiana) came up with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 12 rebounds and guard Tomohiro Ishii (185-1999) added 14 points and 7 rebounds respectively for Shanan Utd in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. The victory was the twenty fifth consecutive win for Five Arrows. Kagawa maintains first place with 41-7 record. Shanan Utd lost their fifth game in a row. They keep the eleventh position with 31 games lost. Kagawa will play against Kanazawa (#8) in Ishikawa in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Shanan Utd will play at home against Tokyo Z and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Kagawa FA: Y.Ukeda 14+2reb+1ast, T.Kobayashi 13+2ast, D.Alex 13+10reb+3ast, H.Imabayashi 13+7reb+2ast, K.Takahashi 11+1reb+2ast, I.Takahashi 11+1ast
Shanan Utd: I.Tomohiro 14+7reb+1ast, J.Polakovich 12+12reb+3ast, E.Ross 10+5reb+5ast, T.Shinya 10+2reb, S.Ryoga 7+1ast, J.Parmer 6+4reb+2ast