October 8 ------ RAY Parks and Kiefer Ravena helped their new teams gain strong starts to the Japan B.League season over the weekend. Parks, now playing for Osaka Evessa, was crucial in its road sweep of the newly-promoted Shiga Lakes at Shiga Daihatsu Arena. Parks put up 14 points, five rebounds, four assists and one block in Osaka’s 88-73 conquest on Saturday before following it up with 23 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and one steal in a 86-79 win.
Ravena, on the other hand, played the supporting role in Yokohama B-Corsairs’ back-to-back victories over Sendai 89ers at Kamai Arena Sendai. The former Gilas Pilipinas mainstay tallied six points, a rebound, and an assist in Yokohama’s 72-68 win on Saturday before doubling it up with 12 points, three dimes, and one board in the B-Corsairs’ tight 77-75 victory the following day.
Matthew Wright also was triumphant in his Kawasaki Brave Thunders debut, registering five points, six rebounds, and six assists in their 81-73 win over Akita Northern Happinets at Kawasaki Todoroki Arena on Saturday. Unfortunately, Sunday was a complete reversal as the Fil-Canadian was held to just two points, two steals, and one board as Akita got back at Kawasaki, 89-68.
AJ Edu also opened a new chapter with Nagasaki Velca with a strong 6-point, 6-rebound performance which also included a pair of assists and steals in their 76-68 win over SunRockers Shibuya at Happiness Arena on Friday. However, Shibuya got back at Nagasaki, 58-53, on Saturday with the Fil-Cypriot center notching eight points, seven boards, and two blocks to split the series. Other Pinoys in the B.League weren’t as successful on opening weekend.
Dwight Ramos’ Levanga Hokkaido got swept by Shimane Susanoo Magic in their two-game series at Matsue City Gymnasium. Ramos had nine points and three rebounds in his season-debut as captain in Hokkaido’s 87-56 loss on Saturday before bouncing back with 18 points, five boards, and two blocks in the Levanga’s 75-63 defeat on Sunday. Kai Sotto also struggled in his new start with Koshigaya Alphas, which got swept by Alvark Tokyo at Yoyogi National Stadium 1st Gymnasium. The 7-foot-3 center only had three points, seven boards, and two blocks in Koshigaya’s 75-57 loss on Saturday, before collecting nine points, three rebounds, four assists, and one block in the Alphas’ 91-72 blowout defeat on Sunday.
Over in B2, Geo Chiu had four points and one rebound in his debut for Ehime Orange Vikings on Saturday where they lost to Fukushima Firebonds, 85-70, at Kokichi Tsuburaya Memorial Arena. But he bounced back with two points and five rebounds in their 92-77 win on Sunday. Roosevelt Adams and the Yamagata Wyverns also succumbed to Veltex Shizuoka at Yamagata Prefectural Sports Park, with the Fil-Am winger first getting six points, six rebounds, two assists, and one block in their 83-78 loss on Saturday, before following it up with his 8-point and 7-rebound night in their 80-66 defeat on Sunday.
Source: spin.ph
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