Utsunomiya Brex clinch record third B. League title in decisive Game 3
The victory marked Utsunomiya's first title in three seasons and its third overall, including one won under its former identity as the Tochigi Brex. American guard Scottie James Newbill was named Most Valuable Player for the finals.
After struggling in the first half, with its three-point shooting stifled and the offense stalling at 28-40, Utsunomiya rallied after the break. The team chipped away at the deficit with inside scoring and sealed the comeback in the final quarter with less than a minute remaining, with a clutch three-pointer by veteran shooter Makoto Hiejima.
From the left wing, the seasoned guard launched a high-arcing three-pointer that swished through the net, giving his team a lead they would not relinquish.
'It was a shot I made with everything I had,' Hiejima said, smiling broadly after the emotional win.
Hiejima had been quiet throughout the finals, held to single-digit scoring in the first two games and shut out entirely in the first half of Game 3. But he kept his composure, scoring 17 points in the second half to lead the comeback.
Ryukyu's quest for a championship double — having already won the Emperor's Cup — thus ended in disappointment.
'There were moments when we felt the title was within reach,' said head coach Dai Oketani. 'But Utsunomiya showed they're masters of the game.'
Ryukyu had early momentum, starting three guards to seize control on defense. But turnovers in the second half began to shift the tide. Center Jack Cooley, a key presence in the paint, fouled out with over five minutes remaining, leaving the team without its anchor on both ends of the floor.
Despite missing injured captain Ryuichi Kishimoto, Ryukyu reached the finals for the fourth consecutive season, a testament to their organizational depth. 'Everyone played their role well,' Oketani said. 'I'm proud of the effort they gave.'
On the court after Utsunomiya's title-clinching win, acting head coach Antonio Colonell fought back tears.
'There's no team more special than this one,' he said, standing beside a framed photo of Kevin Braswell, the team's late head coach, who passed away in February after a hospital stay that began in January.
Braswell's death left the team in emotional turmoil. Stepping in to guide the players through their grief, Colonell — a close friend of Braswell for over a decade — offered quiet strength.
'He must've been hurting the most, but he never showed it,' said player Yusuke Ogawa. 'That made us want to follow him even more.'
In a team meeting, captain Takehiko Tabuse urged his teammates to channel their sorrow into purpose. 'Kevin wouldn't want us to keep our heads down. Let's win this,' he said.
With renewed unity, Utsunomiya surged to the title. Fulfilling the promise they made to Braswell, Colonell offered a heartfelt message: 'You believed in this team. Thank you.'
'Everyone played with a special sense of purpose,' Hiejima said. 'At the end, I felt like Kevin had my back.'
Translated by The Japan Times
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