B.League Finals: Utsunomiya Rallies Past Ryukyu to Capture the Title
The Utsunomiya Brex captured the franchise's third B.League title on May 27, 2025, at Yokohama Arena, beating the Ryukyu Golden Kings 73-71 in Game 3. (©B.LEAGUE)
YOKOHAMA ― Big plays and big moments defined Game 3 of the B.League Finals.
The Utsunomiya Brex also had more points in the fourth quarter (29) than either team had in the other 10-minute periods.
Star guard Makoto Hiejima's dynamic fourth quarter, when he scored 14 of his 17 points, provided the spark to ignite the Brex offense in the game's most critical stage against the Ryukyu Golden Kings. Simply put, Hiejima's 5-for-5 shooting touch in the final stanza was a pivotal component of the team's title-clinching, 73-71 victory at Yokohama Arena on Tuesday night, May 27.
The Brex have now won more titles (three) than any other team in B.League history. The Alvark Tokyo have a pair of titles (2017-18 and 2018-19, when the championship was decided by a single game).
It was an emotional win for the Brex, who dedicated their season to Kevin Braswell, their beloved head coach who died on February 24, 2025, at age 46 after having a heart attack and heart surgery. In every game they played since his death, Braswell's framed portrait was displayed on the seat next to bench boss Zico Coronel, who succeeded him as the team's top coach. Coronel later held the picture frame, with Braswell's photo facing his heart during his postgame interview.
Braswell and Coronel were close friends who previously coached together and against one another in New Zealand.
After the fourth quarter ended, Utsunomiya players, the coaching staff and team personnel exchanged hugs and smiles and tears of joy. Makoto Hiejima (©SANKEI) Zico Coronel (©SANKEI) DJ Newbill (©SANKEI)
Coronel described the Golden Kings as a sensational team during his postgame interview on the court, noting their four consecutive appearances in the B.League Finals. He said they are "an unbelievable collection of coaches [and] players."
To beat Ryukyu in Game 3, "we are very fortunate," said Coronel, who hails from New Zealand. Kevin Braswell's portrait is displayed on the Utsunomiya Brex bench during Game 3. (KYODO)
Coronel then spoke about Braswell's children, recalling something their father had mentioned.
"Your dad believed this team could be special," an emotional Coronel said. "You see now he's a wise man. He believed you could be very, very special through the ups and downs in life as you grow up. Never forget that."
Coronel called the Brex "a special team."
"I think you can see by all the tears there's no other team who has been in the hospital together, been to the funeral together," he said, recalling the team's collective experience over the past few months.
This title, he said, "means the world to us," and by winning it, "we get to honor KB."
Coronel then paid tribute to Utsunomiya's fans.
"You were amazing for your team all year long," he said. "As we've said all season long since day one, Brex Nation, you were the big yellow wave that brought us home to the shore. Thank you very much." B.League Finals MVP DJ Newbill averaged 21.7 points and 6.0 assists in the three games at Yokohama Arena. (B.LEAGUE)
Brex guard DJ Newbill, who scored a game-high 19 points and handed out five assists to lead all players, was named B.League Finals MVP.
"Man, I feel great," the Penn State alum said. "I'm so proud of our team and so proud of our fans. [And] I'm just filled with joy right now."
Newbill added, "Man, we all had the same goal since KB passed on and we wanted to get one (the title) for him. And we got one for KB."
Newbill was named MVP of the 2023-24 B.League season, his first with the Brex. Utsunomiya had a league-best 51-9 record last season but lost in the opening round of the playoffs. They returned in October 2024 with a new head coach in Braswell, who previously had been an assistant coach with the team, and once again had the league's best record (48-12). Brex guard Makoto Hiejima defends Golden Kings guard Hayate Arakawa in the first half. (KYODO)
The Golden Kings took an 18-11 lead into the second quarter and continued to dominate. With 2:37 remaining until halftime, a Keve Aluma 3-pointer gave them a double-digit lead (35-23) for the first time.
Moments later, Yoshiyuki Matsuwaki sank another 3 to make it 38-26.
By halftime, Golden Kings star Vic Law was one rebound shy of a double-double (11 points, nine boards). Ryukyu's Jack Cooley (right) and Utsunomiya's Gavin Edwards compete in Game 3. (KYODO)
Capitalizing on its energy, Ryukyu created consistent scoring opportunities in the opening half, outscoring Utsunomiya 12-2 on fast-break plays.
The Golden Kings also had nine turnovers in the first half. Additional mistakes on offense were more costly in the second half for Ryukyu coach Dai Oketani's club.
"In the first half, we were able to play good basketball at the pace of the Kings," Oketani said after the game. "But in the second half, our scoring was halted by turnovers, and we were targeted for those points by Utsunomiya, which has very skilled players."
Hiejima was held to zero points on 0-for-4 shooting in the first half.
Trailing by 12 points when the third quarter began, the Brex quickly began to chip away at the lead.
Gavin Edwards nailed the first basket of the second half, a 3-pointer, at the 9:03 mark.
Just over a minute later, Edwards caught a pass from Hiejima and slammed the ball through the net. The Brex trailed 43-36 at this point. Momentum was shifting.
With 6:07 to play in the third, Edwards was called for his third foul, as Cooley took a charge. Both veteran standouts fouled out in the fourth quarter. Utsunomiya's Grant Jerrett had 15 points in Game 3. (B.LEAGUE)
Former NBA forward Grant Jerrett capped a 10-0 run and cut it to 43-42 on a putback.
For Ryukyu, that one-point lead was back to five and then a Tatsuya Ito steal, followed by a Masahiro Waki layup increased its advantage to 51-44 on the final play of the third quarter.
But the Golden Kings had an inadequate performance on offense in the third, making only 4 of 12 shots from the floor. The absence of point guard Ryuichi Kishimoto (foot injury), who has a knack for hitting clutch shots, proved to be a factor in this series. Makoto Hiejima, seen in action in the second quarter, found his shooting touch in the second half. (B.LEAGUE)
With 9:07 remaining in the fourth quarter, Aluma knocked down a 3. The Okinawa squad now led 57-46 and Aluma now had 12 points on the night to the delight of rabid Ryukyu supporters, who were smiling and chanting "Go, go Kings"
That was when Hiejima started to heat up on offense. He made a 3-pointer in response to Aluma's.
Looking back on the Utsunomiya comeback, Hiejima spoke about his style of play. Makoto Hiejima led all scorers with 14 points in the fourth quarter. (©SANKEI)
"I'm sorry, but I don't shoot unless I'm under pressure," Hiejima said on the court in his postgame interview.
Describing his role as the catalyst of the rally, he added: "It was a shot that I really made with my heart, and I believe that the late head coach Braswell gave me the push I needed."
Shortly after that, a pair of Newbill free throws cut it to 58-53 with 6:50 to play.
Cooley picked up his fifth foul with 5:48 remaining. It was a frustrating night for the longtime Kings big man, who finished with four points and three rebounds.
After Cooley's departure, Brex guard Atsuya Ogawa buried a left-corner 3-pointer for his first basket of the game. Utsunomiya now trailed 62-57. That quickly changed.
Hiejima showcased his athleticism on a driving layup and made it a one-possession game, 62-59 in favor of Ryukyu.
With 3:49 remaining, Hiejima lived up to his reputation as a player who thrives in high-pressure moments, converting a mid-range jumper.
Newbill's stop-and-pop 3-pointer made it 67-66 with 1:15 remaining, and gave the Brex their first lead since the 8:47 mark of the opening quarter.
After Aluma sank two foul shots to put his team ahead by one, Hiejima flushed a catch-and-shoot 3 from the left corner. That gave Utsunomiya a 70-68 lead with 33 seconds remaining.
Hiejima sank two free throws to extend the lead to 72-68.
Seiji Ikaruga made the first of two foul shots with 11 seconds to play, giving the Brex a 73-68 lead.
Aluma missed a 3 on the Golden Kings' next possession and Kirk's putback jam made it 73-70.
Ikaruga turned the ball over with 2 seconds to play, giving Ryukyu a chance to tie the game. And Aluma was fouled by Kosuke Takeuchi on a 3-point attempt with 0.6 seconds remaining.
A 79.6% free-throw shooter in the regular season, Aluma made the first attempt and the second one rattled off the rim. He intentionally missed the third one, giving his team the possibility of being in greater position to snare the rebound and make a game-tying shot.
The first part of that strategy worked, as Law grabbed the rebound. Then Jerrett made the Brex's biggest defensive play of the game, blocking Law's close-range shot.
The final buzzer sounded.
Brex fans rejoiced.
And the Golden Kings lost in the B.League Finals for the second consecutive year. The Utsunomiya Brex celebrate the franchise's third B.League title. (B.LEAGUE)
"When I think about whether or not we were able to switch the game around properly as a team when the other team took over in the fourth quarter, I have some regrets," said Matsuwaki, one of three Golden Kings players to score in double digits. He had 12 points, Aluma scored 15 and Law had 16 on 4-for-16 shooting and 13 rebounds.
Matsuwaki added, "However, I am proud that we were able to make it to the Finals stage like this, and I am glad that we fought as a team. We really wanted to win the championship, but I think we were able to move in the right direction throughout the season." The Golden Kings react after their Game 3 loss. (KYODO)
Coach Oketani expressed gratitude for his players' effort in the B.League Finals and throughout the season.
"The players fought hard until the very end, despite everything that has happened so far," said Oketani, whose team defeated the San-en NeoPhoenix in double overtime in Game 2 of the playoff semifinals to force a decisive Game 3. A Game 2 win on Sunday, May 25 provided the same opportunity for his club in the B.League Finals.
"Everyone grew and fulfilled their roles," added Oketani. "I feel that it was a very successful season. I would like to thank all of our fans for their support, for today's game would not have been possible without it. We will work even harder, and I hope that you, the fans, will join us in supporting us."
On YouTube, commenting on a Game 3 highlights video, a Golden Kings supporter shared their thoughts on the 2024-25 season and the B.League Finals.
"I was happy to see the Kings playing without giving up until the very end," the fan wrote. "Of course it's frustrating, but thank you so much for bringing us to the Finals. I think it's really amazing that they've made it to the Finals four years in a row. They are the pride of Okinawa."
Newbill was the leading scorer in Game 1 (25 points), and he led all players with 21 points in Game 2.
Since the current format (best-of-three) was first held in 2021 for the B.League Finals, two championship series required a third game. The Chiba Jets claimed the title in 2021 with a Game 3 win over the Brex. And in 2024, the Hiroshima Dragonflies topped the Golden Kins 65-50 in Game 3.
Nearly all of the Utsunomiya boosters, who proudly claim membership in the Brex Nation, wore yellow shirts or team jerseys. Almost every Golden Kings fan was clad in either yellow or white. In all, it was a bright backdrop of colors in the spacious arena.
After losing the battle on the boards in Game 2 (Ryukyu outrebounded Utsunomiya 47-33), the Brex had a stronger effort in that phase of the game on Tuesday as the Kings held a slight edge (41-37). Brex teammates Makoto Hiejima and DJ Newbill embrace after the game. (B.LEAGUE)
"It was a really tough season, but everyone on the team played with a special and strong desire for head coach Braswell, and I am very happy that we were able to make history with this win," Hiejima said after the Brex's title-clinching win.
Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward' s dedicated website, SportsLook . Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven .
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The 28-year-old Oita Prefecture native finished as the runner-up in the men's 200-meter breaststroke final in 2 minutes, 7.70 seconds. China's Haiyang Qin won the race in 2:07.41 and Caspar Corbeau of the Netherlands claimed the bronze medal (2:07.73). Watanabe was the third-place finisher at the world championships in 2017 and '19 in Budapest and Gwangju, South Korea, respectively. In Friday's final, Watanabe swam in Lane 4 and Qin was on the outside in the eighth lane. "It's my first medal in six years," Watanabe said after the race. "I thought I would be happier, but all I feel is frustration. Honestly, I could have won. It was a race I had to win. I knew I wouldn't be able to see him (Qin) at all, even if he went out fast in the first half. [So,] I was focused on beating the strong swimmers on either side of me." Silver medalist Ippei Watanabe (KYODO) In January 2017, Watanabe became the first swimmer to break the 2:07 barrier in the 200-meter breaststroke, winning the event at the Kosuke Kitajima Cup in Tokyo in 2:06.67. Qin is the current world record holder (2:05.48). He swam this blistering time at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka. Japan's Yuki Ishikawa spikes the ball as a trio of Poland players team up for a block attempt in the 2025 FIVB Men's Volleyball Nations League quarterfinals on July 31 in Ningbo, China. (Courtesy of VOLLEYBALL WORD/via KYODO) Poland eliminated Japan in the 2025 FIVB Men's Volleyball Nations League quarterfinals, winning 25-23, 26-24, 25-12 on Thursday, July 31 in Ningbo, China. For Japan, Kento Miyaura had a match-high 17 points, including 15 kills. Captain Yuki Ishikawa had 11 points. Poland's Kewin Sasak led his team with 15 points, while Tomasz Fornal contributed 11 points, including a match-best four blocks. Japan struggled to contain world No 1 Poland's potent effort at the net. The Poles had 14 blocks, and Japan was held to three. Due to its struggles at the net, Japan won't replicate its tournament achievement from 2024, when it was the runner-up at the Men's Volleyball Nations League. "Today we could not get a good result, so we have to prepare for getting good results at the world championship," Miyaura told Volleyball World on Thursday. Up next for Miyaura, Ishikawa and their teammates: the 2025 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship (September 12-28), a 32-nation competition in the Philippines. Suntory Sunbirds Beat JTEKT Stings in the Men's Finals Tokyo Yakult Swallows slugger Munetaka Murakami hits a bases-empty home run to left field in the second inning against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars on July 29 at Yokohama Stadium. (©SANKEI) Munetaka Murakami, the 2022 Central League Triple Crown winner, hit his first home run of the season on Tuesday, July 29. The Tokyo Yakult Swallows slugger smacked a solo homer to left off Yokohama DeNA BayStars starter Katsuki Azuma. Yakult recorded its seventh consecutive victory, topping DeNA 5-1. A day later, the Swallows extended their winning streak to a season-best eight games, beating the BayStars 2-1. The streak ended with a 14-1 loss to the BayStars on Thursday. Murakami was sidelined for about 3½ months with an upper-body injury Batting cleanup and starting at third base, He appeared in his fifth game of the season on Friday, going 10-for-5 with three strikeouts in a 3-2 10-inning loss to the Central League-leading Hanshin Tigers at Jingu Stadium. Through games of August 2, Hanshin sat atop the CL standings with a 59-36-2 record. Yakult (32-53-5) was in last place. San Diego Padres starter Yu Darvish pitches against the New York Mets on July 30 at Petco Park in San Diego. (David Frerker/IMAGN IMAGES/via REUTERS) San Diego Padres right-hander Yu Darvish rebounded from his worst start of the MLB season with his best pitching performance of 2025 on Wednesday, July 30. The 38-year-old held the visiting New York Mets to two hits over seven scoreless innings, striking out seven in the Padres' 5-0 win. In his previous start, Darvish (1-3) was tagged for eight runs on eight hits against the St Louis Cardinals on July 24. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was impressed with Darvish's performance against his team. "When he's throwing all of his pitches for strikes, he could be tough," Mendoza said, according to "It looked like we were guessing once he started throwing everything. … He kept us off-balance, and everything was working for him." With a dominant performance against the Mets, Darvish earned the 204th combined win of his NPB and MLB career. The victory moved him past Hiroki Kuroda as the sole leader of the most combined wins in the two leagues. And Darvish now has 111 wins in his 13 MLB seasons. A sign commemorating Yu Darvish's 204th career victory at Petco Park. (David Frerker/IMAGN IMAGES/via REUTERS) "It means a lot," Darvish said of collecting his 204th win, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune . "I'm very happy. We're talking about legends like Hideo Nomo, Hiroki Kuroda. And just to be able to get closer to these legends, it means a lot and I'm very happy about that." Kuroda won 79 games in seven MLB seasons (2008-14) and an additional 124 in NPB (1997-07, 2015-16). Nomo is the only other pitcher to win 200 or more combined games in MLB and NPB, collecting 201 victories in his trailblazing career. Liverpool's Harvey Elliott takes a bicycle kick against Yokohama F Marinos in an international club friendly on July 30 at Nissan Stadium. (Issei Kato/REUTERS) Reigning English Premier League champion Liverpool wrapped up its preseason tour of Asia by beating the Yokohama F Marinos 3-1 on Wednesday, July 30. An announced crowd of 67,032 watched a scoreless first half at Nissan Stadium before the goals came one after another after halftime. Liverpool star Mohamed Salah in action in the first half against Marinos. (©SANKEI) Asahi Uenaka gave Marinos a 1-0 lead in the 55th minute. Liverpool's Florian Wirtz made it 1-1 in the 62nd minute, and teammates Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha scored in the 68th and 87th, respectively. The final goal was one to remember, with 16-year-old Ngumoha showcasing his talent. As The London Evening Standard reported on its live game blog: "The teenager has been excellent since his introduction [in the 73rd minute] and he picks out the bottom corner with ease after a rapid break." Ngumoha has lofty aspirations with Liverpool, but he recognizes it will likely take time for him to be a regular fixture in the lineup. "I'm not trying to rush because I'm still only young," he said after the match, according to Liverpool's official website. "But at the same time, I just want to show the manager what I can do and not get too complacent. I just want to do bigger and better things for me and the club." Liverpool's Wataru Endo controls the ball in the second half. (©SANKEI) Midfielder Wataru Endo entered the match as a Liverpool substitute in the 60th minute. Endo, who joined Liverpool in 2023, enjoyed the lively atmosphere at Nissan Stadium, and was moved by fans paying tribute to Liverpool's Diogo Jota, who was killed in an automobile accident in Spain on July 3. "Coming back to the city where I grew up as a Liverpool player was a special, wonderful moment," Endo was quoted as saying by Kyodo News. "I know there are lots of Liverpool fans and I'm grateful as a Japanese about their actions toward the team [about Jota]." Liverpool fans hold up a sign in memory of Diogo Jota and display support for the Premier League club before the match. (Issei Kato/REUTERS) It was Liverpool's first match in Japan since the 2005 FIFA Club World Cup. Naomi Osaka hits a return to Jelena Ostapenko in a National Bank Open women's singles third-round match on August 1 in Montreal. (David Kirouac/IMAGN IMAGES/via REUTERS) After switching coaches earlier in the week, Naomi Osaka posted three consecutive women's singles victories at the National Bank Open to reach the round of 16. The 49th-ranked Osaka defeated Jelena Ostapenko, the tourney's No 22 seed, 6-2, 6-4 in the third round in Montreal on Friday, August 1. "I went in there knowing she's a great player and if I give her a chance she's going to hit a winner on me, so I just tried to keep my pace and stay as solid as I could," Osaka was quoted as saying by BBC Sport. On Sunday, Osaka's fourth-round opponent is Latvian Anastasija Sevastova, who is ranked 386th. Tomasz Wiktorowski is Osaka's new coach. He's working on a trial basis. In other National Bank Open news, 110th-ranked Aoi Ito lost in the third round to Spain's Jessica Bouzas, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, on Friday. Former Yamagata Wyverns forward Jawad Williams (left) in an April 2022 file photo. ( Jawad Williams retired as a player in 2022 and has spent the past few years getting established as a basketball coach. The former NBA and standout, who also experienced success in European pro leagues, finalized a deal to serve as an assistant coach for his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers, it was announced earlier this summer. In his most recent job, the University of North Carolina alum served as an assistant coach/director of player development for the Sacramento Kings. Williams, 42, said he's excited about the next chapter of his coaching career. "I grew up on the East Side from St Clair, from St Clair to North Carolina, to the NBA, to all around the world, and then back here again. It's been unbelievable," the former Alvark Tokyo star said in an interview with News 5 Cleveland, an ABC TV affiliate, in July. "To see how far I've come — and I don't take many moments to actually look back — but actually signing here as a coach, that was the one time I did look back and remember how far I've come. It's been a blessing, and I couldn't ask for a better story right now." ―Liverpool manager Arne Slot , on Wataru Endo's impact in the team's 2024 Premier League title-winning campaign and fans' appreciation of him at Nissan Stadium on July 30. Author: Ed Odeven Find Ed on JAPAN Forward' s dedicated website, SportsLook . Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven .
