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Japan Forward
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Japan Forward
B.League Finals: Utsunomiya Rallies Past Ryukyu to Capture the Title
In Game 3 of the Finals, the Brex erased an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Makoto Hiejima led the comeback with 14 points in the final period. The Utsunomiya Brex captured the franchise's third title on May 27, 2025, at Yokohama Arena, beating the Ryukyu Golden Kings 73-71 in Game 3. (© YOKOHAMA ― Big plays and big moments defined Game 3 of the 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 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 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." Finals MVP DJ Newbill averaged 21.7 points and 6.0 assists in the three games at Yokohama Arena. ( Brex guard DJ Newbill, who scored a game-high 19 points and handed out five assists to lead all players, was named 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 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. ( 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. ( 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 Finals for the second consecutive year. The Utsunomiya Brex celebrate the franchise's third title. ( "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 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 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 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 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. ( "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 .
Mint
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Mint
Alonso Martinez excels as NYCFC beat Red Bulls
Alonso Martinez scored 13 minutes into the match and assisted on Maxi Moralez's insurance goal early in the second half as New York City FC handled the New York Red Bulls 2-0 on Saturday afternoon in a clash between the Big Apple's two sides in Flushing, N.Y. The latest rendition of the Hudson River Derby featured identical records for both teams but this one went to NYCFC (6-5-3, 21 points), which was the aggressor throughout and never let the Red Bulls off the deck. NYCFC has earned five of its six wins at home this season, be it at Citi Field (which was the site of Saturday's clash) or Yankee Stadium. NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese had to make just one save to earn his sixth clean sheet of the season and second in a row. Red Bulls keeper Carlos Coronel stopped the game's first real scoring chance, denying NYCFC's Julian Fernandez's left footed shot from just outside the penalty area in the 11th minute. Martínez got the home team on the scoreboard two minutes later with a blistering shot from outside the box that whistled past Coronel before burying itself in the upper left corner of the net. Justin Haak garnered the assist for the tally for the pass that got Martinez in the clear and onto his right foot. Coronel denied Martinez a second first-half goal in the 19th minute by coming off of his line on a breakaway and smothering a shot at the edge of the box and then holding on to the rebound to assure Martinez did not get a chance to follow up. That was his second and final save. Martinez had another chance in the 34th minute that was blocked by Red Bulls defender Sean Nealis near the goal mouth. The Red Bulls (5-6-3, 18 points) finally put some pressure on Freese in the 48th minute but Dennis Gjengaar's low-percentage shot (their only on target in the match) was easily stopped. After outshooting the Red Bulls 9-4 in the first half and producing all three of the half's shots on target, NYCFC added to the lead just five minutes after the break. This time Martinez set the table for the tally, finding Moralez with a nifty pass just in front of the goal and then stepping back to let his teammate punch his left-footed shot past Coronel to make it 2-0.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Gerardo Coronel Breaks Through to No. 1 on Latin Airplay Chart With ‘No Se Dice'
Gerardo Coronel 'El Jerry' celebrates a new milestone on the Billboard charts with his first No. 1 on the overall Latin Airplay ranking, as 'No Se Dice' lands at No. 1 on the May 17-dated list. The corridos singer-songwriter also adds his fifth champ on the Regional Mexican Airplay chart. 'No Se Dice' surges 12-1 on Latin Airplay after a 31% gain in audience impressions, to 7 million, earned in the U.S. during the May 2-8 tracking week, according to Luminate. The song takes the Greatest Gainer honor of the week, an award recognizing the track with the largest audience growth within the 50-position chart. The track has gained significant support from three Univision stations: KSCA (Los Angeles), WOJO (Chicago), and KLNO (Dallas). More from Billboard Andy Bell Confirms His Place in Reunited Oasis Lineup Snoop Dogg Drops 'Iz It a Crime' Album Featuring Sexyy Red, Wiz Khalifa & Pharrell: Stream It Now The Lemonheads Preview First Original Album in 19 Years With New Single, 'Deep End' 'No Se Dice' marks Coronel's first No. 1 on the Latin Airplay chart, following a No. 2 high through 'Tutorial Para Olvidar' in late 2024. In sum, he's placed five career top 10s, dating to 'Que Onda Perdida' in 2023. Elsewhere, 'No Se Dice' climbs 3-1 on Regional Mexican Airplay, becoming Coronel's fifth ruler overall and second in 2025. Here's the recap of his collections of No. 1s on Regional Mexican Airplay since the chart launched in 1994: Peak, Title, Artist, Weeks at No. 1July 1, 2023, 'Que Onda Perdida,' with Grupo Firme, threeDec. 2, 2023, 'Se Buscan Borrachos,' twoAugust 24, 2024, 'Tutorial Para Olvidar,' oneFeb. 15, 2025, 'Chsm El Hígado,' oneMay 17, 2025, 'No Se Dice,' one 'No Se Dice,' released on January 17 through Union Music, marks also a major milestone for the indie label as it celebrates its first No. 1 on the overall Latin Airplay chart. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Four Decades of 'Madonna': A Look Back at the Queen of Pop's Debut Album on the Charts Chart Rewind: In 1990, Madonna Was in 'Vogue' Atop the Hot 100
Boston Globe
29-03-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Captain Carles Gil delivers twice to hand Revolution first win of MLS season
With the result, the Revolution (1-3-1, 4 points) rose out of the Eastern Conference cellar, while dropping the Red Bulls to 2-2-2 (8 points) on the season in the 100th meeting between the two original MLS clubs. Gil brought the game to life in the 28th minute, curling a left-footed free kick from about 28 yards out into the far top right corner, over the outstretched hand of Red Bulls keeper Carlos Coronel (4 saves). Advertisement ⚽️🎯 What a free kick from Capiii! — New England Revolution (@NERevolution) Gil almost created another goal two minutes later, but Coronel robbed Ignatius Ganago with a strong right hand parrying the heavy shot off his far post and away. And in the 45th minute, Coronel robbed Ganago again with a diving stop. Just two minutes later, New York equalized through striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. The former Bayern Munich forward pressed forward after a turnover, and the Revolution defense was too disorganized to stop the run Emil Forsberg, nor the feed by Peter Stroud to a wide-open Choupo-Moting for an easy put-away. Right place, right time 💥💥💥 — New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) Revolution keeper Aljaz Ivacic (4 saves) was called upon in the 73rd minute to come up with a charging stop on substitute Mohammed Sofo. And the Red Bulls kept pressing, but their shots were wide of the mark. In the third minute of stoppage time, a ricocheted shot fell in the Red Bulls area, Ganago got a touch and then was taken down by defender Sean Nealis. After a lengthy review, referee Sergii Demianchuk awarded the Revolution a penalty kick. Advertisement Gil took the ball and, after a stutter-step, easily slotted the ball into the left side netting to get the win. 💥 Carles Gil delivers on the penalty! — New England Revolution (@NERevolution) The Revolution head to Cincinnati next Saturday.
Fox Sports
09-03-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Red Bulls' Carlos Coronel has seven saves in scoreless duel with Brad Guzan and Atlanta United
Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — Carlos Coronel finished with seven saves for the New York Red Bulls and Atlanta United's Brad Guzan wasn't tested in a scoreless draw on Saturday night. Coronel had six saves in the first half for the Red Bulls (1-1-1) — the defending Eastern Conference champions. He joined Luis Robles as the only Red Bulls goalkeepers to top 150 career starts through all competitions. He is one win away from 50 for his career. It was Coronel's 37th career clean sheet and his fourth against Atlanta United. Guzan earned his 61st shutout for Atlanta United (1-1-1). The 40-year-old had 24 clean sheets in four seasons with defunct Chivas USA from 2005-08. The Red Bulls lead the all-time series 9-2-6 while improving to 4-2-3 in Atlanta. The Red Bulls will host Orlando City on Saturday. Atlanta United will host Inter Miami on March 16. ___ AP soccer: in this topic
