Latest news with #GoldenKings
Japan Forward
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Japan Forward
B.League Finals: Ryukyu Rebounds with Game 2 Victory
The Golden Kings outscored the Utsunomiya Brex 24-11 in the decisive fourth quarter to even the best-of-three Finals at one game apiece. Ryukyu Golden Kings guard Hayate Arakawa shoots a layup in the fourth quarter in Game 2 of the Finals against the Utsunomiya Brex on May 25, 2025, at Yokohama Arena. (© YOKOHAMA ― Facing elimination with one more loss in the Finals, the Ryukyu Golden Kings excelled in the fourth quarter of Game 2 on Sunday afternoon, May 25. With their title hopes on the line, the dynamic one-two punch of veteran forward Vic Law and reserve guard Hayate Arakawa carried the offense. They scored 10 points apiece in the fourth, with both knocking down a pair of 3-point shots, as the Golden Kings outscored the Utsunomiya Brex 24-11 in the final period to secure a hard-earned 87-75 victory. Game 3 of the best-of-three championship series is on Tuesday night, May 27. Tipoff is 7:05 PM. Players from both teams spoke about the significance of the series finale shortly after Game 2 wrapped up. "It's do or die now," said Brex guard DJ Newbill, the 2023-24 season MVP, after his game-high 21-point, seven-rebound, seven-assist, three-steal performance. "We've got to come out and play our game." He added that his team must play "with a sense of urgency" on Tuesday. Ryukyu star Vic Law (KYODO) After leading the Golden Kings with 19 points and grabbing seven rebounds, Law said his team's trademark will be on display once again in the series-deciding match. "Each game, each night, we play as hard as we can," the Northwestern University alum said. Frontcourt mate Jack Cooley, who notched a double-double (13 points, 10 rebounds), said the Golden Kings recognize what's their top priority for Tuesday night. "We're going to play our hardest in our final game," Cooley vowed. x Golden Kings fans show support for their team. ( Utsunomiya won the series opener 81-68 on Saturday. In that game, the Brex sank 16 3-pointers, and 22-year-old point guard Atsuya Ogawa sparked the Eastern Conference champions with 15 points off the bench. Ryukyu coach Dai Oketani called Ogawa the X-factor in Game 1 and said he was determined to limit his impact on Sunday. The Golden Kings held the Brex to 11 3-pointers out of 34 attempts in Game 2, and Ogawa was held to six points (on 2-for-5 shooting). Ryukyu's overall energy and hustle plays at both ends of the floor were crucial. The Western Conference champions outrebounded the Brex 47-33, including a 22-13 advantage on the offensive glass, which helped them score 22 second-chance points. Moreover, the Golden Kings' frequent attack-the-basket tactics were on display throughout the 40-minute contest, leading to a 46-34 advantage in points in the paint. In his quick analysis of the bounce-back win, Oketani praised his players for their effective performance and for their spirited effort. "I would like to give my sincere praise to the players who persevered through many difficult times," Oketani said. "We will not forget the flow and energy we showed in the second half today, and we look forward to another exciting game in Game 3." Golden Kings shooting guard Masahiro Waki runs the offense. Waki had 12 points and eight assists. ( In addition to Law's team-high scoring effort, Arakawa and Cooley finished with 13 points apiece. Arakawa, who averaged 5.3 points in the regular season, was the X-factor in Game 2, according to Oketani. Also for Ryukyu, shooting guard Masahiro Waki chipped in with 12 points and handed out eight assists. Shota Onodera and Keve Aluma both had eight points. Aluma also grabbed 10 rebounds in 24-plus minutes off the bench. Waki, 23, had a consistently solid effort throughout the game. After making 3 of 8 shots and scoring seven points in Game 1, he was a more active presence on offense in the rematch. Waki was 6-for-9 from the floor on Sunday. "I am happy that everyone was focused and energetic from the start of the game," Waki said, referring to his team. Looking back on Ryukyu's poise in the fourth quarter, Waki said he was pleased to give his team a spark. He broke a 72-all tie with a spinning layup with 4:27 remaining. "When the score was tied, I was playing strong because I like to make big shots," Waki told reporters. "I am happy that I was able to change the game." DJ Newbill led the Brex with 21 points. ( Newbill set the tone for the Brex with 15 of his 21 points in the first half. Utsunomiya had two additional double-digit scorers: Grant Jerrett (14 points) and Gavin Edwards (11). Yusuke Endo and Makoto Hiejima finished with nine and eight, respectively. Utsunomiya coach Zico Coronel acknowledged after the game that Ryukyu's overall edge in rebounding was a key factor. He also credited the Golden Kings for pressuring the ball, which contributed to the Brex's assist total dropping from 24 in Game 1 to 17 the next day. Utsunomiya guard Makoto Hiejima ( Utsunomiya, which had a league-best 48-12 regular-season record, trailed by the slimmest of margins at the end of the first quarter, 21-20. Fueled by a 15-0 run to pull ahead 37-23 on an Ogawa 3-pointer at the 4:09 mark, the Brex grabbed momentum in the second quarter. And they took a 43-35 lead into halftime. But the Golden Kings closed out the half on a positive note: Arakawa's 3 with 2 seconds remaining. That trimmed the lead to single digits. It was Arakawa's first basket of the game. Ryukyu's Vic Law shoots a 3-pointer in the second half. ( On the first possession of the third quarter, Law began to ignite the Golden Kings after he had a quiet first half (1-for-6, two points). It started with a 3-pointer from the left corner. That shot pulled Ryukyu within 43-38, signaling his team was prepared for a metaphorical 12-round heavyweight title bout. An Endo catch-and-shoot 3 put the Brex ahead 46-38 and a Jerrett driving layup extended the advantage to 48-38 at the 8:33 mark. Did this mean Utsunomiya was on the verge of pulling away? No. Onodera made a nifty reverse layup, followed by a Cooley layup courtesy of a Waki assist with 7:43 to play. And then Yoshiyuki Matsuwaki nailed a 3 for the Golden Kings, who pulled within 48-45. The game was still up for grabs. Utsunomiya twice took six-point leads in the next few minutes, but Ryukyu kept responding with timely baskets, too. Law leveled the score at 57-57 on a highlight reel dunk from the baseline. Waki tied it at 59-all on a driving layup. And Aluma made it 61-61 on a pair of free throws. With 43 seconds left in the third, Hiejima canned a 3 from the right corner to put his team in front by three. Golden Kings backup guard Tatsuya Ito countered with a left-handed layup, shooting the ball high off the glass and into the net. His only points of the game, scored with 4 seconds remaining in the third, pulled his team within 64-63. The play fired up his teammates as they took a short break before the fourth quarter began. Ryukyu's Hayate Arakawa shoots a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter. ( For the Brex, Coach Coronel said getting ready for the series finale is paramount. "I think it's very self-explanatory. Game 3 determines everything," he told a news conference. "So, of course, [whoever] brings the best effort, the best focus and the best execution, makes big plays, then they will be the champion." Finals: Utsunomiya Outplays Ryukyu in Game 1 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 .
Japan Forward
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Japan Forward
B.League Finals: Utsunomiya Outplays Ryukyu in Game 1
The Brex sank 16 3-pointers in the Finals opener against the Golden Kings. They led by as many as 17 points in the fourth quarter at Yokohama Arena. Utsunomiya Brex point guard Atsuya Ogawa shoots a 3-pointer in the first quarter of the Finals Game 1 on May 24 at Yokohama Arena. The Brex defeated the Ryukyu Golden Kings 81-68. (© YOKOHAMA ― One of the maxims of contemporary basketball states that "you live by the 3-pointer and die by the 3-pointer." Although it's not always the primary reason for a win or a loss, the opening match of the Finals showed how impactful the long-range shot can be. The Utsunomiya Brex sank 16 3-pointers (out of 39 attempts), with seven different players knocking down shots from beyond the arc, in an 81-68 win over the Ryukyu Golden Kings on Saturday afternoon, May 24. Reigning league MVP DJ Newbill, a Penn State alum, scored a game-high 25 points, including 4 of 10 on 3s, to spark the Brex. Backup point guard Atsuya Ogawa added 15 points to match his highest-scoring game from the regular season (on March 15 against the Nagasaki Velca), making 3 of 5 3s. Between them, Newbill and Ogawa made more 3-pointers than the Golden Kings. (Teammate Grant Jerrett also knocked down three 3s to account for all of his points in the win.) Utsunomiya, which had a league-best 48-12 record during the regular season, held Ryukyu to 6-for-23 on 3-point attempts. That 30-point advantage on 3s was one of the key factors in the Brex's Game 1 triumph. Head coach Zico Coronel's team also played aggressive defense, and the Golden Kings didn't handle that pressure well at various times during the game. Ryukyu, which made only 12 of 21 foul shots, committed 14 turnovers. The Brex outscored the Golden Kings 15-8 on points from turnovers before an announced crowd of 13,121. Game 2 of the best-of-three series is on Sunday at Yokohama Arena. Tipoff is 1:10 PM. "It is regrettable that we allowed Utsunomiya to make so many 3-point shots," said Golden Kings shooting guard Yoshiyuki Matsuwaki, who had 11 points. "Offensively, we should have been a little more aggressive individually. "This loss was a great experience for us. We will take advantage of this experience tomorrow." Brex guard DJ Newbill shoots a jumper in Game 1. ( The Golden Kings (46-14 in the regular season) trailed 41-35 entering the third quarter and never pulled ahead in the second half. Newbill dominated in the third quarter, scoring 12 of his team's 18 points to ignite the Utsunomiya offense. At the same time, Ryukyu had a woeful performance in the third, missing 11 of 15 shots from the floor. The combination of Newbill's brilliance and the Golden Kings' scoring woes in the 10-minute period factored mightily in the Brex's commanding 59-45 lead heading into the final quarter. With 7:03 remaining, Jerrett sank a 3 to give the Brex their largest lead of the game (70-53). Golden Kings big man Jack Cooley competes against Brex frontcourt standout Grant Jerrett. ( Ryukyu answered with a 10-3 spurt, cutting it to 73-63 on a Jack Cooley layup. Shogo Taira provided the assist at the 2:42 mark. But that was as close as the Golden Kings would get. Veteran guard Yusuke Endo, a member of the Brex's two championship teams (2016-17, 2021-22), flushed a catch-and-shoot 3 from the right baseline to increase the lead to 76-63. The Golden Kings promptly called a timeout with 2 minutes remaining. Utsunomiya maintained a sizable lead and dribbled out the clock on its final possession. Moments later, Newbill, who had a game-high six assists, addressed the crowd. "It was a great win," he said. "We've still got to win again tomorrow. The job's not finished." Noting that it was a collective effort, Newbill commended his teammates for the energy they exerted in slowing down Ryukyu's offense, which averaged 85.5 points per game (No 2 in the in the regular season. "Our defense really helped us out today," Newbill said before thousands of Brex fans applauded in the stands. Teamwork: Utsunomiya's Gavin Edwards (right) helps teammate DJ Newbill get back up after a play. Edwards scored 15 points and had four assists in the win. (BLEAGUE) In addition to Newbill and Ogawa, Gavin Edwards also scored in double figures (15 points) and blocked two shots for Utsunomiya. Longtime teammates Endo and Makoto Hiejima added six and five points, respectively. Hiejima, who averaged 13.2 points in the regular season, scored in single digits for the third straight playoff game. The floor leader, who dished out five assists, said Ogawa's productivity helped secure the win. "Ogawa gives us momentum off the bench and is an indispensable player," Hiejima told a postgame news conference. "I think today's performance was normal for him." Utsunomiya's Makoto Hiejima ( Coronel was pleased with the Brex's effort, saying, "We played hard and we played together." In May 2024, the Golden Kings beat the Hiroshima Dragonflies 74-62 in Game 1 of the Finals, then lost the next two games. Which is why Coronel reminded his players and the assembled crowd in Yokohama that the championship series isn't over yet. "We didn't come here to win one game," Coronel proclaimed, standing on the court shortly after Game 1 ended. The New Zealander added, "We came here to win a series. Half the work is done." Enthusiastic chants of "Zico" from the Brex's rabid supporters followed. Brex coach Zico Coronel (left) speaks after the game on the court. ( Coronel, who began the season as an assistant coach, became acting head coach in January when Kevin Braswell was hospitalized in Tochigi Prefecture after suffering a heart attack. Braswell, 46, died several weeks later after undergoing heart surgery. Led by Coronel, the players are unified in their quest to win the title as a lasting tribute to Braswell. Hiejima reminded reporters about this after the game. "We are fighting with a special feeling, so we hope to win tomorrow and make Kevin and Zico the best head coaches in Japan," Hiejima said. Brex guard Atsuya Ogawa attacks the basket in the series opener. ( In a back-and-forth first quarter, Ryukyu took an 11-6 lead near the midway point on a Cooley putback and free throw. A flurry of 3-pointers followed. On back-to-back possessions, Newbill connected on a pair of 3s to pull the Brex within two. Sandwiched between his opponent's baskets, Golden Kings star Vic Law drained a high-arching 3, with the trajectory of a rainbow. Moments later, Jerrett sank a shot from beyond the arc and teammate Ogawa followed with another 3 to put the Brex in front 18-14 with 3:30 to play in the first half. Ogawa was Utsunomiya's top scorer in the first half (11 points), followed by Newbill with 10. Cooley paced Ryukyu with 14 points and nine rebounds (six offensive boards) before intermission, and Law had an 11-point first half. Later in the game, the 190-cm Ogawa also showcased his dribble-drive moves on aggressive forays to the basket while scoring layups. After finishing the afternoon with a 6-for-10 shooting performance in 19-plus minutes, Ogawa said his mindset paid off in Game 1. "The points were the result of my aggressive play," the 22-year-old Niigata Prefecture native told reporters. Ogawa also commented on his outside shooting and the decision on multiple occasions to attack the basket. "I have been working on my 3-point shooting as it has been an issue for me," Ogawa said. "The team tells me to shoot it when it's open, so I try to shoot it when it's open." He added: "I was able to see my driving lanes, so I am glad I was able to attack them. [And] I will continue to aim for that tomorrow." Vic Law led the Golden Kings with 18 points in Game 1. ( Law averaged 16.0 points in the regular season. In six postseason games, he's increased his scoring average to 21.5, which includes 18 in Game 1 against the Brex. Cooley, who joined the Golden Kings in 2019, is appearing in his fourth consecutive Finals. He had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the perennial title contenders. Alex Kirk and Masahiro Waki contributed seven points apiece. Kirk also had a game-high 12 rebounds. Ryukyu center Alex Kirk was an active presence at both ends of the floor. ( Ryukyu coach Dai Oketani didn't rattle off a slew of statistics while speaking to reporters after the game. Instead, Oketani focused on what he considered a decisive factor in the outcome of the championship series opener. "I feel that Utsunomiya No 7, Atsuya Ogawa, decided the game for us today," Oketani said. "It is difficult to defend all of Utsunomiya's attacks, which are among the best in the league. However, some attacks we wanted to prevent, we were able to correct our defense in the fourth quarter and successfully defended through them, which was a good thing." Looking ahead to Sunday's rematch, Oketani said, "You never know what will happen in a game. We will do our best again tomorrow to maximize our chances of victory." Ryukyu guard Tatsuya Ito runs the offense as Utsunomiya's Atsuya Ogawa defends. ( In the teams' only regular season series, the Brex defeated the Golden Kings 105-86 on January 25 at Okinawa Arena. The next day in a rematch, Ryukyu bounced back with a 97-88 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 .
The Mainichi
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Basketball: Utsunomiya beats Ryukyu 81-68 in B-League finals opener
YOKOHAMA (Kyodo) -- Guard D.J. Newbill scored 25 points and had six assists to lead Utsunomiya Brex to an 81-68 win over the Ryukyu Golden Kings in the opening game of the B-League basketball finals on Saturday. Utsunomiya, aiming for its first title since 2021-2022, took a 24-20 lead into the opening change and led the rest of the way at Yokohama Arena. Guard Atsuya Ogawa and big man Gavin Edwards chipped in with 15 points each for Brex, which connected on 16 of 39 three-point attempts. The Okinawa-based Golden Kings, missing injured point guard Ryuichi Kishimoto, got 18 points from swingman Vic Law, but the team made just six of its 23 shots from beyond the arc. Playing in their fourth straight finals, the 2022-2023 champion Golden Kings will try to square the best-of-three series on Sunday.
Japan Forward
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Japan Forward
B.League Playoffs: Utsunomiya and Ryukyu Survive Semifinal Showdowns to Reach the Finals
The Brex kept alive their goal of winning a third title by ousting the Chiba Jets, and the Golden Kings eliminated the San-en NeoPhoenix. Utsunomiya Brex forward Grant Jerrett looks to score against the Chiba Jets in Game 3 of a semifinal series on May 19, 2025, in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture. (© There are a number of notable facts connected to the upcoming Finals. For starters, the Ryukyu Golden Kings are the first team in league history to advance to the championship round in four consecutive years. Their previous three trips included a pair of championship runner-up finishes, including in 2024 against the Hiroshima Dragonflies. In addition, the Utsunomiya Brex have a shot at becoming the first franchise to win the title three times. Led by American bench boss Tom Wisman, the team then known as Link Tochigi Brex captured the title to conclude the inaugural 2016-17 season. And the Brex, then guided by head coach Ryuzo Anzai, won their second championship with a two-game sweep of the Golden Kings in a best-of-three showdown in May 2022. In doing so, they joined the Alvark Tokyo (2017-18, 2018-19) as the only teams with two titles. (The championship round was switched from a single game to the current format the previous year.) Just like the Golden Kings, the Brex will be making their fourth appearance in the Finals. In 2021, the Chiba Jets topped Utsunomiya, handing the Brex their lone loss in the championship round. Game 1 of the series is on Saturday, May 24, at Yokohama Arena. Tipoff is 2:30 PM. On Sunday, Game 2 is slated to start at 1:10 PM, also at the same venue. If necessary, Yokohama Arena will also host a deciding Game 3 on Tuesday, May 27, with a 7:05 PM tipoff. Ryukyu Golden Kings coach Dai Oketani ( Two years after winning the Finals against Chiba, Ryukyu coach Dai Oketani has a chance to become the second bench boss in league history with two titles. Former Alvark sideline supervisor Luka Pavicevic became the first to do so. Another coaching distinction, one touched by tragedy, could occur in the championship series. Zico Coronel could become the first in-season coaching replacement to win a title. The New Zealander took over as acting head coach when Kevin Braswell was hospitalized after suffering a heart attack in January. Braswell died several weeks later at age 46 after undergoing heart surgery in a Tochigi Prefecture hospital. Brex coach Zico Coronel ( Since then, the Brex have displayed a framed photo of Braswell on the bench for every game. It's a touching dedication to their former leader. Golden Kings players congratulate one another after their double-overtime victory over the San-en NeoPhoenix in Game 2 of the semifinals on May 18 at Hamamatsu Arena. ( After winning the Western Conference title with a 46-14 record in the regular season, Ryukyu eliminated the Shimane Susanoo Magic in two games in the playoff quarterfinals (May 9-10). That set up a scintillating showdown with the Central Division champion San-en NeoPhoenix (47-12) in Hamamatsu with a berth in the title series up for grabs. Their longtime rivalry, which was spawned in an earlier era, has continued. Between them, the Golden Kings (four titles) and the three-time champion NeoPhoenix (formerly known as the Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix) captured seven titles in the final eight seasons of the bj-league, a forerunner of the The NeoPhoenix opened the series with an 87-85 home win on Saturday, May 17. Ex-NBA player David Nwaba had a game-high 23 points for the hosts. Interestingly enough, after Ryukyu's Vic Law nailed a 3-pointer with 1:05 remaining in the fourth quarter, neither team scored again. NeoPhoenix swingman David Nwaba shoots a jumper in Game 2. ( The Golden Kings then faced their biggest test to date this season ― needing a win in Game 2 to extend the semifinal series. Nobody said it would be easy. And it wasn't. Golden Kings big man Jack Cooley looks to score against the NeoPhoenix in Game 2. ( Ryukyu outlasted San-en 100-98 in double overtime on May 18 to force a Game 3. A play that will long live in Golden Kings lore ― a Yoshiyuki Matsuwaki putback at the buzzer ― sent the game into the first OT period. Ryukyu's Masahiro Waki in action against San-en in Game 2. ( The Golden Kings' big standouts in Game 2 were Jack Cooley (26 points, 16 rebounds, six steals), Law (23 points, seven rebounds, six assists), and Masahiro Waki (17 points), while Alex Kirk had seven of his 16 points in 20T. Nwaba paced the NeoPhoenix with 26 points. Ryukyu star Vic Law surveys his options during the series finale on May 19. ( On Monday, May 19, a day after Law logged a team-high 45:52 out of 50 minutes for Ryukyu and Nwaba played 46:36 for San-en, there was no rest for the weary. A trip to the Finals was at stake. Entering the second half, the Golden Kings led by the slimmest of margins, 43-42. Ryukyu's tough-as-nails defense was a big factor in the second half. The NeoPhoenix were held to 27 points and 10-for-33 shooting from the field the rest of the way, including 10 points in the fourth quarter. Law spearheaded the Golden Kings' winning effort with 30 points and 10 rebounds in a 77-69 triumph. Veteran playmaker Tatsuya Ito handed out a team-high five assists. Golden Kings playmaker Tatsuya Ito runs the offense in Game 3. ( Yante Maten led the NeoPhoenix with 27 points. After the final buzzer sounded, Law provided instant clarity about the grueling duel with San-en. "I feel that this was the hardest and toughest game I have played in since joining the said Law, who starred for Chiba (2022-23) before joining Ryukyu the following season. Coach Oketani commended his players for their spirited effort in the semifinals. "All three games were close and could have been won by either side," Oketani said at Hamamatsu Arena. "In the midst of all this, the players kept their feet on the ground and fought tenaciously until the very end. "Throughout the season, we have been conscious of continuing to do what we can do, and I think the trust that we have built up with the entire team came into play here." After winning the Eastern Conference with a league-best 48-12 record, Utsunomiya ousted the SeaHorses Mikawa in the quarterfinals (May 10-11). That set up a clash of East heavyweights in the semifinals: The Brex vs the Jets (42-18). Chiba entered the series as the league's hottest team, winning 11 straight games, including a two-game sweep by a combined 52 points over the Alvark in the first round. In Game 1, Utsunomiya cruised to an 82-67 victory on May 17. The big story was the Brex's 50 second-half points and the Jets' 33. Facing elimination on Sunday, Chiba bounced back with a 74-55 decision. In the blowout win, the Jets outscored the hosts 26-9 in the third quarter. Chiba's Christopher Smith was the high scorer (23 points) in Game 2. Only Grant Jerrett (12 points) and reigning MVP DJ Newbill (10) reached double figures for the Brex, who shot 22-for-63. Brex guard Makoto Hiejima drives on Jets forward Yuta Watanabe on May 19. ( The Brex jumped out to a 43-31 lead by halftime in the series finale on Monday, May 19. Utsunomiya seized momentum with a 30-point second period. It included a dynamic 12-point effort from Jerrett, who had an eight-game stint in the NBA in 2014-15, in his 8:42 of court time in the quarter. Coronel's squad maintained a 12-point advantage (61-49) heading into the final stanza. Jerrett provided a closing spark in the fourth quarter with nine more points. He finished with 27, including 5-for-5 from 3-point range, in his highest-scoring game since dropping 40 on the Levanga Hokkaido on March 2. Chiba's Christopher Smith ( Facing the daunting task of a double-digit comeback and their third game in as many days, Chiba fell short in the final stanza despite a 22-point effort in the last 10 minutes. Smith had 11 of his 22 points in the fourth. The Jets trailed 75-71 with 1:05 to play, and didn't score again. As a result, the final numbers on the scoreboard were the following: Utsunomiya 82, Chiba 71. Utsunomiya's Gavin Edwards ( In addition to Jerrett's banner performance, Brex veteran Gavin Edwards had 21 points, Newbill had 10, and Japanese teammates Atsuya Ogawa and Makoto Hiejima finished with eight and seven, respectively. In the postgame news conference, Coronel expressed relief and satisfaction that his team overcame the Jets. "I think you can see the respect our group had for Chiba when you see how pleased and happy we were when we finally secured the result," Coronel commented at Nikkan Arena Tochigi. Coronel cited Chiba's overall strength as a team and difficulty as an opponent. "It took everything we had," he said, "and we made some learnings today, which we applied, and we are very pleased to have another week to continue to get better and challenge ourselves to play even better basketball in Yokohama." Golden Kings big man Alex Kirk commands attention in the low post. ( On January 25, the Brex topped the Golden Kings 105-86 at Okinawa Arena. Jerrett had a double-double (20 points, 10 rebounds). In the teams' rematch the next day, Ryukyu salvaged a series split with a 97-88 triumph. Keve Aluma ignited the Golden Kings with 31 points. 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 .
