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Japan Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Utsunomiya Brex clinch record third B. League title in decisive Game 3
Utsunomiya Brex claimed a record third B. League championship title Wednesday, defeating Ryukyu Golden Kings 73-71 in the decisive Game 3 of the best-of-three finals at Yokohama Arena. 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
The Mainichi
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Basketball: Utsunomiya clinches B-League title in Game 3 thriller
Utsunomiya Brex guard Makoto Hiejima, right, attempts a shot during Game 3 of the B-League basketball finals against the Ryukyu Golden Kings at Yokohama Arena on May 27, 2025. (Kyodo) YOKOHAMA (Kyodo) -- Makoto Hiejima poured in 14 fourth-quarter points to lead Utsunomiya Brex to a championship-clinching 73-71 victory over the Ryukyu Golden Kings in Game 3 of the B-League basketball finals on Tuesday. With just three points through the first three quarters, the veteran shooting guard exploded in the final period at Yokohama Arena, hitting 5-of-5 from the floor and 3-of-3 from the free-throw line. Utsunomiya won the best-of-three series opener 81-68 on Saturday before Ryukyu evened things up with an 87-75 victory the following day. Contesting their fourth-straight finals, the Okinawa-based Golden Kings led 51-44 going into the fourth quarter of Game 3 before Brex came back to take their first lead since the opening period at 67-66 on a three-pointer from finals MVP D.J. Newbill with 1:15 left. Hiejima, who finished with 17 points and three assists, gave coach Zico Coronel's squad the lead for good on a corner three-pointer with 33 seconds on the clock. Ryukyu received a lifeline when Keve Aluma was fouled on a three-point attempt with Utsunomiya up 73-70 and less than a second left. The forward miss his second free-throw, however, forcing him to intentionally miss the third in an unsuccessful attempt to score two points off a rebound. The Utsunomiya players dedicated the team's first title since 2021-2022 to former head coach Kevin Braswell, who died aged 46 during the season in February after suffering complications from emergency heart surgery. The team kept a framed photograph of Braswell on the bench throughout the remainder of the season, including the finals, and the players shouted his initials, "KB," for motivation during their huddles. "We've been to funerals and cried together, and now we get to cry tears of joy," said Coronel, who started the season as Braswell's assistant. "It means the world to us to honor Kevin."
