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Japan Forward
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Japan Forward
B.League Playoffs Get Underway with a Slew of Games
Reporting on the playoffs, Mai Yamamoto's exit from the WNBA, Jiyai Shin's latest golf title and boxer Kazuto Ioka's rematch against Fernando Martinez. Ryukyu Golden Kings shooting guard Masahiro Waki runs the offense as Shota Tsuyama of the Shimane Susanoo Magic defends in Game 2 of a quarterfinal series on May 10, 2025, at Okinawa Arena. (© Four teams remain in the hunt for the 2024-25 title. Over the weekend of May 9-11, the Japan men's pro basketball circuit staged a quartet of best-of-three quarterfinal series, and the Ryukyu Golden Kings, Chiba Jets, San-en NeoPhoenix, and Utsunomiya Brex punched their tickets to the semifinals. The semifinal pairings are San-en (47-12 in the regular season) vs Ryukyu (46-14) and Utsunomiya (48-12) vs Chiba (42-18). Head coach Trevor Gleeson's Jets have won 11 straight games ― in the regular season and playoffs. Semifinal matches are scheduled for May 17-19. Ryukyu was the first team to advance to the Final Four ― its series against the Shimane Susanoo Magic began a day earlier than the other quarterfinals showdowns ― on Saturday, May 10. The Golden Kings' Vic Law shoots a jumper in Game 2 on May 10. ( The Golden Kings opened the series with a 79-71 triumph on Friday at Okinawa Arena. Vic Law scored a team-high 15 points. A day later, Ryukyu outscored Shimane 20-5 in the third quarter and pulled away for an 88-70 win. Law, a Northwestern University alum, was the high scorer (26 points) once again. Teammates Keve Aluma and Alex Kirk poured in 19 and 18 points, respectively, and Masahiro Waki finished with nine. San-en NeoPhoenix big man Yante Maten shoots a layup against the Gunma Crane Thunders in the fourth quarter on May 11 in Hamamatsu. ( After escaping with a narrow victory (83-80) over the visiting Gunma Crane Thunders on Saturday, May 10, the NeoPhoenix completed the series sweep with a 93-84 triumph the next day. San-en led 50-32 at halftime in Game 2, but the pesky Crane Thunders whittled away at the lead in Hamamatsu. Former NBA shooting guard/small forward David Nwaba led the NeoPhoenix with 26 points on 8-for-11 shooting from the field in the series-clinching win. Four teammates also reached double digits in points, including Ryusei Sasaki and Hirotaka Yoshii with 16 apiece. Utsunomiya Brex guard Yusuke Endo in action against SeaHorses Mikawa forward Jake Layman on May 11 in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture. ( Elsewhere, Eastern Conference champion Utsunomiya prevailed 93-81 over the SeaHorses Mikawa in the series opener and recorded an 89-75 victory the next day. In Game 2, Makoto Hiejima led the Brex's balanced offensive attack with 18 points and made three steals. Chiba Jets star Yuki Togashi shoots a 3-pointer as Alvark Tokyo forward Ryan Rossiter defends on May 11 at Ariake Coliseum. ( In Game 1 of the Alvark-Jets series on Saturday at Ariake Coliseum, Tokyo faced a 23-8 deficit at the end of the first quarter. The Alvark's nightmare, including 18-for-70 shooting, led to a 78-53 defeat. Chiba jumped out to a 22-14 advantage by the end of the first quarter in the rematch and gradually pulled away, winning 92-65. Star guard Yuki Togashi scored 16 of his 18 points in the second quarter, igniting the Jets with five 3-pointers on five attempts in an electrifying performance in the 10-minute stanza. Teammate Christopher Smith had a game-high 20 points. The Alvark, who won both regular-season meetings with the Jets by a combined eights points, trailed 50-28 at the half. Game 2 was another atrocious shooting performance for Tokyo (20-for-68 from the field). "I think that all five [Chiba] players on the court yesterday and today were able to do what the team had prepared for the entire 80 minutes," Togashi told reporters on Sunday. "And in these two matches, all of our players really got into a rhythm from defense in order not to bring out the best in our opponent." Playoffs Tip Off with Compelling Matchups in the Quarterfinals Mai Yamamoto (KYODO) The Dallas Wings cut two players, including Japanese guard Mai Yamamoto, on Sunday, May 11. WNBA teams are required to pare their rosters down to 12 players before May 15, one day before the league's 29th season tips off. Yamamoto, 25, appeared in two preseason games for the Wings. The Hiroshima Prefecture native began her pro career with the WJBL's Toyota Antelopes in 2017. Yamamoto was Japan's leading scorer (17.0 points per game) at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Jiyai Shin holds mementos for the winner after capturing the the World Ladies Championship Salonpas Cup in a playoff on May 11 in Tsukubamirai, Ibaraki Prefecture. (KYODO) Jiyai Shin won the World Ladies Championship Salonpas Cup on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff on Sunday, May 11 at the Ibaraki Golf Club. The South Korean made a birdie putt on the par-5 18th hole to secure the victory, her 29th JLPGA Tour title. In her successful career in Japan, Shin has won five majors, including the Salonpas Cup for the first time in 2018. Shin had a four-round total of 7-under 281. She shot a 1-over 73 in Sunday's fourth round in Tsukubamirai, Ibaraki Prefecture. Runner-up Saiki Fujita carded a 3-over 75 in the final round but also cobbled together a 281 to ensure a playoff. Fujita made par on the playoff hole and had to settle for second. Rumi Yoshiba finished third at 6-under 283, followed by Min Young Lee (283) and Mi Jeong Jeon a further shot back. [ODDS and EVENS] Saiki Fujita Makes JLPGA History with Her 7th Hole-in-One Kazuto Ioka (left) and Fernando Martinez trade punches in the 10th round of their WBA super flyweight title match on May 11 at Tokyo's Ota City General Gymnasium. (©SANKEI) Challenger Kazuto Ioka dropped WBA super flyweight champion Fernando Martinez to the canvas with a well-executed left hook in the 10th round of their title rematch on Sunday, May 11. Martinez (18-0, nine knockouts) got back up and stood tall in the eyes of the ringside judges at Ota City General Gymnasium for his overall performance in the 12-round match. Ioka lost on points (114-113, 115-112 and 117-110) on the three scorecards. As a result, Ioka, who turned 36 on March 24, fell short of his goal of becoming the oldest Japanese man to capture a boxing world title. In September 2016, Hozumi Hasegawa set the record (35 years, 9 months), winning the WBC super bantamweight title. "I hope I can continue to do something meaningful with this record at stake in my next match," Ioka said, according to Nikkan Sports . Ioka slipped to 31-4-1 (16 KOs). The Martinez-Ioka bout was originally penciled in for December 31, 2024, but it was rescheduled when Martinez caught the flu. Martinez, an Argentine, also outpointed Ioka in their 12-round showdown on July 7, 2024, at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. The Central League's Hanshin Tigers and the Pacific League's Hokkaido Nipponham Fighters are tied for Nippon Professional Baseball's best record (20-14-1) through Sunday, May 11. 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
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Japan Forward
B.League Playoffs Tip Off with Compelling Matchups in the Quarterfinals
In the four first-round series, look for established stars and up-and-coming players to make their mark for their respective teams. From left, players Atsuya Ogawa (Utsunomiya Brex), Yudai Nishida (SeaHorses Mikawa), Kai Toews (Alvark Tokyo), Ren Kanechika (Chiba Jets), Masahiro Waki (Ryukyu Golden Kings), Seiya Ando (Shimane Susanoo Magic), Ryusei Sasaki (San-en NeoPhoenix) and Naoto Tsuji (Gunma Crane Thunders) attend a news conference in the run-up to the playoffs on May 5, 2025, in Tokyo. (©KYODO) Eight of 24 teams have advanced to the playoffs after the long season, which tipped off in October 2024. In the best-of-three quarterfinals, the Ryukyu Golden Kings play host to the rival Shimane Susanoo Magic in the first series to tip off (Friday, May 9). A day later, the other three playoff matchups ― Utsunomiya Brex vs SeaHorses Mikawa, Alvark Tokyo vs Chiba Jets and San-en NeoPhoenix vs Gunma Crane Thunders ― begin. Following the quarterfinals, the semifinals are penciled in to be held between May 16 and 20 at the higher seeds' home arenas. Yokohama Arena is the venue for the Championship on May 24, 25 and, if necessary, May 27. The reigning champion Hiroshima Dragonflies (28-32) fell short of their goal of reaching the playoffs. Hiroshima did, however, capture the East Asia Super League title in March. Two teams with winning records, the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins (35-25) and the Kyoto Hannaryz (33-27), didn't qualify for the playoffs. Officially known as the Championship, the playoffs are a showcase for successful teams and dynamic individual talent. Ryukyu's Masahiro Waki and Shimane's Seiya Ando (KYODO) San-en's Ryusei Sasaki (left) and Gunma's Naoto Tsuji (KYODO) There are key factors that determine success and disappointment in the playoffs, according to player representatives of the eight teams who attended a news conference on Monday, May 5. Brex point guard Atsuya Ogawa highlighted multiple strengths that have helped his club win the Eastern Conference title. "Our strength is defense, and we are conscious of using that defense to get the game moving quickly," Ogawa commented at the press conference, Basketball King reported. "In addition, our ability to run is also one of our strengths." Alvark point guard Kai Toews highlighted his team's aspirations at the event in Tokyo. "The team's identity is defense," Toews told reporters. "We want to play half-court basketball while keeping the opponent's score down as much as possible." Golden Kings shooting guard Masahiro Waki emphasized another aspect of the game in his comments to the press. "In the championship, rebounding is the key [to victory or defeat]," said Waki, who averaged 7.3 points in 60 games (49 starts), according to Basketball King. Susanoo Magic star Seiya Ando spoke about backcourt mate Shota Tsuyama, who contributed 8.1 points per game this season, as a potential X-factor in the series against the Golden Kings. Noting that Tsuyama is an Okinawa Prefecture native, Ando said that he "wants to show his hometown people what he can do on this big stage. He is a player to watch." Exhibit A: Tsuyama had 23 points, his second-highest scoring output of 2024-25 against Ryukyu on April 26. Brex big man Grant Jerrett helped lead the team to the Eastern Conference title. ( In the first round, the winningest team during the regular season squares off against a club that punched its ticket to the playoffs with a wild-card berth. The Brex swept the SeaHorses in their lone regular-season series, winning 79-61 and 87-81 at home on April 5 and 6. Reigning MVP DJ Newbill is a terrific floor leader and catalyst for the team's pursuit of excellence. He was No 2 in assists (6.1) and teammate Makoto Hiejima led the circuit in 3-point shooting accuracy (44.2%). Utsunomiya's DJ Newbill ( Utsunomiya players and staff rallied around one another after the death of head coach Kevin Braswell on February 24 following heart surgery. New Zealander Zico Coronel, who stepped in to guide the team when Braswell became ill in January and remained in charge, has maintained the team's high standards. Keep an eye on the Brex's offense. They are No 3 in the league in scoring (84.6 points). SeaHorses veteran big man Davante Gardner made 60 starts and led the squad in scoring (15.7). SeaHorses swingman Yudai Nishida ( Mikawa guard/forward Yudai Nishida (10.4 ppg) is another key contributor on a well-coached team with balanced scoring. The SeaHorses enter the playoffs with a 6-4 record in their last 10 games. Prediction: Brex in two. Alvark guard Shuto Ando ( The Jets enter the playoffs as the league's hottest team, carrying a nine-game winning streak. Can Alvark coach Dainius Adomaitis' team grab momentum from the get-go, snapping the Jets' victory run in Game 1? Tokyo is not a high-scoring team, averaging just 76.1 ppg (16th out of 24 clubs). Chiba is No 7 in points (81.9). There's plenty of star power on both teams. The Alvark feature established big man Ryan Rossiter and Sebastian Saiz along with versatile Leonardo Meindl, Shuto Ando and Toews, who was No 3 in assists (5.8) this season. Chiba relies on the tone-setting presence of point guard Yuki Togashi, who returned to action on May 3 after being sidelined for a month with a left ankle injury. A clutch player throughout his career, Togashi's long-range shooting ability is significant for the Jets. Jets star Christopher Smith drives to the basket against the visiting Sendai 89ers on May 4. ( In his injury-plagued first season, former NBA forward Yuta Watanabe averaged 13.3 ppg and gave Chiba an added boost of veteran leadership. Christopher Smith led the club in scoring (17.0) and John Mooney pulled down a team-best 10.6 rebounds for first-year bench boss Trevor Gleeson. The Alvark went 2-0 against the Jets during the season, winning 86-81 at home on April 5 and 75-72 the next day. Prediction: Jets in three. Ryukyu's Ryuichi Kishimoto (KYODO) Ryukyu had its 16-game winning streak halted by Shimane on April 27 (78-66 in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture). Golden Kings coach Dai Oketani's team then wrapped up the regular season with a two-game sweep of the Saga Ballooners. Second in points (85.5) and first in rebounding (43.4), the Golden Kings are built to win. Led by a veteran nucleus of center Jack Cooley (12.3 ppg, 9.9 rebounds per game), forward Vic Law (16.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg) and point guard Ryuichi Kishimoto (11.1 ppg), among others, Ryukyu is aiming to return to the Finals for the fourth straight year. Ryukyu star Vic Law ( Winning the 100th Emperor's Cup (All Japan Basketball Championship) in March certainly boosted the Golden Kings' confidence. But Shimane has matched up well against Ryukyu this season, winning three of four games, including a 98-61 rout of the visiting Golden Kings on October 23. Star guard Seiya Ando (16.3 ppg) is the catalyst and the emotional heartbeat of the Susanoo Magic. Coty Clarke, James Michael McAdoo and Nick Kay also need to put points on the board to ignite Shimane. Prediction: Golden Kings in three. San-en guard Sota Oura runs the offense against the Kawasaki Brave Thunders on May 4. ( San-en cruised to the second-best record in the league with a high-powered offense (90.8 ppg, best among all teams). David Nwaba paced the NeoPhoenix with a team-best 17.8 ppg (No 7 overall). Rising star Ryusei Sasaki was the league leader in assists (6.5). They form a dynamic one-two punch on offense for San-en, which defeated host Gunma 83-78 on April 12 and 83-77 a day later. The NeoPhoenix play with confidence and have benefited from the players' good overall health this season. Ten players appeared in 50 or more games. Gunma's Kazuki Hosokawa ( Gunma's Trey McKinney-Jones ( Gunma, under first-year head coach Kyle Milling, had an eight-win improvement from 2023-24 to earn a playoff berth. Strong shooting is one of the Crane Thunders' trademarks. They were No 5 in both field-goal shooting percentage (45.0%) and 3-point shooting accuracy (34.9%). Trey McKinney-Jones is the team's high scorer (14.6 ppg), and high-energy guard Yuma Fujii (11.1 ppg, 3.3 assists per game) is a vital presence at both ends of the floor. Gunma is a classic underdog against powerhouse San-en. Prediction: NeoPhoenix in three. 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 .
