By Mark Angelo Mañez

PHOTO: B League

Manila - San-En NeoPhoenix held through the final moments before flipping the tables over the Albirex BB Niigata, 85-82, at the 2021-22 Japan BLeague D1 season in Toyohashi City, Sunday afternoon.

Robert Carter plucked in 10 of his 22-marker output in the payoff period and added five rebounds and two assists as the hosts nearly averted disaster seeing their double-digit spread bursted. 

Thirdy Ravena continued backing up San-En, despite going ice cold from deep with his 1-for-7 clip. He still finished with 13 points, nine boards and 5 dimes all game.

Meanwhile in Shiga, Kiefer Ravena and the Lakestars successfully defended home court as they swept Ibaraki Robots, 85-77 at the Ukaruchan Arena.

Ravena wound up with 11 markers on 4-for-8 shooting. He also made two baskets at crunchtime and the assist leading to Tomomasa Ozawa's three pointer which doused the Robots' fiery comeback trail. The former NLEX Road Warrior also collected seven dimes, two boards and two interceptions which proved to be positive for the Lakestars.

Ozawa led all scorers with 17 markers on 5-for-6 shooting from rainbow distance. Novar Gadson and Sean O'Mara tagteamed on both ends and contributed 16 and 15 markers respectively. They also filled their stat sheets with their combined 11 boards, eight dimes and six interceptions.

Eric Jacobsen meanwhile paced the Robots with his 20-point 12-rebound double-double while local Atsunobu Hirao sharing team responsibilities with his 17-marker four-dime contribution.

San-En saw their 11-point cushion disappear after a furious Niigata comeback, with a jumper from Yuto Nohmi making it 77-75 with 42 ticks left.

Yoshiyuki Matsuwaki saved the NeoPhoenix from disaster as he canned a dagger trey, before Carter swishing in both charity shots which gave them an 82-77 game.

Rosco Allen towed Albirex once more with his 24-point 13-rebound output, including a triple which made it an 82-80 game. He also added six assists in the loss.

Kobe Paras, meanwhile, simmered down from their first meeting with 11 markers on 4-of-11 shots, three boards and three dimes.

In other games, Alvark Tokyo continued their dominance on both sides with a repeat blowout over hapless Toyama Grousers, 114-81 at Arena Tachikawa Tachihi.

Naturalized Japanese Ryan Rossiter tagged along with Alvark's imports in demolishing Toyama who are still waiting for their Filipino import Dwight Ramos. He finished the game with 23 markers (on 9/11 shots) and six boards.

Sebas Saiz and Alex Kirk combined for 38 points and 17 rebounds for Alvark, who improved to a 2-2 win-loss card afterwards.



THE SCORES

SAN-EN 85 - Carter 22, T. Ravena 13, Harris 11, Knoc 11, Matsuwaki 10, Tsuyama 9, Tawatari 4, Yamauchi 3, Sugiura 2.

ALBIREX NIIGATA 82 - Allen 24, Ayres 14, Nepawe 12, Paras 11, Sato 8, Nami 7, Endo 5, Okamoto 1.

24-20, 40-35, 59-50, 85-82


SHIGA 85 - Ozawa 17, Gadson 16, O'Mara 15, K. Ravena 11, Kashiwagura 8, Hayashi 6, Soko 6, Nomoto 4, Shibata 2.

IBARAKI 77 - Jacobsen 20, Hirao 17, Trasolini 12, Tajima 9, Tsurumaki 7, Tapscott 7, Fukuzawa 3, Takahashi 2.

19-15, 38-33, 57-51, 85-77


ALVARK TOKYO 114 - Rossiter 23, Saiz 19, Kirk 19, Baranski 14, Kojima 14, Ando 9, Osakabe 9, Kikuichi 4, Tanaka 3.

TOYAMA 81 - Mavunga 28, Smith 15, Haruyama 14, Matsui 12, Johnson 6, Mito 2, Uto 2, Kamisawa 1, Ono 1.

31-30, 59-50, 84-62, 114-81


NAGOYA 87 - Clarke 21, Etherton 17, Harimoto 14, Saito 12, Suda 9, Ito 6, Kano 5, Nakahigashi 2, Parks Jr. 1.

HIROSHIMA 77 - Jackson 19, Mayo 18, Echenique 14, Tsuji 8, Asayama 5, Murphy 5, Aoji 4, Terashima 4.

24-14, 39-38, 59-55, 87-77