Shinshu Warriors beats Utsonomiya in B.League

Posted by watchmen
January 2, 2023
Posted in SPORTS

 

Matthew Aquino and the Shinshu Brave Warriors sweep their weekend matches against Utsonomiya Brex. KAISEN SPORTS PHOTO
Matthew Aquino and the Shinshu Brave Warriors sweep their weekend matches against Utsonomiya Brex. KAISEN SPORTS PHOTO

By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Matthew Aquino and the Shinshu Brave Warriors cruised to back-to-back wins in the 2022-2023 Japan B.League Division 1 action, after taking down Utsonomiya Brex at the White Ring on Sunday afternoon, January 1.

Aquino, a former Adamson University Falcons and National University Bulldogs big man, finished with six points on two three-point conversions, to go with two rebounds in 12 minutes of action.

Josh Hawkinson led the way with double-double 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Yuta Okada, William Mosley and Wataru Kumagai had 15, 14 and 11 markers, respectively, as the Brave Warriors improved to 12-13.

Josh Scott tallied double-double 16 points and 16 rebounds, while Yuusuke Endo added 10 markers as the Brex slumped to their fourth defeat in five matches for an 11-14 record.

Meanwhile, Ilonggo Ferdinand “Thirdy” Ravena III and the San-En NeoPhoenix suffered back-to-back defeats over the weekend after bowing to Chiba Jets, 85-69, on New Year’s Day at the Funabashi Arena.

Ravena, a former standout of Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, tallied 14 points, including two outside conversions to go with four assists and three rebounds, as the NeoPhoenix dropped to 12-13.

Yuki Togashi led the way for the Jets with 28 points, including seven three-pointers, while Christopher Smith and Shuta Hara added 17 and 14, respectively. The Jets improved to 21-4.

Aiding Ravena on the offensive end for the NeoPhoenix were former NBA center Kyle O’Quinn with 14 points and nine rebounds, Isaiah Hicks and Takanari Sasaki with 13 markers apiece.

In Division 2 action, Jordan Heading’s 11 markers was not enough as the Nagasaki Verca (19-8) suffered a 97-91 defeat to Nishinomiya Stokes (11-16) at the Nagasaki Prefectural General Gymnasium.

Roosevelt Adams’ six markers were also not enough as his team, Kagawa Five Arrows (8-18), slumped to an 86-77 defeat to Fukushima Fire Bonds (13-13) at the Horaiya Koriyama General Gymnasium./ASC, WDJ

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