By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Kobe Paras and Altiri Chiba scored back-to-back wins in the 2022-2023 Japan B.League Season Division 2 after a 95-74 rout of Rising Zephyr Fukuoka at the Teruha Sekisui House Arena.

Paras, a former mainstay of Gilas Pilipinas, was hardly a factor as he ended up with three points, on 1-of-2 shooting from the three-point area, to go with four rebounds and a turnover for Chiba.

The former University of the Philippines’ Fighting Maroons forward also had the same output during Altiri’s 90-86 victory over Rising Zephyr during their first encounter on New Year’s Day.

Brandon Ashley had a near triple-double numbers of 31 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in Chiba’s repeat win over Fukuoka, while Ivan Ravenel added 29 markers and 17 boards.

Leo Lions also entered the double-digit scoring for the winning team with 18 points, on 6-of-10 field goal shooting, as Chiba improved to a 23-5 win-loss slate on top of the Division 2 standings.

Marvel Harris top-scored with 21 points, Jordan Glynne added 18 markers, while Daisel Shirato chipped in 11 markers as Rising Zephyr dropped to 10-18 in fifth place in West District.

Meanwhile, former PBA cager Roosevelt Adams struggled with his points as Kagawa Five Arrows suffered a close 75-68 defeat to Fukushima Fire Bonds at the Horaiya Koriyama Gymnasium.

Adams, a former top-overall pick by the Terrafirma Dyip in the PBA, finished with just seven points, on 3-of-7 shooting, to go with six rebounds, two steals and three turnovers for Five Arrows.

Gregory Echenike top-scored with 17 points, Josh Harrelson had double-double 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Eric Murphy and Shota Sugano had 13 and 10, respectively, for the Fire Bonds, 15-13.

Miles Hesson tallied 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists, while Reese Varg and Akihisa Kosaka had 14 and 10 markers, respectively, as the Five Arrows slumped to an 8-20 slate./ASC, WDJ