By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Ilonggo Kiefer Ravena registered a double-double as the Shiga Lakes cruised to a 97-74 victory over the Shizuoka Veltex in the Japan B.League Division 2 at the Shiga Daihatsu Arena over the weekend.

The former NLEX Road Warriors guard tallied 19 points, including three three-point conversions, to go with 12 assists, two rebounds and a steal as the Lakes moved up to a 21-7 record.

“I just tried to do my best. We played hard and tried to get everyone involved. It takes teamwork, and we just have to pace ourselves,” Ravena said, describing his double-double performance.

“It was a good victory, especially in the second half. Everyone worked together,” the Iloilo City-native guard said.

“We want to maintain the momentum. We have won so many games and have fun playing,” he added.

Ryan Kriener led the way with 26 points, including three three-point conversions, while Brock Motum also had 26 markers for Shiga, which were shorthanded due to James Burrell’s injury.

Kenny Lawson, Jr. finished with 19 points and seven rebounds, while Thomas Bropleh added 14 markers as Veltex dropped to a 13-15 record with their second consecutive loss to Shiga.

Meanwhile, in Division 1 actions, Matthew Wright and the Kyoto Hannaryz, as well as Bobby Ray Parks, Jr. and the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins, ended the year with separate defeats.

Wright and the Hannaryz (8-18) faltered to the Ibaraki Robots (2-24), 109-101, at the Adastria Mito Arena.

The Filipino-Canadian guard was held to nine points and three rebounds in the loss.

On the other hand, Parks and the Dolphins (16-10) were dealt a 77-55 beating by the Kawasaki Brave Thunders (17-9).

The Filipino-American guard tallied five points and three rebounds in the defeat.

The Shinshu Brave Warriors (4-22) also lost anew to the Utsunomiya Brex (20-6), 77-55.

Matthew Aquino tallied three points and three rebounds in six minutes, while Rhon Jay Barrientos was scoreless to go with one assist in four minutes for the Brave Warriors./ASC, WDJ