By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Ferdinand “Thirdy” Ravena III and San-en NeoPhoenix emerged victorious over Kai Sotto and Yokohama B-Corsairs, 99-92, in Japan B.League Division 1 at the Yokohama Buntai over the weekend.

The Iloilo City-native Ravena finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and one steal as the Central Conference champion NeoPhoenix improved to a 43-10 win-loss slate.

Yante Maten led the way with a double-double of 31 points and 12 rebounds, Sota Oura added 20 points and 11 assists, while Coty Clarke contributed 17 points, five rebounds and five assists in the NeoPhoenix win.

“There are no players on the roster who have ever been to the playoffs. So, with nothing to lose, what I can tell them is that we have to do our best there,” NeoPhoenix head coach Atsushi Ohno said.

On the other hand, Sotto finished with 23 points, seven rebounds and three steals, while Jarrod Uthoff added 26 markers as the B-Corsairs saw their playoff hopes dimmed after dropping to a 22-31 record.

Meanwhile, Matthew Wright and the Kyoto Hannaryz (15-38) returned to their winning ways after a 93-83 beating of Osaka Evessa (21-32) at the Ookini Arena Maishima.

The Fil-Canadian guard tallied 23 points, including three three-point conversions, to go with five assists, four rebounds and one steal for the Hannaryz.

Yuta Okada backed up Wright offensively with 22 points. Cheikh Diallo contributed 11 points while Kevin Jones finished with a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds for Kyoto.

Rhon Jay Abarrientos tallied five points and three assists in Shinshu Brave Warriors’ 80-76 loss to the Kawasaki Brave Thunders at the White Ring Arena.

Abarrientos’ team stayed at the bottom with a 7-46 card.

Bobby Ray Parks, Jr. was held to five points and two boards as the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins sustained an 84-67 loss to the Fighting Eagles Nagoya at the Dolphins Arena.

The Dolphins dropped to 35-18./ASC, WDJ