Alvark Tokyo knew what Thirdy Ravena was capable of and made sure not to take the B. League’s cellar-dwelling team lightly.

The defending champions demolished San-en, 94-76, on Saturday, November 14, at their home court Arena Tachikawa Tachihi in Tokyo, Japan.

Reinforced by former Cleveland Cavaliers player Alex Kirk – who is celebrating this 29th birthday on Saturday – Tokyo bounced back from two straight losses to Shiga and Niigata to go up 9-5.

San-en absorbed its third straight loss to fall to a 2-12 card in the standings.

Daiki Tanaka led Tokyo’s offense with 21 points, while Player of the Game Deshaun Thomas fired 17 points. Birthday boy Kirk recorded a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds in the lopsided win.

San-en only took the lead, 16-15, in the 4:12 mark of the opening frame, before Shota Tsuyama’s inside shot put Alvark ahead from there on.

The Japan capital’s team closed out the match strong, pulling away to a 21-point lead, 92-71 in the last 2:37 minutes of the game.

Though the result was sealed, Ravena made his first basket in the dying seconds of the game, finishing with only 4 points off a 1-of-7 clip.

Kyle Hunt emerged as the lone bright spot for San-en with a double-double of 28 points and 11 boards.

San-en will face the host squad once again on Sunday, November 15, 2:05 pm, Manila time.

The Scores

Alvark 94 – Tanaka 21, Thomas 17, Jones 14, Ando 12, Suda 11, Kirk 10, Tsuyama 5, Kikuchi 4, Kojima 0,  Baranski 0, Takeuchi 0, Kosakebe 0

San-en 76 – Hunt 28, Jelovac 20, Kawashima 9, Terazono 8, Ravena 4, Okada 3, Ota, 2, Suzuki 2, Yamamoto 0, Kitahara 0. 

Quarters: 27-18, 45-32, 69-55, 94-76.

– Rappler.com