Japanese basketball

Defending champ Tokyo holds down Thirdy Ravena, San-en

Beatrice Go

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Defending champ Tokyo holds down Thirdy Ravena, San-en

LIMITED. Thirdy Ravena records his first single-digit performance in the B. League.

Photo by B. LEAGUE

Reigning B. League champion Alvark Tokyo dominates Thirdy Ravena and San-en NeoPhoenix

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

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Beatrice Go

More commonly known as Bee, Beatrice Go is a multimedia sports reporter for Rappler, who covers Philippine sports governance, national teams, football, and the UAAP. Stay tuned for her news and features on Philippine sports and videos like the Rappler Athlete’s Corner and Rappler Sports Timeout.