Ravena hurt as San-en falls to Shibuya in heartbreaker

Thirdy Ravena and the San-en NeoPhoenix started the new year with a heartbreaking 81-80 loss against the Sun Rockers Shibuya in the Japan B. League on Saturday, January 2, at the Aoyama Gakuin Memorial Hall in Tokyo.

Former Golden State Warrior and two-time NBA champion James McAdoo hit a game-winning layup with less than a second left to hand NeoPhoenix their fourth straight loss.

The Sun Rockers improved to 18-8 to remain at 5th place, while the NeoPhoenix moved down to 5-21 in the standings. 

Ravena, who left the game in the 3rd period due to an apparent hand injury, only finished with 6 points and 4 rebounds in 18 minutes of action.

The Filipino stalwart Ravena and San-en came out blazing from the get-go as they led by as many as 13 points, 22-9, in the opening quarter.

Shibuya flipped the switch in the 3rd period, outscoring San-en, 24-17, to cut the deficit to just 1, 61-62, heading into the final frame. 

San-en regained its momentum in the final period, putting the lead back to double figures, 80-69, with 2 minutes remaining. However, Shibuya went on a massive 12-0 run, capped off by McAdoo’s game-winner to steal the victory.

McAdoo had a game-high 20 points for the Sun Rockers, while former Los Angeles Laker Ryan Kelly chipped in 13 points.

Serbian import Stevan Jelovac led the way for the NeoPhoenix with 19 points and 16 rebounds, while American-Jamaican import Kyle Hunt added 17 points and 5 rebounds.

The undermanned NeoPhoenix, who are also missing the services of Nenad Miljenovic and Shingo Okada, will look to bounce back against the Sun Rockers on Sunday, January 3, 1:05 pm Manila time. 

The Scores

Shibuya 81 – McAdoo 20, Kelly 13, Vendrame 12, Jackson 10, Ishii 8, Sho 8, Noguchi 4, Watanabe 4, Hirose 2, Sekino 0, Yamauchi 0, Tawatari 0.

San-en 80 – Jelovac 19, Hunt 17, Shuto 13, Nishikawa 8, Kawashima 8, Ravena 6, Ichikyu 5, Ota 4, Yamamoto 0, Okada 0.

Quarters: 14-20, 37-45, 61-62, 81-80.

– Rappler.com