Hokkaido rallies from 18 down, hands Paras-led Niigata 3rd straight loss

The Levanga Hokkaido stormed back from an 18-point deficit to stun Kobe Paras and the Niigata Albirex BB with a heartbreaking 72-69 home turf heist in the Japan B. League on Sunday, October 17.

Former NBA player Shawn Long led the spirited weekend sweep with 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists, while fellow import De’mon Brooks added 18 markers, 6 boards, and 3 dimes.

On the other hand, Paras finished with a team-high 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting, and even outscored the entire Hokkaido home team in the first quarter, 10-9.

That early eruption helped the Albirex pile on their biggest lead early on in the second quarter, 27-9, after a three-ball from NBA champion center Jeff Ayres. But Hokkaido responded with a 19-5 run to inch within 4 near halftime, 28-32, and ultimately set up a thrilling final frame.

There, both teams fought tooth-and-nail until the final 1:36 of regulation, when Niigata import Rosco Allen drained a clutch three to keep a single-posession deficit, 69-70.

However, the Albirex bungled their next possession with a crucial 24-second violation that opened the door for a timely Brooks floater with 14 ticks left for the 72-69 lead.

Niigata had a chance to tie the game up, but Allen’s tying three clanked off as time expired in favor of the scrappy Hokkaido squad.

Allen backstopped Paras in the losing effort with 16 points, but needed a 5-of-17 clip to get there, while fellow import Tshilidzi Nephawe churned out a 13-marker, 11-board double-double.

Paras and Niigata now look to snap a three-game losing streak next weekend against the Seahorses Mikawa in another back-to-back slate.

The Scores

Hokkaido 72 – Long 22, Brooks 18, Yamaguchi 10, Nakano 9, Terazono 8, Maki 3, Hashimoto 2, Kuzuhara 0.

Niigata 69 – Paras 18, Allen 16, Nephawe 13, Nohmi 9, Ayres 5, Sato 4, Watanuki 2, Kimura 2, Ohya 0, Ikeda 0.

Quarters: 9-24, 34-39, 54-53, 72-69.

– Rappler.com