Kiefer erupts for 27 but Ravena brothers suffer weekend sweeps in B. League

Kiefer Ravena came up big for the Shiga Lakestars but his sensational performance wasn’t enough to snap their losing skid as they fell once again to the Chiba Jets, 89-83, in the Japan B. League on Sunday, November 7 at the Funabashi Arena. 

Playing against Japan’s top point guard and former league MVP Yuki Togashi, Ravena showed why he is also one of the elite point guards in Asia as he finished with a game-high 27 points on a very efficient 11-of-16 shooting, 10 assists, and 3 steals in the losing effort.

Ravena, who had 14 points and 9 assists in Shiga’s 99-88 loss to the same opponents on Saturday, came out firing from the get-go and scored 20 of his 27 markers in the first three quarters to help the Lakestars tie up the defending champion Jets, 68-all, heading into the final frame.

However, Chiba’s offense came alive in the opening minutes of the fourth period as it built a 7-point cushion, 78-71, with 7:33 left to play. 

Three straight points by Ravena and a basket by Ovie Soko pulled Shiga back within 2, 76-78, with 5:26 remaining, but Chiba went on a decisive 10-4 run to extend their lead to 8, 88-80, which proved too much for the Lakestars to conquer with only 2:13 left in the game.

Josh Duncan led the way for the Jets with 18 points and 9 rebounds, while Fumio Nishimura and John Mooney added 16 and 15 markers, respectively.

Gavin Edwards and Takuma Sato also chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively, while Togashi was held scoreless in 28 minutes of action, finishing with only 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals in the victory.

Soko and Sean O’mara backstopped Ravena with 18 points apiece for the Lakestars, who suffered their third straight loss and dropped to down to 6-5 in the standings.

Ravena and the Lakestars will look to get back on the winning track when they take on the Shimane Susanoo Magic on Wednesday, November 10 at 6:15 pm, Manila time.

Thirdy, San-En absorb 2nd loss to Sunrockers

Like his older brother Kiefer, Thirdy Ravena and the San-En NeoPhoenix failed to put an end to their losing streak as they dropped once again to the Sunrockers Shibuya, 91-80, at the Aoyama Gakuin Memorial Hall.

Ravena, who struggled for the NeoPhoenix on Saturday, managed to put on a much better showing for his team as he tallied 13 points on 4-of-8 shooting and 5 rebounds, but was limited to just 18 minutes of play due to foul trouble.

Tied at 64-all at the start of the payoff period, the NeoPhoenix failed to keep in step with the Sunrockers as the latter went on a fiery 13-2 run to put their lead up to 11, 77-66, with 6:40 remaining in the game.

Ravena’s layup in the following possession cut Shibuya’s lead back to single digits, 77-68, but the Sunrockers unleashed another 8-2 run to extend their lead to its biggest at 15, 85-70, which ultimately sealed the deal with only 4 minutes left to play. 

Josh Harrellson topscored for the Sunrockers with 21 points to go with 11 rebounds, while Kaito Morizane added 18 markers.

Robert Carter had 20 points and 8 rebounds for the NeoPhoenix, while Justin Knox chipped in 18 markers as they moved down to 3-8 in the standings.

Ravena and the NeoPhoenix will look to get back on the win column when they face Matthew Aquino and the Shinshu Brave Warriors on Wednesday, November 10 at 6:05 pm, Manila time.

Cariño stays quiet as Aomori falls to Koshigaya anew

Meanwhile in Division 2, Kemark Cariño and the Aomori Wat’s absorbed another lopsided loss, falling to the Koshigaya Alphas, 100-76, at the Koshigaya City Gymnasium.

After putting up 2 points and 5 rebounds in their 56-point loss to the Alphas on Saturday, Cariño finished with only 1 rebound and 1 assist in 8 minutes and 26 seconds of action for the Wat’s as they moved down further to 1-9 in the standings.

Cariño and the Wat’s will look to capture their second victory of the year when they take on the Yamagata Wyverns on Wednesday, November 10 at 6:00 pm, Manila time. – Rappler.com