Dwight Ramos’ Toyama, Ray Parks’ Nagoya post contrasting B. League wins

Dwight Ramos and the Toyama Grouses captured their second victory in the Japan B. League after crushing the Kyoto Hannaryz, 94-80, on Wednesday, November 10 at the Kyoto City Gymnasium.

Ramos, the former Gilas Pilipinas sensation, delivered 7 points on 3-of-5 shooting and 2 rebounds as a starter for the Grouses, who moved up to 2-10 – tied with Kobe Paras’ Niigata Albirex BB and Javi Gomez de Liaño’s Ibaraki Robots at the bottom of the standings.

After trailing by 3 points, 18-21, at the end of the opening period, the Grouses flipped the switch in the second quarter as they outscored the Hannaryz, 27-13, for an 11-point lead at halftime, 45-34.

The Grouses never looked back in the second half as they extended their advantage to its biggest at 24 points, 86-62, which proved too much for the Hannaryz to overcome with just 6:33 left in the game.

Julian Mavunga led the way for the Grouses with a triple-double of 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, while former TNT import Joshua Smith posted a double-double of 20 markers and 11 boards.

Jerome Tillman topscored for the Hannaryz in the losing cause with 18 points, while Justin Harper added 17 markers. 

Ramos and the Grouses will look to ride on their winning momentum when they take on Thirdy Ravena and the San-En NeoPhoenix in a much-awaited duel between the two Filipino basketball stars on Saturday, November 13 at 5:05 pm, Manila time.

Parks, Nagoya hold off Hiroshima for 2nd straight win

Unlike Ramos and the Grouses, who just secured their second win of the season, Ray Parks Jr. and the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins notched their second straight victory after taking down the Hiroshima Dragonflies, 82-76, at the Park Arena Komaki.

Parks finished with 7 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists as the Diamond Dolphins improved to 7-5 in the middle of the standings.

Down by 6 points at the end of the third quarter, 58-64, Nagoya’s offense came alive in the payoff period as it went on a scorching 19-5 run to lead by as many as 8 points, 77-69, with only 1:44 left to play. 

Hiroshima managed to cut the lead back to a single possession game, 79-76, with 20 seconds remaining, but Nagoya’s Yutaro Suda quickly responded with two crucial free throws to put the Dragonflies away for good.

Scott Eatherton had 18 points and 6 rebounds for the Diamond Dolphins, while Suda and Coty Clarke contributed 14 points apiece.

Charles Jackson delivered a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Dragonflies, while Thomas Kennedy, Nick Mayo, and Gregory Echenique also came up with 12 markers each.

Parks and the Diamond Dolphins will look to stretch their winning streak to three games when they face the Seahorses Mikawa on Saturday at 2:05 pm. –Rappler.com