The Japan B. League postponed several games in its next three playdates, January 8 to 10, including teams with Filipino imports Thirdy Ravena, Kobe Paras, Ray Parks, Kiefer Ravena, and Javi Gomez de Liaño due to COVID-19 cases.

Thirdy Ravena and the San-en NeoPhoenix’s back-to-back matchups with Hokkaido Levanga starting Sunday, January 9 were affected as Hokkaido’s Ryoma Hashimoto tested positive for COVID-19 and ruled 10 others as his close contacts.

The league will further announce if the games will push through on a further date or be canceled altogether.

Paras’ Niigata Albirex’s games against the Osaka Evessa on Saturday, January 8 and Sunday, January 9 were postponed as a total of nine players and staff from Osaka tested positive for COVID-19.

This also affected the meeting between Parks’ Nagoya Diamond Dolphins and Gomez de Liaño’s Ibaraki Robots on Saturday and Sunday. The Robots are under protocol as eight Ibaraki players were deemed as close contacts of a player from Alvark Tokyo who tested positive for COVID-19.

Kiefer Ravena and the Shiga Lakestars’ weekend games also got postponed as their opponent, the SeaHorses Mikawa, have 10 players and team staff who tested positive.

The league also announced on Thursday, January 6 that it canceled the All-Star Games for the second straight year due to the surge of COVID-19 cases among players and staff.

The nine Filipino imports were set to see action in the Asian lineup of the All-Star festivities, which will feature the imports of the B. League. – Rappler.com