MANILA – Ferdinand “Thirdy” Ravena III and the San-en NeoPhoenix saw their eight-game winning run snapped. They got beaten by the Utsunomiya Brex, 75-73, in Japan B.League Division 1 on Sunday at the Brex Arena Utsunomiya.
A game-winning layup by Gavin Edwards with a second left clinched the victory for Utsunomiya as they improved to an 8-3 win-loss slate. The NeoPhoenix dropped to a 9-2 record.
Utsunomiya was led by 16 points from Grant Jerrett and 13 markers from D.J. Newbill, and 11 points from veteran Makoto Hiejima, with Edwards contributing 10 points in the game.
The Iloilo City-native Ravena had a forgetful game for the NeoPhoenix as he was held to just one point, missing all of his four shot attempts, to go with three rebounds, one assist, and one steal in 11 minutes of action.
Ryusei Sasaki top-scored for the NeoPhoenix with 16 points; Coty Clarke chipped in 15 markers; and Yante Maten and Sota Oura ended up with 13 and 11 markers, respectively.
Meanwhile, Rhon Jay Abarrientos exploded for a career-high 24 points as the Shinshu Brave Warriors (4-7) repeated over AJ Edu and the Toyama Grouses (0-11) at the White Ring.
The former Far Eastern University Tamaraws guard waxed hot from the outside with six three-pointers, while his teammates Deon Thompson and David Simon contributed 16 and 15 markers, respectively.
Carl Tamayo contributed seven points as the defending champions Ryukyu Golden Kings (8-3) got back at Osaka Evessa (9-2) with a 94-76 domination at the Ookini Arena Maishima.
Dwight Ramos, meanwhile, was limited to just two markers, one rebound and one steal as Levanga Hokkaido hacked out a 77-62 domination over Fighting Eagles Nagoya at the Nagoya Biwajima Sports Center.
Bobby Ray Parks Jr., for his part, tallied four points, five rebounds and two assists as Nagoya Diamond Dolphins returned to their winning ways with a 94-78 beating of Gunma Crane Thunders./PN
