MANILA – Jordan Heading and Nagasaki Velca scored a 77-68 victory over Gregory Slaughter and Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka in the 2022-2023 Japan B.League Division 2 on Saturday night at the Teruha Sekisui House Arena.
Heading, a member of the Gilas Pilipinas pool, finished with 20 points, spiked by four three-point conversions, to go with five assists and four rebounds as the Velca moved to 26-13 win-loss slate.
Slaughter, on the other hand, ended with eight points, on 4-of-7 shooting, to go with three rebounds and an assist in almost 17 minutes of action as Fukuoka dropped to 14-25 record.
Matt Bonds led the way with double-double 27 points and 17 rebounds, Kanji Tajakira added 12 markers, while Pablo Aguilar also had double-double 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Velca.
Marvel Harris top-scored for the losing Fukuoka with 20 points, Jordan Glynne chipped in double-double 16 points and 18 rebounds, while Shuuki Shigetomi contributed 11 markers.
Meanwhile, Roosevelt Adams and Kagawa Five Arrows returned to their winning ways as they cruised to a 95-84 victory over Ehime Orange Vikings over at the Marugame Municipal Gymnasium.
Adams ended scoreless in six minutes of action but it hardly mattered as the 11-27 Five Arrows drew strength from Miles Hesson’s 29 points, Rhys Vague’s 25 points and Kyle Richardson’s 20 points.
In Division 1 actions, Gilas Pilipinas mainstay Dwight Ramos as well as Ilonggo brothers Kiefer and Ferdinand “Thirdy” Ravena III suffered defeats in their respective matches.
Ramos tallied just two points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal as his squad Levanga Hokkaido suffered a lopsided 101-73 defeat to Utsonomiya Brex at the Brex Arena Utsonomiya.
Kiefer Ravena, meanwhile, finished with 15 points, including three three-pointers, in 26 minutes as Shiga Lakes bowed to Kawasaki Brave Thunders, 79-69, at the Todoroki Arena, Kawasaki City.
Thirdy Ravena III, on the other hand, had 12 points, two rebounds and two assists as San-En NeoPhoenix faltered to Ryukyu Golden Kings over at the Hamamatsu Arena./PN
