MANILA – AJ Edu and Nagasaki Velca continue their winning ways in the Japan B.League Division 1 as they defeated Bobby Ray Parks Jr. and Osaka Evessa, 81-79, on Wednesday night at the Happiness Arena in Nagasaki, Japan.
The 6-foot-8 Edu showcased his defensive prowess with six blocks to go with six points, three rebounds, and two assists in 28 minutes as the Velca improved to a 5-2 win-loss record.
Jarrell Brantley top-scored for Nagasaki with 21 points, Yudai Baba added 18 markers, including two three-point conversions, while Mark Smith had 15 points and nine rebounds in the win.
“We have an extremely challenging stretch of games to start the season and my players are doing everything they can to make Nagasaki proud,” Velca head coach Mody Maor said after the game.
“It is a very hard win against a very tough team in Osaka but they players did everything to come out with a W again, I hope the fans will continue to come out and support us,” he added.
Parks, on the other hand, top-scored with 21 points for the Evessa, while Ryan Luther and Matt Bonds added 16 and 15 points, respectively, as they dropped to a 4-3 win-loss slate.
Kai Sotto, meanwhile, tallied a double-double of 26 points and 11 rebounds to go with four blocks and a steal but Koshigaya Alphas (1-6) bowed to Akita Northern Happinets (4-3), 78-69.
Kiefer Ravena finished with seven points and five assists as Yokohama B-Corsairs (3-4) lost to Seahorses Mikawa (5-2), 78-59, while Matthew Wright was limited to two points as Kawasaki Brave Thunders (2-5) faltered to Sunrockers Shibuya (4-3), 69-54.
In Division 2 action, Kihei Clark tallied 17 points, eight assists, three rebounds, and two steals as Kumamoto Volters prevailed over the Geo Chiu-less Ehime Orange Vikings, 95-83./PN
