Niigata forward Kobe Paras takes a jumper during a game against Chiba in the Japan B.League. Photo from Niigata Albirex BB
MANILA, Philippines—Niigata’s downward spiral continued after it lost a close 88-83 contest against third seed Chiba in the East Conference of the 2021-22 Japan B.League season Sunday at the Jets’ home floor of Funabashi Arena.
The Albirex BB dropped their 11th straight game for a miserable 2-12 record while Chiba moved to 10-4.
Nohmi Yuto’s back-to-back jumpers punctuated Niigata’s 9-0 run for a 79-76 lead with 3:55 to play but the Jets quickly responded with a 10-2 run to go up 86-81 after Christopher Smith’s three-pointer with 52 seconds left.
Niigata held an early 43-32 after the first half, but the Jets recovered in the third and more than doubled that of the Albirex BB’s production, 35-17, to take a 67-60 lead heading into the fourth.
Smith finished with 21 points, on 5-of-9 shooting from deep, to lead Chiba while Togashi Yuki and Hara Shuta added 17 and 14 points, respectively.
Rosco Allen had 26 points, nine rebounds, and six assists to lead the Albirex BB while Kobe Paras added 15 points, three rebounds and four assists.