B.League: Kai Sotto plays all-around game in Hiroshima win, Kiefer Ravena leads Shiga
Hiroshima Dragonflies’ Kai Sotto. –B.LEAGUE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Kai Sotto did a little bit of everything in the Hiroshima Dragonflies’ 81-70 win against Toyama in the Japan B.League at Toyama Prefecture on Saturday.
Sotto finished with only four points but made up for it with his other stats, coming up with nine rebounds, six assists, two blocks and a steal.
Still, the former Gilas cadet lamented the Dragonflies’ turnover woes, which prevented them from breaking away from the game early on.
“We won but we didn’t really play our best game. We still backed it up and we got lots of assists too,” Sotto said.
“We have to do a better job taking care of the ball.”
Hiroshima had six more turnovers than Toyama, 17-11, but the squad ended up with 29 assists overall.
Shiga Lakes’ Kiefer Ravena. –B.LEAGUE PHOTO
Kai Sotto on Hiroshima win over Toyama
Filipino import Kai Sotto talks about Hiroshima Dragonflies' victory over Toyama where he had four points, nine rebounds, six assists, two blocks and a steal. –HIROSHIMA DRAGONFLIES VIDEO
Posted by Inquirer Sports on Saturday, March 25, 2023
Over at Shiga Prefecture, Kiefer Ravena powered the Lakes to a 93-87 win against Sun Rockers Shibuya.
Ravena finished with 13 points built on three triples while also tallying six assists and two rebounds. Daequan Jones was the high-point man for Shiga with 23 to his name.
His brother Thirdy, however, was not all that lucky on Saturday as his San-En Neophoenix got blown out by Utsonomiya Brex, 80-68, behind Yo Seiji’s red-hot shooting night.
The younger Ravena had a great game to the tune of 21 markers, five boards and two dimes but it was repulsed by Yo’s 19-point outburst built on an efficient 80 percent field goal shooting clip for Utsunomiya.
Grant Gersette helped Brex’s cause with 13 points to down San-En.
Kyoto Hannaryz’s Matthew Wright. –B.LEAGUE PHOTO
Matthew Wright’s cold-shooting night turned out to be costly for Kyoto Hannaryz as they lost to Shimane Susanoo Magic, 87-75, at Tottori Prefecture.
Wright finished with a high output of 18 markers but he had to shoot an abysmal 7-for-21 from the field to get there, giving Shimane a chance to pull away.
Perry Buford’s double-double of 20 points and 10 boards served as the winning factor for Susanoo Magic.
Following the trend of having a good game in a losing effort, Dwight Ramos’s efforts were not enough to give Levanga Hokkaido the victory as they absorbed a 88-65 loss against Tokyo Alvark.
Ramos finished with 12 to his name, draining four of his nine tries from the court while also nipping two rebounds and an assist.
Justin Cobbs handed out a 30-piece outing to power Tokyo against Levanga and notch the victory.
Over at Okinawa Prefecture, the Ryukyu Golden Kings squeaked past the Sendai 89ers, 75-73.
Carl Tamayo went scoreless in over three minutes of play for the Golden Kings.
In B2 action, Nagasaki Velca routed the Kagawa Five Arrows, 81-51, at Nagasaki Prefecture.
Jordan Heading only scored eight points in the victory but Matt Bonds picked up the slack on offense with 18 markers and eight rebounds.
