B.League: Thirdy Ravena delivers in OT as San-En snaps skid

Thirdy Ravena. Photo from San-En NeoPhoenix

MANILA, Philippines — Thirdy Ravena delivered in overtime as the San-En NeoPhoenix ended a six-game skid with a thrilling 87-84 win over Yokohama B-Corsairs in the 2022-23 B.League season on Sunday at Toyohashi City Gymnasium.

Ravena, who missed a pair of potential game-winning triples in the fourth quarter, atoned with five straight points in the extra session before Isaiah Hicks pushed the lead to 85-78, after sinking three of his four free throws.

Charles Jackson willed Yokohama within three, 85-82, with six seconds remaining before Kazuki Hosokawa sealed San-En’s win with two free throws.

Ravena finished with 12 points, three assists, two rebounds, and two steals. Hicks showed the way with 28 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists, while Hosokawa had 26 markers as the NeoPhoenix improved to a 20-33 record.

Yokohama slid to a 31-22 record as Jackson’s 23-point and 21-rebound performance went for naught.

Over at Kyoto City Gymnasium, Matthew Wright scored 17 points as the Kyoto Hannaryz bounced back with a 75-70 victory over the Akita Northern Happinets.

Licking the wounds of their 78-73 loss last Saturday, Wright fired four three-pointers and tallied five assists, three rebounds, and three steals. Yoshiaki Kubota also scored 17 markers and dished out six assists as Kyoto rose to 19-34.

Carl Tamayo was scoreless in three minutes of play but the Ryukyu Golden Kings beat Kiefer Ravena and the Shiga Lakes, 89-81, at Shiga Daihatsu Arena.

Jack Cooley led the way for the Kings with 19 points, 14 rebounds, and three assists, as Ryuichi Kishimoto scattered 17 points, five dimes, and three boards to complete a weekend sweep of Shiga for an improved 42-11 card.

Ravena delivered 12 points, two assists, two steals, and a rebound only for Shiga to drop to 13-40 despite the efforts of Kai Toews and Ivan Buva, who scored 19 points each.

Ray Parks Jr. continued to sit out but the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins completed a weekend sweep of Kai Sotto and the Hiroshima Dragonflies, 91-83, at Dolphins Arena.

Sotto came off the bench and finished with six points and eight rebounds in 21 minutes of play but Hiroshima couldn’t stop Nagoya, who leaned on Coty Clarke’s 22 points, seven assists, and six rebounds.

Tenketsu Harimoto also contributed for the Dolphins with 19 points as they improved to a 38-15 record tied with the Dragonflies, who banked on Ryo Terashima and Kerry Blackshear Jr.’s 18 points each.

Meanwhile, Dwight Ramos had nine points, four rebounds, four assists, and a block in Levanga Hokkaido’s 80-54 loss to the Chiba Jets at Funabashi Arena.

Ramos and Hokkaido fell to a 16-37 slate, following a 96-71 beating from the league leaders less than 24 hours ago.

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