Thirdy Ravena.–B.LEAGUE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Thirdy Ravena sustained his fine form as the San-En Neophoenix earned their sixth straight win after beating Bobby Ray Parks Jr. and the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins anew, 80-74, in the 2023-24 B.League season on Sunday.
Ravena delivered 13 points, seven assists, and three rebounds to keep San-En on top with a 24-4 record, completing a weekend sweep of Parks’ team.
The former Ateneo star dropped 25 points highlighted by a ferocious slam dunk in their 92-79 rout of Nagoya on Saturday.
Yante Maten led the Neophoenix with 18 points and eight rebounds, while David Dunzinski also scored 13 to go with five rebounds.
Parks only scored two points, making only one of his eight shots in 22 minutes of playing time. Scott Eatherton carried the Diamond Dolphins with 19 points and 10 rebounds only for them to slide to a 16-12 record.
Parks, though, joined Ravena as the Filipino players to reach the 1,000-point club on Saturday. Matthew Wright also joined the elite group on the same day.
Matthew Wright.–B.LEAGUE PHOTO
Wright had 13 points, five rebounds, and four assists on Sunday but Kyoto Hannaryz (8-20) fell to the Chiba Jets anew, 83-76, also on Sunday.
Defending champions Ryukyu Golden Kings bounced back with an 88-65 rout of the Fighting Eagles Nagoya.
After playing two minutes in their 68-57 loss on Saturday, Carl Tamayo scored nine points in seven minutes, hitting four of his five shot attempts to go with one rebound. Jack Cooley powered the Kings with 18 points and 11 rebounds to improve to a 20-9 record.
Kai Sotto and the Yokohama B-Corsairs fell to the Toyama Grouses in overtime, 70-68, as Ivan Buva hit the game-winning free throws to finish with 16 points and seven rebounds.
The 7-foot-3 Sotto only played eight minutes and tallied six points, four rebounds, and a block as Yokohama couldn’t sweep its weekend assignment, dropping to a 12-16 card.
Meanwhile, RJ Abarrientos scored 11 points, three rebounds, and three assists only for the Shinshu Brave Warriors (5-23) to absorb a blowout 92-64 loss to Nagasaki Velca.
Following his 13-point effort on Saturday, Abarrientos and the Brave Warriors couldn’t sustain their 79-73 win.
Dwight Ramos only tallied two points, three rebounds, one steal, and a block as the Levanga Hokkaido (8-20) were dominated by the Sunrockers Shibuya, 92-61.