Koshigaya Alphas Filipino enter Kai Sotto during a Japan B.League game. –KOSHIYAGA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Kai Sotto continued to shine in the 2024-25 B.League season but his double-double efforts weren’t enough to lift Koshigaya Alphas to a win on Wednesday at CNA Arena in Japan.
Sotto was nearly unstoppable with 26 points on an efficient 13-of-16 shooting to go with 11 rebounds, four blocks, and a steal but Koshigaya still absorbed a 78-69, loss to the Akita Northern Happinets and slid to a 1-6 record.
“It was a tough game from start to finish. They’re very physical. I think all in all we just gave in to the pressure. We didn’t really do a good job fighting back,” said the Gilas Pilipinas standout.
“We had some good runs in the second half but towards the end, we’re just way too sloppy, [we had] turnovers, which cost us the game. We got to work on that. We also gotta look at this game, there’s so much stuff that we can learn from it.”
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Despite another monster game, Sotto said he had “unacceptable” lapses in the game and he vows learn from his team’s second straight setback.
“This game really helps us a lot as a team and as individuals. It really showed our weakness. I still believe we’re the more talented team but they just outworked us that’s why we lost,” he said.
Paul Tanner Leissner powered Akita with 17 points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals to spoil the 7-foot-3 Filipino’s big game and improve to a 4-3 record.
Meanwhile, AJ Edu’s Nagasaki Velca spoiled Ray Parks Jr.’s stellar play for Osaka Evessa, escaping with an 81-79 win at Happiness Arena.
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Parks unleashed 21 points on top of three rebounds and a steal but Osaka absorbed its third straight loss, falling to a 4-3 record.
Edu blocked six shots and tallied six points, three rebounds, two assists, and a steal to help Nagasaki rise to a 5-2 record with Jarrell Brantley and Yudai Baba leading the way with 21 and 18 points, respectively.
Dwight Ramos missed his fifth consecutive game due to injury but Levanga Hokkaido eked out an 81-76 win over the Shiga Lakes for an improved 2-5 record.
Matthew Wright struggled offensively with two points and had six assists and five rebounds in Kawasaki Brave Thunders’ (2-5) tough defeat to the SunRockers Shibuya, 69-54.
Kiefer Ravena, who had seven points, five assists, and two rebounds, also suffered from a blowout loss as the Yokohama B-Corsairs (3-4) absorbed a 78-59 rout from the SeaHorses Mikawa.