B.League: Gilas bigs Kai Sotto, AJ Edu shine

Kai Sotto and the Koshigaya Alphas during a B.League game in Japan.–B.LEAGUE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Two of Gilas Pilipinas’ prolific big men had stellar performances that yielded contrasting results in the Japan B.League on Saturday.

Kai Sotto registered another double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds but still not enough to lift the Koshigaya Alphas, who fell to the San-En Neophoenix, 90-78, at Hamamatsu Arena.

Sotto, who has been playing his best basketball, also had four assists and two blocks in 31 minutes.

READ: B.League: Kai Sotto drops monster double-double in Koshigaya’s latest win

Koshigaya, which drew a team-high 18 points from LJ Peak, skidded to a 6-14 card.

AJ Edu also flourished, leading Nagasaki Velca’s 84-79 win over the Shiga Lakes at Happiness Arena.

Edu had himself a game with 10 points, seven rebounds, two steals and a block in almost 30 minutes to help Velca improve to 8-12.

Ray Parks Jr. and Osaka Evessa (11-9) also lost, dropping a 77-76 heartbreaker to Utsonomiya Brex on the road.

READ: Kai Sotto dominates anew in B.League after Gilas stint

Parks Jr. finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and two steals in the loss.

Matthew Wright and the Kawasaki Brave Thunders suffered the same fate following an 89-71 beating at the hands of Levanga Hokkaido at Kawasaki Todoroki Arena.

Wright came away with 16 points and four rebounds for Kawasaki (4-16).

Dwight Ramos played sparingly and was scoreless for Hokkaido, which improved to 7-13.