B.League: Ray Parks pushes Osaka past Kai Sotto-less Koshigaya
Ray Parks with his Osaka Evessa teammates during a Japan B.League game. –B.LEAGUE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The Koshigaya Alphas felt the absence of Filipino import Kai Sotto, falling to the Osaka Evessa, 77-70, on Sunday in the Japan B.League at Ookini Arena Maishima.
With the 7-foot-3 center Sotto still recovering after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee, Osaka had a tough time against Koshigaya, which had its way in the paint.
Filipino import Ray Parks Jr. chipped in 10 points and four rebounds.
READ: B.League: Dwight Ramos shines despite Hokkaido loss
Ryan Luther led Evessa (19-18) with 20 points, seven rebounds and three steals while Ray Parks chipped in 10 points and four rebounds.
Meanwhile, the Nagasaki Velca absorbed a 96-65 beatdown at the hands of the Nagoya Fighting Eagles at Nagoyashi Inae Sports Center despite AJ Edu’s solid showing.
Edu, who will be joining Gilas Pilipinas in Doha, collected nine points, six rebounds and three steals in just 15 minutes for Nagasaki, which dropped to 16-21.
Matthew Wright also impressed in the Kawasaki Brave Thunders’ defeat at the hands of Brex at Arena Utsonomiya, 94-74.
READ: B.League: Dwight Ramos, Ray Parks star in close victories
The former Phoenix Fuel Master recorded 11 points, three rebounds and two assists in the loss that sent Kawasaki crashing to 12-25.
Roosevelt Adams couldn’t escape the same fate as his Yamagata Wyverns succumbed to the Aomori Wat’s, 79-66, at Kakuhiro Group Super Arena.
Adams made the most of his minimal touches with nine points and five rebounds in the loss that saw Yamagata skid to a 16-23 slate.
