Thirdy, San-En NeoPhoenix post 3rd straight win

Photo from B.League

MANILA, Philippines—Thirdy Ravena and San-En chalked up their third straight win after overcoming Niigata, 85-81, in the B.League Saturday at Toyohashi City General Gymnasium.

The win pushed the NeoPhoenix to 5-17, already matching their win total from last season, while Albirex BB, who had former Meralco import Allen Durham, dropped to 6-16.

Ravena finished with 11 points and two rebounds, bouncing back from his zero-point performance in his last game, to help the NeoPhoenix to the ninth seed of the Western Conference with Hiroshima at 10th with a 4-18 card.

San-En had a comfortable 16-point lead, 30-14, at the end of the first but Niigata mounted a 14-2 run in the fourth to go up 69-68.

It then turned into a back-and-forth matchup until Kyle Hunt scored on a putback with Stevan Jelovac icing the game with two shots from the stripe.

Hunt led the NeoPhoenix with 17 points and 13 rebounds while Jelovac also had his own double-double with 13 points and 11 boards.

Jason Washburn led the Albirex BB with 21 points while Durham added 14 points.