After missing the past month due to health and safety protocols, Kemark Carino finally returned for Aomori on Saturday.
However, the Wat’s skid in the 2021-22 B.League Division II season continued, absorbing a 69-85 defeat at the hands of Ehime at the Imabari Municipal Central Gymnasium.
Carino, a product of San Beda, logged 11 minutes and 55 seconds in the contest, going scoreless in three attempts and fouling out late.
It was a struggle all the way for the Wat’s that was magnified in the third canto.
Down by just five, 38-33, heading into the second half, the Orange Vikings poured 28 points during the third quarter while limiting their opponents to just a 5-of-16 clip for 11 points.
Ryan Kriener was unstoppable during the quarter, scoring 14 of his 23 points during that spurt. He also had seven rebounds, two steals, and an assist in the game.
It was all Ehime from there, cruising to a 16-22 record.
Eugene Phelps added 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Orange Vikings while Andrew Fitzgerald and Shunpei Ishii got 10 points each.
Renaldo Dixon led the way for Aomori, who suffered their 19th straight loss to fall to 2-35, with 23 points. Kouki Fujioka added 11 points as Lakeem Jackson was limited to just two points.
The two squads face off again tomorrow.
