Ibaraki stumbled down the stretch, losing to Shibuya via a heart-breaking 82-84 result in the 2021-22 B.League season, Wednesday at the Sumida Ward General Gymnasium.
Javi Gomez De Liano, a former University of the Philippines stalwart, finished with just two points after logging in just five minutes and 15 seconds in the match.
Down by four points, James McAdoo scored four consecutive points in under 30 seconds to put the Sun Rockers behind by just two points, 78-80, with 2:27 left in the fourth frame.
Eric Jacobsen then stopped the bleeding for the Robots, hitting a jumper to extend the lead back to four before Josh Harrellson pulled Shibuya to within one through a huge three-pointer, 81-82, with 1:28 left on the clock.
Shibuya forced a shot clock violation on Ibaraki with ten ticks left on the clock before Leo Vendrame converted an and-one to hand the Sun Rockers an 84-82 lead with eight seconds remaining.
Kohei Nakamura tried to salvage the game with a three-point attempt but to no avail.
Shibuya improved its standing to 9-3 – good for third in the east while the Robots dropped to a 2-10 standing at the last spot in the same division.
McAdoo took charge for the Sun Rockers with 19 points and 10 rebounds while Harrellson finished with 11 points, 10 boards, two assists, two steals, and a block in the win. Shuto Tawatari also added 12 points as he went 4-of-4 from distance.
Meanwhile, Marc Trasolini ended up with 20 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and a block for the Robots.
Kohei Fukuzawa got 15 points; Eric Jacobsen tallied 13 points, nine rebounds, and five assists; while Atsunobu Hirao chipped in 12 points, six rebounds, and six assists.
Ibaraki will head to the Adastria Mito Arena next against the Kawasaki Braves on Saturday, 1:05 PM.
