Javi Gomez de Liaño played his best game for Ibaraki.
However, it was not enough to lift the Robots past the Kawasaki Brave Thunders in the 2021-22 B.League season, bowing 96-105, Saturday at Adastria Mito Arena.
Gomez de Liaño had 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field with five rebounds, a steal, and an assist.
And early in the final frame, he helped Ibaraki erect a 78-72 lead.
But Nick Fazekas and Matt Janning connived, eventually giving Kawasaki an 88-81 lead.
Marc Trasolini, Atsumoru Hirao, and Kohei Fukuzawa gave Ibaraki one last fightback, knotting things up at 96-all. Then a booming triple from Takumi Hasegawa followed by Fazekas basket sealed the deal for the Braves.
Fazekas had 30 points and 16 rebounds, while Yuma Fujii tallied 16 points and 12 assists. Janning got 14 points on three treys as well.
Ibaraki fell to 2-11 in the east while Kawasaki rose to 10-3 in the same division.
Eric Jacobsen paced Ibaraki with 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting with seven rebounds, while Trasolini had 19 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Fukuzawa added 15 points.
The two squads face off again tomorrow.
