Despite Kobe Paras breaking out of his slump, Niigata still could not end its disastrous run in the 2021-22 B.League season, suffering an 85-107 loss to Hokkaido, Wednesday at the Hokkai Kita-yale.
Scoreless in their last two games, Paras scored 10 of his 14 points in the opening frame. The 6-foot-6 forward out of University of the Philippines played 16 minutes in the game.
With Paras clicking early, Albirex BB were able to keep close with Levanga, falling behind by just six, 27-21, in the opening frame.
The third canto though doomed the visitors.
Already down by 11, 50-39, at the half, Hokkaido went on a blistering 37-point third frame that saw Shawn Long dominate with 13 points and seven rebounds in the quarter and De’Mon Brooks adding eight.
By the end of the storm, Hokkaido went up 87-58 heading into the last 10 minutes of the contest.
Hokkaido’s lead would hit the 30-point mark numerous times in the final frame.
The game was another red in Albirex BB’s ledger as this was their 26th straight loss to fall to 2-27. Levanga, meanwhile, went up to 12-17.
Both Long and Brooks got monster games in this one with the former finishing with 32 points and 16 rebounds while the latter got 23 points and 11 rebounds.
Shuto Terazono glued things together for Hokkaido with nine points and eight assists.
Jeff Ayres complemented Paras with 17 points while Rosco Allen notched a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds. Tshilidzi Nephawe also got 16 points in the loss.
Niigata looks to finally put an end to its woes this weekend when it squares off against Ibaraki at City Hall Plaza Aore.
