Coming off a down weekend at Shinshu the last timeout, Kai Sotto bounced back, producing a stellar line in Hiroshima’s 87-74 win over Shimane, Saturday at Matsue City Gymnasium.
The 7-foot-3 Filipino produced a line of 12 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and a block, helping the Dragonflies rise to a 40-16 record with three games left in the elimination round.
Kerry Blackshear Jr. also did some damage for Hiroshima, tallying 23 points and 10 rebounds as the duo downed the Susanoo Magic to a 45-12 record.
Kiefer Ravena and Shiga though are in danger of being relegated to B2.
The Lakes suffered a 74-86 loss to Utsunomiya at Shiga Daihatsu Arena that dropped them to a tie with Toyama.
Both squads are tied with a 13-44 slate but Shiga holds the tiebreaker.
Kiefer got 14 points, five assists, and three rebounds in the loss.
Kiefer’s brother Thirdy, meanwhile, had a solid statline but it all fell for naught after San-En’s 80-98 loss to Niigata at Toyohashi City Gymnasium.
Thirdy tallied 18 points, five rebounds, one assist, and a steal. The NeoPhoenix fell to 22-35.
Dwight Ramos, on the other hand, carried Hokkaido to an 81-74 win over Sendai at Hokkai Kita-yale.
Ramos had 24 points, five rebounds, three steals, an assist, and a block, towing the Levanga to an 18-39 record.
Over at Dolphins Arena, Matthew Wright and Kyoto fell to the Ray Parks-less Nagoya, 64-80.
Wright finished with 15 points and six assists.
The playoff-bound Diamond Dolphins went up to 40-17 while the Hannaryz dropped to a 21-36 slate.
Carl Tamayo was a DNP in Ryukyu’s 75-64 win over Osaka at Okinawa Arena.
