Gunma made a statement on Philippine soil, pulling away from Hokkaido for a 98-81 victory in the opening game of the B.League Manila Games 2026 on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Crane Thunders wasted little time asserting their dominance in the historic matchup. They built a double-digit lead early, then did not allow the Levanga to mount a serious comeback.
The game also marked the B.League’s first-ever overseas game in league history, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Japan.
“It’s a privilege; it feels kind of weird, like two worlds colliding. To be playing B.League basketball here in MOA, it’s a blessing, and I’m thankful for the people here to see this in person,” said AJ Edu.
Gunma broke away midway through the opening quarter, with Yuma Fujii leading the charge as the Crane Thunders closed the period with a 29-19 advantage.
Hokkaido guard Keisei Tominaga tried to keep his team within striking distance, pouring in 19 points in the first half. But Gunma continued to widen the gap, taking a 54-40 lead into halftime.
The Crane Thunders remained sharp from beyond the arc after the break while Hokkaido struggled to find its rhythm from deep. Stanley Johnson then took over late in the third quarter, scoring eight straight points to push Gunma’s lead to 21.
With the game firmly under control, Gunma cruised through the final quarter to complete the 98-81 victory.
Johnson paced the Crane Thunders with 23 points, five rebounds, and three assists, while veteran Trey Jones added 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting.
Tominaga finished as Hokkaido’s leading scorer with 19 points, all coming in the first half. However, the former Nebraska standout struggled from beyond the arc, making just two of his 11 attempts.
“I have to apologize for the disappointing defensive performance we showed in the first half,” said head coach Torsten Loibl, whose Levanga entered Wednesday’s game with four preseason victories.
Philippine national team mainstay Dwight Ramos scored 13 points for Hokkaido in the loss. On the other hand, fellow Gilas Pilipinas standout Edu was limited to three points for Gunma.
The two-day preseason showcase concludes Thursday, with Gunma and Hokkaido set to meet again at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 PM.
The Scores:
Gunma 98 – Johnson 23, Jones 16, Fujii 14, Hosokawa 13, Nakamura 11, Flippin 7, Blackshear 7, Asano 4, Edu 3, Taniguchi 0.
Hokkaido 81 – Tominaga 19, Ramos 13, Clark 9, Ichiba 9, Harrar 8, Bolden 7, Sekino 5, Shimatani 4, Osaki 3, Naito 2, Kikuchi 2, Matsuzaki 0, Kobayashi 0, Nishimura 0.
Quarterscores: 29-19, 54-40, 81-60, 98-81.
