Kiefer Ravena delivered an efficient performance to help Yokohama snap a two-game losing streak in the 2024-25 B.League Division 1 on Saturday at the Happiness Arena in Nagasaki.
The visiting B-Corsairs, powered by Ravena’s 12 points, five assists, two rebounds, and one steal in 23 minutes of play, narrowly escaped with a 79-75 victory against a Nagasaki Velca squad led by Gilas Pilipinas center AJ Edu.
Edu contributed nine points, seven rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and one steal in 28 minutes of action.
“It was a big win. I’m very happy that we were able to beat Nagasaki because we lost to San-en last time. I think we were able to turn the 12-point difference around because everyone was able to step up and change their mindset,” said Ravena.
“If we can use this as a lesson and fight as a team again, I think we can win more in the future.”
After back-to-back losses to San-En, the win brought Yokohama back to the winning column and moved them to 17th place in the 24-team league with a 10-17 record.
Nagasaki, on the other hand, suffered its second consecutive defeat and slipped to 14th place with a 13-14 slate.
Ravena had ample support from French forward Damien Inglis, who led the B-Corsairs with 23 points, 15 rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
For Nagasaki, Edu was backed up by American forward Jarrell Brantley, who chipped in 16 points, six rebounds, and three assists in 32 minutes of play.
However, while Ravena’s team celebrated their win, other Filipino players across Division 1 and Division 2 faced tough losses.
Coming off two straight wins against Shiga, Kai Sotto and the Koshigaya Alphas endured a harsh reality check after suffering a wire-to-wire 89-54 defeat to Mikawa at the Kariyashi Taiikukan Arena.
Sotto came close to a double-double with 10 points, eight rebounds, and four assists, but the Alphas’ struggles continued as they fell to 20th place with an 8-19 record.
Meanwhile, Dwight Ramos and Levanga Hokkaido dropped their fifth straight game, succumbing to Chiba in a 67-75 loss at the LaLa Arena TOKYO-BAY.
American forward Ryan Kriener led Hokkaido with 30 points, seven rebounds, and two assists, but Ramos was held to just one rebound in 12 minutes and 46 seconds of play.
The loss left Levanga tied with Saga for 18th place, both with 9-18 records.
Ray Parks Jr.’s late-game efforts for Osaka Evessa fell short as they lost to Kyoto Hannaryz in a tight 75-78 contest at the Kataoka Arena in Kyoto. Parks contributed 13 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
Evessa dropped their third game in four outings, though, settling for 10th place with a 14-13 card.
In a battle of bottom-dwelling teams, Matthew Wright and the Kawasaki Brave Thunders remained winless after falling to Sendai, 61-82, at the Kawasaki Todoroki Arena.
Wright tallied 11 points, four rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block, but his efforts weren’t enough to lift the Brave Thunders from second-to-last place in the standings, where they sit with a 6-21 record.
In Division 2 action, Roosevelt Adams and Yamagata Wyverns returned to the losing column after a 75-90 defeat to Veltex Shizuoka at the Hamamatsu Arena.
Adams contributed 12 points, six rebounds, and one assist, but the Wyverns remained in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with a 12-17 record.
Meanwhile, Geo Chiu and Ehime Orange Vikings faced a tough 68-89 loss to Kagoshima Rebnise at the Iyo Citizen Gymnasium.
Chiu struggled, managing only four points, five rebounds, and one block, as Ehime remained at the bottom of the seven-team Western Conference with a dismal 1-28 standing.
