Who's the hottest team in the B.League entering the All-Star break? The San-en NeoPhoenix hold that impressive distinction, winning 10 consecutive games.
Coach Atsushi Ono's squad began its current run of victories with a 90-78 home win against the Koshigaya Alphas on December 14, 2024.
In the NeoPhoenix's latest triumph, they pounded the visiting Sendai 89ers 129-64 on Sunday, January 12.
San-en (25-4) owns the best winning percentage in the league (.862%) at the official midway point of the season, but the NeoPhoenix and the Shiga Lakes (2-27) have both played one fewer games than the other 22 clubs.
A medical emergency was the reason. Their January 5 match in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, was canceled midway through the third quarter after Lakes big man Javier Carter, 33, collapsed and went to a hospital.
The Lakes later issued a statement saying that Carter was recovering at a hospital and that he had "regained his composure."
Along with the Central Conference-leading NeoPhoenix, the Utsunomiya Brex (25-5), the East's first-place squad, and the West-leading Ryukyu Golden Kings (23-7) both take seven-game win streaks into the All-Star break.
San-en NeoPhoenix Overwhelm the Sendai 89ers
In the runaway victory over the 89ers mentioned above, Sendai trailed 29-12 entering the second quarter and 64-26 at halftime. Heading into the final period, the NeoPhoenix were ahead 94-43.
Eight San-en players scored in double figures in the rout. American swingman David Nwaba was the top scorer (20 points), followed by veteran guard Ryusei Sasaki with 18 and Yante Maten with 17.
For the NeoPhoenix, a 44-18 points-in-the-paint advantage and a 35-8 edge in points from turnovers contributed mightily to the lopsided score.
Although San-en had its highest-scoring game of the season against Sendai in Sunday's series finale, backup guard Hayato Wakugawa noted the team's improved defense played a big part in this contest.
"I think we have changed a lot since before the bye week (in November) in terms of getting in [sync] and applying pressure defensively," the 20-year-old told reporters after the game. Wakugawa knocked down 2 of 3 3-point shots and finished with 10 points.
In a match with intense competition on the court and verbal exchanges that riled up players, Ono was ejected after picking up his second technical foul in the third quarter.
Despite Ono's absence, the NeoPhoenix players stayed focused, according to Maten.
"I think Coach Ono always expects us to carry out what he says and the work he asks of us, and we knew that was what we had to do," Maten told reporters. "We needed to do what we needed to do, and I think we were able to come together as a team, including the [other coaches]."
Statistical Leaders at the Season's Midway Point
Through January 12, Brock Motum (Shiga) is No 1 in scoring (20.2 points per game), followed by DJ Newbill (Utsunomiya) at 18.6 and Scott Eatherton of the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins (18.2).
The top rebounders are Levanga Hokkaido's Thomas Welsh (13.3), Alvark Tokyo's Ryan Rossiter (9.9) and Ryukyu's Jack Cooley (9.9).
San-en's Sasaki and Nagoya's Takumi Saito are No 1 in assists (6.6), with Sunrockers Shibuya playmaker Anthony Clemmons next at 6.4.
The top 3-point shooters in terms of accuracy are Naoto Tsuji of the Gunma Crane Thunders (45.4%), Akita Northern Happinets perimeter marksman Shigehiro Taguchi (44.3%) and Nick Mayo of the reigning champion Hiroshima Dragonflies (43.2%).
B.League All-Star Game Flashback
At the 2024 B.League All-Star Game, which was held in January, Golden Kings guard Ryuichi Kishimoto, who suited up for B.Black, led all players with 24 points. B.White held on for a 128-123 victory despite Kishimoto's stellar fourth quarter (17 points) at Okinawa Arena.
Kishimoto was named the All-Star Game MVP.
A Look Ahead
B.League All-Star weekend activities are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, January 18-19.
Starting at 1:20 PM on Saturday, the Skills Challenge, 3-Point Contest and Dunk Contest are set to be held before the B.League Asia Rising Star Game, which has a 4 PM tipoff.
On Sunday morning at 11:30, the B.League U18 All-Star Game is slated to start, followed by the All-Star Game at 3 PM.
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Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
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