The Ryukyu Golden Kings are an interesting case study in resilience. In the game after a loss, they are often at their best.
Ryukyu leads the B.League's eight-team Western Conference with a 25-10 record through Sunday, February 2. And one of the big reasons for the team's overall success is its general trend of playing better in the final game of a two-game series.
Coach Dai Oketani's club, which advanced to the B.League Finals in each of the past three seasons, has lost the opening contest of a two-game set on seven occasions during the 2024-25 campaign. The Golden Kings have also earned a series split six times. In other words, they are 6-1 to close out a series following a loss.
After a season-opening 96-92 home defeat to the San-en NeoPhoenix on October 5, Ryukyu rebounded with an 82-74 win the next day.
This started a season-defining trend for the Okinawa team. The host Shiga Lakes topped the Golden Kings 89-81 on October 19. What happened in the rematch? Ryukyu rolled to a 108-72 triumph the next day.
Here's another example: The Akita Northern Happinets collected a 67-63 road win over the Golden Kings on December 14. A day later, Ryukyu flipped the script, winning 70-59 at Okinawa Arena.
Ryukyu Golden Kings Exhibit Moxie
In their first series after January 19's B.League All-Star Game, the Golden Kings faced the Utsunomiya Brex, another legitimate title contender. The Brex dominated the opener, earning a 105-86 victory on January 25 in Okinawa City. Oketani's squad followed the trend described above with a 97-88 conquest of the Brex the next day.
"All the players kept their spirits up after the loss in Game 1 and overcame the adversity," Oketani told reporters at Okinawa Arena on January 26. "We are a team that pulls out victories through rebounding, and I feel that the fact that everyone focused on getting rebounds even in a game that was continuously tense led to our victory."
In the series opener, Utsunomiya outrebounded Ryukyu 41-29. The hosts dominated on the boards in the second game, holding a 38-30 rebounding edge.
Veteran forward Keve Aluma, who scored a game-high 31 points on January 26, was pleased with the Golden Kings' defensive effort in the bounce-back win.
"We were able to play defense with high intensity and aggressiveness," Aluma commented after the series finale. "And the team was able to refocus after yesterday's loss, so I feel that it was a good game."
In winning 25 of their first 35 games this season, the Golden Kings have relied on dominant rebounding (averaging a league-high 43.9 per game) and strong scoring (84.1 points per game, No 3 overall).
Competing at a High Level
Ending a series with a victory, especially following a loss, provides a mental boost for the club. Negative vibes are erased. Positivity returns for the players and coaching staff.
Case in point: The Alvark Tokyo cruised past the Golden Kings on Saturday, February 1, winning 87-67 at Yoyogi National Stadium.
A day later, Ryukyu routed its rival 83-58. The Golden Kings jumped out to a 47-37 lead by halftime and held a 66-49 advantage entering the fourth quarter.
Team pride was on display for the Golden Kings, according to Oketani.
In comparing the team's February 1 and 2 performances, he said it was easy to notice the difference.
"Nothing has changed in the game plan between yesterday and today," the Ryukyu bench boss insisted. "However, the players were highly focused and executed what they were set to do."
For Ryukyu, former NBA big man Jack Cooley notched a double-double (14 points, 21 rebounds). Golden Kings floor leader Ryuichi Kishimoto finished with 13 points and handed out eight assists to orchestrate the offense. Alex Kirk, Masahiro Waki and Aluma added 11 points apiece, while Vic Law scored 10.
What's more, the Golden Kings stepped up their defensive intensity in the rematch, holding the Alvark to 33.9% shooting from the floor.
"Yesterday's Game 1 was a frustrating loss, so today we were able to achieve revenge by working together as a team," Kishimoto told reporters at Yoyogi National Stadium.
"I think we were able to win by having fun while playing and covering for each other even in a tough game."
Pursuing Titles in the EASL and Emperor's Cup
In addition to their high level of play in the B.League, the Ryukyu Golden Kings, juggling multiple title aspirations, have advanced to the 2025 East Asia Super League Final Four, which will be held March 7-9 in Macau. They booked a spot in the semifinals with a 5-1 record in the group phase of the international tournament.
In related news, Ryukyu defeated the NeoPhoenix 80-67 in the All Japan Basketball Championship semifinals on Wednesday, February 5.
The victory gives the Golden Kings a spot in the March 15 title game against the Alvark, who beat the Hiroshima Dragonflies 85-75 in Wednesday's other semifinal. This year marks the 100th All Japan Basketball Championship, also known as the Emperor's Cup.
The Golden Kings' biggest focus, of course, is the 60-game regular season.
Every team has dips in productivity throughout the long campaign. One way of defining what separates the top teams from average clubs and bottom-of-the-standings squads boils down to this: how the title contenders perform after a loss.
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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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