Tochigi Brex forward Jeff Gibbs' terrific fourth-quarter performance in the B. League Championship final on Saturday instantly entered this nation's hoop annals as a special feat.
Gibbs' 16-point outburst, a clinic in low-post mobility and power moves, over the final 10 minutes helped inspire and lift the Brex past the Kawasaki Brave Thunders for the league's inaugural title at Yoyogi National Gymnasium. It was excellence on the grand stage.
But it came with a big price. The 36-year-old ruptured his left Achilles tendon late in the game and faces a difficult road back, including physical rehabilitation. No timetable has been given for his return.