Basketball / B. League Jul 2, 2020
J.R. Sakuragi reflects on long career in Japanese basketball
by Kaz Nagatsuka
Sakuragi would not have played as long as he did without a love for the game.
Basketball / B. League Jul 20, 2018
Star shooting guard Makoto Hiejima has joined the Tochigi Brex after five seasons with the SeaHorses. Hiejima was introduced at a news conference on Friday in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture. The 27-year-old Hiejima's rise to stardom has bridged the NBL and B. League eras. He made his ...
Basketball Jun 5, 2016
Brave Thunders ride momentum to wrap up NBL title
by Kaz Nagatsuka
The Toshiba Brave Thunders are the last men standing in the NBL. The Kawasaki-based club showed lots of resilience and energy in winning the final three games of the best-of-five NBL Finals, clinching the title with a 76-70 victory in Game 5 over the Aisin ...
Basketball Jun 4, 2016
Brave Thunders clobber SeaHorses, force decisive Game 5 in NBL Finals
by Kaz Nagatsuka
A week ago, the Toshiba Brave Thunders looked vulnerable and were on the verge of elimination from the postseason. Right now, they are looking more like a team with a spark. Center Nick Fazekas scored 30 points and his teammates gave all-out effort at both ends ...
Basketball May 30, 2016
Tsuji catches fire as Brave Thunders avoid sweep in NBL Finals
by Kaz Nagatsuka
The Brave Thunders are still alive in the 2015-16 NBL season. Toshiba managed to avoid a sweep by the Aisin SeaHorses with a 88-73 win in Game 3 of the NBL Finals at Ota City General Gymnasium before a crowd of 2,464 on Monday night. Japanese ...
Basketball May 29, 2016
SeaHorses manhandle Brave Thunders, take 2-0 lead in NBL Finals
by Kaz Nagatsuka
More than the final score indicated, the Aisin SeaHorses dominated the game, making the Toshiba Brave Thunders look vulnerable. The defending league champions outplayed their opponents at both ends of the floor in a 74-63 win in Game 2 of the NBL Finals before a ...
Basketball May 28, 2016
SeaHorses dig deep to take NBL Finals opener
by Kaz Nagatsuka
For 34 minutes, 33 seconds out of the 40 minutes of regulation, the Toshiba Brave Thunders led the game. But it was their experienced opponents who ended up getting the "W." Aisin geared up defensively to take the momentum and prevailed late in the game as ...
Basketball May 28, 2016
Sakuragi still going strong for SeaHorses
by Kaz Nagatsuka
Two decades ago, J.R. Sakuragi — well, J.R. Henderson, as he was known then — achieved the best accomplishment of his basketball career as his UCLA Bruins captured the NCAA championship with a 89-78 victory over Arkansas in the final at Seattle's Kingdome during ...
Basketball May 27, 2016
Aisin, Toshiba renew storied rivalry in NBL Finals
by Kaz Nagatsuka
The Aisin SeaHorses and Toshiba Brave Thunders squared off against each other during the final Japan Basketball League Finals to wrap up the 2012-13 season. Aisin edged Toshiba, winning the series 3-2. During this regular season, the two met five times. Toshiba won 3-2. Expect cutthroat battles when ...
Basketball May 22, 2016
SeaHorses upset Alvark to book place in NBL Finals
by Kaz Nagatsuka
The Aisin SeaHorses prevailed when things mattered most as they knocked the No. 1 seed Toyota Alvark out of the postseason with an 84-79 victory in Game 2 of the NBL playoff semifinals at Yoyogi National Gymnasium No. 2 on Sunday. The reigning league champion ...
Basketball May 21, 2016
Aisin edges Toyota in Game 1 of NBL semifinals
by Kaz Nagatsuka
Bench players Tomoya Hasegawa and Shinsuke Kashiwagi came through to lead the Aisin SeaHorses past the Toyota Alvark with a 69-67 victory in Game 1 of the their NBL playoff semifinal series at Yoyogi National Gymnasium No. 2 on Saturday. Aisin, the reigning league champion, ...
Basketball May 12, 2016
Alvark, Brex enter NBL playoffs as top teams
by Kaz Nagatsuka
Before the B. League, a brand-new men's top hoop circuit in Japan, tips off next season, the NBL launches its playoffs this weekend. The Toyota Alvark and Link Tochigi Brex, who battled for the top spot in the standings throughout the regular season, are in ...