NEWSWORTHY
Jets place premium on continuity
After a championship runner-up finish and the team's first East Division regular-season title, the Chiba Jets Funabashi aren't making wholesale changes as they prepare for the upcoming season. Head coach Atsushi Ono, who has guided the Jets to 44- and 46-win campaigns in 2016-17 and ...
Alvark capture B. League title
Championships are won with well-orchestrated teamwork. The Alvark Tokyo did just that and played a polished, patient but aggressive game on Saturday. They showcased flashy plays but mostly stuck with their bread-and-butter offense, moving the ball and taking shots in players' comfort zones. Smart plan. Conversely, ...
League powers Jets, Alvark set for title tilt
With the biggest of stakes on the line, the Chiba Jets Funabashi and Alvark Tokyo renew their rivalry on Saturday afternoon. The site: Yokohama Arena. The occasion: the B. League Championship final. Tipoff is set for 2:05 p.m. as Jets bench boss Atsushi Ono and ...
Josh Peppers and Michael Parker reaping rewards after years of hard work in Japanese hoop scene
John Neumann gave the green light to bring American forwards Josh Peppers and Michael Parker to Japan. He had a good reason: He needed good players to make Rizing Fukuoka competitive during the expansion team's inaugural 2007-08 campaign in the bj-league. An astute talent evaluator, ...
Jets, Alvark advance to B. League Championship final
The Chiba Jets Funabashi were tough on defense, applying additional pressure at key moments in the fourth quarter. The Jets were confident on offense, making key baskets when they needed them. The Jets, only in business since joining the now-disbanded bj-league for the 2011-12 campaign as ...
Alvark edge SeaHorses in overtime in Game 1 of playoff semifinal series
The SeaHorses Mikawa dominated the first three quarters of Saturday's series opener against the visiting Alvark Tokyo. The fourth quarter was a different story. The Alvark overcame an 11-point deficit entering the final stanza and forced overtime by making clutch plays down the stretch at Wing ...
And now it's down to four teams still chasing after the B. League Championship crown. This weekend, the East Division champion Chiba Jets Funabashi play host to the West champ Ryukyu Golden Kings and the Central champ SeaHorses Mikawa face the visiting Alvark Tokyo. Games ...
Jets outlast Brave Thunders in mini-game tiebreaker to reach B. League Championship semifinals
A strong bond — really unflappable team chemistry — has carried the Chiba Jets Funabashi to great heights this season. The Jets aren't finished yet. They soared even higher on Sunday afternoon after first stumbling, losing Game 2 of their B. League Championship quarterfinal series to ...
SeaHorses overpower defending champion Brex in Game 1 of quarterfinal playoff series
It was a stellar start for the SeaHorses Mikawa to begin their quest for a title this postseason. Sharpshooter Kosuke Kanamaru scored a game-high 26 points on 10-for-16 shooting. Center Isaac Butts also made a big impact with 14 points and 18 rebounds. The result? The ...
Mikawa favored for title as playoffs start with eight teams
Finally, after a regular season that occupied parts of nine months — starting in the final week of September — the focus now shifts to the B. League Championship. Which leaves us with eight teams in the hunt for the title, and another 10 left ...
Brex eye back-to-back titles as B. League gears up for playoffs
The Tochigi Brex captured the inaugural B. League title last year, and needless to say they are the only team that has the chance to repeat as champions. But their ace point guard, Yuta Tabuse, insisted Monday that the team will put that triumph firmly ...
Chiba triumphs over Ryukyu, claims East Division crown
It all started with a logical offensive strategy: get the ball to the big guys inside. And it worked in a big way. Which also created frequent scoring opportunities on the perimeter, too. Frontcourt mates Michael Parker and Gavin Edwards combined to make 16 of 19 ...
