Former Japan stars praise growth
Former Japan men's basketball players Takehiko Orimo and Kei Igarashi are grateful the team's current iteration has raised its level in order to compete on the global level. Orimo, who at 49 years old continues to play for the B. League's Levanga Hokkaido, played for ...
Niigata hopes to take momentum into playoffs
Niigata Albirex BB coach Kazuhiro Shoji has been in an enviable position throughout the season. Since the Albirex opener in October, Shoji hasn't had a legitimate reason to make wholesale changes to his starting lineup. Instead, the names of veteran guards Kei Igarashi and Shinsuke Kashiwagi, ...
Revitalized Albirex revel in newfound success
Ace scorer Davante Gardner secured the ball that was shot by Kawasaki's Ryusei Shinoyama, ran out of the paint area and threw it high — really high — into the air just before the buzzer sounded. That was the dramatic moment when the Niigata Albirex ...
Former college, JBL teammates Igarashi, Kashiwagi enjoying reunion in Niigata
Star guards Kei Igarashi and Shinsuke Kashiwagi were reunited this season and are cherishing the opportunity to once again don the same jersey, this time for the Central Division-leading Niigata Albirex BB. They were brought back together when Kashiwagi signed with the Hokuriku team before ...
Niigata edges Fukuoka in overtime
The Niigata Albirex BB are tough to beat at home. Saturday's series opener against the Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka was a reminder of that fact. Davante Gardner, the B. League's leading scorer, and veteran teammates Lamont Hamilton and Kei Igarashi set the tone for Niigata in an ...
Niigata outplays Mikawa in series opener
Niigata Albirex BB star Davante Gardner received an abundance of Christmas presents from the SeaHorses Mikawa on Saturday afternoon. The B. League's leading scorer was repeatedly sent to the free-throw line, and the Marquette University product drained 12 of 13 attempts in an 86-77 road ...
Albirex soar past Happinets in series opener
The Niigata Albirex BB employed a three-guard lineup in Thursday's series opener against the Akita Northern Happinets. Veterans Kei Igarashi and Shinsuke Kashiwagi started alongside combo guard Ryonosuke Watanabe, and the trio scored a combined 28 points in Niigata's 84-74 victory. Igarashi, who played on Japan's ...
NeoPhoenix star Robert Dozier provides leadership, confidence for club
With power forward Robert Dozier in the lineup, the San-en NeoPhoenix are a more complete team. A more balanced team. A more dangerous team. Dozier improves San-en's offense and defense and rhythm at both ends of the floor. A natural leader, the veteran is a tone-setter ...
Tyler Smith's journey full of fascinating, funny tales
Tyler Smith made a wise decision. He paid attention to details throughout his pro basketball career. He remembered the names and faces and places and conversations that sprung up in every corner of the globe while he earned a living, though often not always on time, ...
All-around team effort carries Brex past Albirex in comeback victory
The Tochigi Brex were a slow-starting team on Friday night. But they heated up in the second half against the host Niigata Albirex BB, turning the tide in their favor. The defending B. League champions rallied for a 71-62 victory in their series opener in Nagaoka, ...
Lakestars' Narito Namizato one of top talents at ball distribution
The art of the pass isn't in vogue like rapid-fire 3-point shooting at any juncture, but there are a number of gifted ball-distribution artists in the B. League. And like Christmas cards, it's the gift that keeps on giving. Just ask any of the high-scoring ...
Balanced scoring powers Albirex past Grouses
The Niigata Albirex BB's offense performed at a high level on Saturday. Six Albirex players scored in double figures, including B League scoring leader Davante Gardner, who had a game-best 24 points, in Niigata's 95-86 triumph over the host Toyama Grouses. Gardner, a Marquette University alum, ...
