Standout point guard Kaito Ishikawa joins Kumamoto Volters
Kaito Ishikawa demonstrated throughout the 2018-19 season that he was one of the B. League's most dependable point guards. The Tokyo native shined for the B2 champion Shinshu Brave Warriors, culminating with the second-division playoff MVP award. In the B2 championship final's title-clinching game, Ishikawa ...
Former New Zealand national team coach Nenad Vucinic hired to lead Kumamoto Volters
Well-traveled coach Nenad Vucinic served an assistant for the New Zealand men's national team during the 2006 FIBA World Basketball Championship in Japan. Thirteen years later, Vucinic returns to Japan for the next challenge of his coaching career: guiding the Kumamoto Volters. The second-division club formally ...
Alvark, Jets post victories in semifinal series openers
The Alvark Tokyo scratched and clawed their way to a third-place finish in the brutal East Division during the regular season. Forty-four wins in 60 games was what they accomplished. Indeed, it wasn't easy. On Saturday, the resilient defending champions moved a step closer to achieving ...
Chiba set for semifinal clash with Tochigi; Ryukyu faces Tokyo
Motivation can be a powerful emotion in sports. For the Chiba Jets Funabashi, last season's defeat in the B. League Championship final to the Alvark Tokyo has been their motivational force throughout this season. Jets shooting guard Kosuke Ishii admitted as much after Chiba's 96-85, series-clinching ...
Kawasaki capitalizes on free-throw opportunities to beat Toyama
When a team scores three times as many points as its opponent at the free-throw line, it's usually a good sign for the team getting fouled repeatedly. Exhibit A: The Kawasaki Brave Thunders converted 21 of 24 foul shots in Friday's B. League series opener. The ...
Kumamoto ready to stake claim on upcoming B2 season
A week before the B. League's top flight gets underway, the second division opens its 2018-19 campaign on Sept. 28. The promoted Hachioji Bee Trains play host to the Earthfriends Tokyo Z and the Ehime Orange Vikings face the visiting Hiroshima Dragonflies in the evening's ...
Grouses edge Volters in playoff to remain in first division
In a hard-fought battle, the Toyama Grouses came through in the final minute to beat the Kumamoto Volters 88-85 in the B. League promotion/relegation playoff game at Yokohama Arena on Sunday evening. With the result, the Grouses and Volters remained in the first and second ...
Hot-shooting Volters overpower Crane Thunders
In a game showcasing two of the top teams in the second division, the Kumamoto Volters ran past the visiting Gunma Crane Thunders on Friday night, winning 98-78. Backup shooting guard Terrance Woodbury, doing his best Vinnie "The Microwave" Johnson impersonation, sparked the Volters off ...
Hannaryz stage late rally to edge Storks
The Kyoto Hannaryz rallied past the visiting Nishinomiya Storks in the final 91 seconds of Friday's series opener. Kyoto scored the final six points of the game and recorded a 65-61 victory at Hannaryz Arena. The Storks (0-5) took a 61-59 lead on Connor Lammert's 3-pointer ...
Hot-streaking Volters in a hurry to reach first division
The Kumamoto Volters are a team on a mission. Sure, winning games is a top priority. But it's an objective trumped by their ongoing quest to play in the first division next season. So far, so good. The Kyushu-based club is first overall in the 18-team ...
Fazekas guides Brave Thunders past B-Corsairs
Former NBA center Nick Fazekas scored a game-high 31 points, including a pair of free throws with 17 seconds remaining, in the Kawasaki Brave Thunders' 87-85 win over the visiting Yokohama B-Corsairs on Friday night. Kawasaki (1-2) lost two road games by a combined eight ...
First weekend an encouraging start
Optimism is the common emotion shared by all teams as the new season unfolds in the early stages. Players, coaches and fans are fired up to be a part of something new, something unified after a directionless decade for Japan pro basketball. There's also been an ...
