B. League Oct 23, 2020
Big man Muusa Dama all smiles after final game for Sunrockers
by Kaz Nagatsuka
The 207-cm center impressed his coach and teammates during his seven-game stint on loan from the B3's Veltex Shizuoka.
Basketball | HOOP SCOOP Mar 19, 2020
Sunrockers big man Sebastian Saiz's thoughts drift to Spain as pandemic intensifies
by Ed Odeven
Playing the game he professes to love, Sebastian Saiz was back in familiar surroundings on Sunday afternoon. It was normal in one sense (a 40-minute game). It was also strange (no spectators in the arena) at the same time. "Playing in a league without fans in ...
Basketball / B. League Mar 15, 2020
Sunrockers split series with Northern Happinets; Jets-Brex canceled after game official has fever
by Ed Odeven
The Sunrockers Shibuya pulled ahead late and finished strong in an 84-79 victory on Sunday over the Akita Northern Happinets in a game that was a near replica of the series opener. Shibuya (27-14), which dropped the opener 87-83, outscored Akita 14-4 to close out ...
Basketball / B. League Feb 2, 2020
Golden Kings split series with narrow win over Sunrockers
by Ed Odeven
After a down-to-the-wire overtime loss on Saturday night, the Ryukyu Golden Kings maintained their poise down the stretch in Sunday's intense duel with the Sunrockers Shibuya. The Golden Kings eked out a 76-74 victory at Aoyama Gakuin University Memorial Hall, earning a series split with ...
Basketball / B. League | B. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK Jan 30, 2020
Strong defense, rebounding help Evessa build solid foundation in pursuit of playoff appearance
by Ed Odeven
After splitting a pair of away games last weekend with the Utsunomiya Brex, the Osaka Evessa passed the midway point of the season with a realistic shot at capturing the West Division title. It all starts with defense, solid rebounding and an effective run-and-gun offense ...
Basketball Jan 12, 2020
Shibuya captain Leo Vendrame hopes Emperor's Cup can lead to team's first-ever B. League crown
by Kaz Nagatsuka
After achieving one of their goals for this season, the Sunrockers Shibuya are now moving on to shoot for the second: the B. League championship. After capturing the team's second All-Japan Championship title with a 78-73 win over the Kawasaki Brave Thunders at Saitama Super ...
Basketball Jan 12, 2020
by Kaz Nagatsuka
The Sunrockers Shibuya are back on top of Japanese basketball for the first time in five years. The Tokyo side claimed the Emperor's Cup title on Sunday with a nail-biting 78-73 win over the Kawasaki Brave Thunders in the All-Japan Championship final at Saitama Super ...
Basketball Jan 11, 2020
Sunrockers, Brave Thunders advance to Emperor's Cup final
by Kaz Nagatsuka
The dynamic duo of Sebastian Saiz and Ryan Kelly guided the Sunrockers Shibuya to their first Emperor's Cup gold-medal game with a 96-69 win over the Shiga Lakestars in the All-Japan Basketball Championship semifinals at Saitama Super Arena on Saturday. Saiz, a 205-cm Spaniard, collected ...
Basketball / B. League | B. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK Jan 3, 2020
Sunrockers continue to make progress under coach Tsutomu Isa in second year at helm
by Ed Odeven
Sunday's game provided ample evidence of the growth and potential of the Sunrockers Shibuya under Tsutomu Isa, who became head coach in October 2018 after the team opened last season with a 1-7 record. In a rare display of an entire team producing offensive numbers ...
Basketball / B. League Dec 29, 2019
Sunrockers dominate Diamond Dolphins through full-squad effort
by Ed Odeven
All 12 Sunrockers Shibuya players who dressed for Sunday's home game against the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins had a hand in the team's first-half scoring. Literally. Every Sunrocker in uniform — Kohei Sekino, Sebastian Saiz, Faye Samba, Leo Vendrame, Yusei Sugiura, Ryunosuke Watanabe, Daisuke Noguchi, Kenta Hirose, ...
Basketball / B. League Nov 26, 2019
Kelly helps Sunrockers gain split with Alvark
by Ed Odeven
The Sunrockers Shibuya avenged their series-opening defeat by downing the Alvark Tokyo 77-65 on Monday night in Tachikawa. Ex-Duke University forward Ryan Kelly led Shibuya (12-4) with a game-high 28 points. Floor leader Leo Vendrame poured in 18 points, dished out four assists and made ...
Basketball / B. League Nov 10, 2019
Albirex control overtime period to secure victory over Sunrockers
by Ed Odeven
Nick Perkins and Lamont Hamilton provided a potent one-two punch to carry the Niigata Albirex BB to a gritty 97-92 overtime victory over the Sunrockers Shibuya on Sunday afternoon. Perkins, a rookie forward from the University at Buffalo, scored seven of his game-high 34 points ...