B.League: Dwight Ramos, Hokkaido playoff hopes take big hit

MANILA, Philippines, April 14 ------ Dwight Ramos and Levanga Hokkaido’s hopes of making the B.League playoffs took a big blow after a heartbreaking home loss to Nagasaki Velca, 90-89.

Ramos provided the late heroics, hitting the game-tying triple with 9.6 seconds remaining, but Hokkaido center Jahlil Okafor, a former first overall pick in the NBA Draft, committed a costly foul that led to Nagasaki big man Jarrell Brantly’s winning free throw with 2.0 ticks left. Hokkaido split its weekend series with league-leading Nagasaki after an 82-80 escape on Saturday in a game, where Levanga came back from 23 points down.

Ramos finished with 14 points as Levanga dropped to 32-20 in the East, staying in fifth in the chase for a wildcard entry into the post-elimination play behind fourth-running clubs Alvark Tokyo and Chiba Jets, who tote similar 35-17 slates, with eight regular season games remaining. While Ramos and Hokkaido are fighting to stay in the thick of the race, AJ Edu and the red-hot Gunma Crane Thunders are cruising.

Gunma rolled to its 12th straight win after dominating the Kawasaki Brave Thunders, 87-64, at Openhouse Arena OTA. Edu chipped in five points, five rebounds and two blocks for his squad, which improved to 36-16. They haven’t lost since a narrow defeat against Kyoto Hannaryz on March 7. Elsewhere, Kai Sotto recorded another double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds, but the Koshigaya Alphas (17-35) still fell to the Akita Northern Happinets, 87-85, at CNA Arena, Akita.

Francis Lopez, meanwhile, exploded for 23 in FE Nagoya’s 96-91 win over Ray Parks and Osaka Evessa at Ookini Arena Maishima. Parks had 13 points, five rebounds and five assists. Nagoya improved to 17-35, while Osaka slid to 20-32. Kiefer Ravena and the Yokohama B-Corsairs also won fafter overcoming Altiri Chiba, 89-81, at Chiba Port Arena. Yokohma (23-29) chalked up its third consecutive win and seventh in their last nine games despite Ravena struggling with just four points.

Source: inquirer.net