April 19 ------ THIRDY Ravena and the San-En NeoPhoenix were finally able to celebrate their Central Conference Championship before their home fans. The playoff-bound squad got to reap the rewards of their labor all season long at Toyohashi City Gymnasium, but more importantly kept their win run going, nabbing their sixth straight in the Japan B.League with a 95-75 rout of Shinshu Brave Warriors. Ravena collected 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals to push San-En up to a 44-10 card.
Momentum is on the side of the NeoPhoenix as they establish themselves as legitimate title contenders heading into the 2023-24 Japan B.League playoffs with only six games remaining in the eliminations. Dwight Ramos, meanwhile, is out indefinitely after suffering an injury in Levanga Hokkaido's loss to Utsonomiya Brex on Saturday. Levanga said its Asian quota import suffered an orbital floor fracture and is 'out indefinitely.'
RJ Abarrientos, on the other hand, only had one assist as the cellar-dwelling Shinshu fell to 7-47. As for the other Pinoys, it was a gameday to forget as they all incurred tough defeats. Kai Sotto's double-double once again went for naught in Yokohama B-Corsairs' 77-55 defeat to Wing Arena Kariya. The 7-foot-3 center contributed 11 points, 11 boards, two assists, and one block, but it wasn't enough to stop Yokohama's five-game losing skid and drop to 22-32.
Matthew Wright also scored 17 points in Kyoto Hannaryz' 92-80 defeat to Shimane Susanoo Magic at Kataoka Arena Kyoto. He also had four rebounds and four assists, but could not help Kyoto from falling to 15-39. Ray Parks' efforts were also spoiled as Nagoya Diamond Dolphins succumbed to Osaka Evessa, 92-76, at Edion Arena Osaka. He chipped in 13 points, three boards, and three assists for Nagoya, which slipped to 35-19.
Source: spin.ph