IT'S still a young season, but Gilas Pilipinas big men AJ Edu and Kai Sotto are making waves in the Japan B.League as they emerge as defensive lynchpins for their respective ballclubs.
Finally fit after a long injury layoff, the 6-10 Edu leads the league in blocks with 1.9 rejections through 11 games for the Nagasaki Velca - one of the Filipino imports who have made a mark in the statisics department.
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Sotto's numbers also impress in his first season with the Koshigaya Alphas. His 10.0 rebounds a game is tied for fourth-best in the league, his 1.2 blocks is good for joint fifth, while his 12.5 points puts him at No. 50 in the scoring list.
Ray Parks has also been solid in his first tour of duty with Osaka Evessa as his 17.8 points rank just outside the Top 10 at 11th in the entire Japanese top flight.
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Matthew Wright of the Kawasaki Brave Thunders is 22nd in the assist department with his 4.1 dimes per game, while Yokohama B-Corsairs' Kiefer Ravena is 48th with 3.0 assists.
There's no question on the staying power of Pinoy imports in Japan, but as good as these numbers are, we bet they're also rooting for team success to follow.
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