WITH just three weeks remaining before the 2025–2026 Japan B.League playoffs, Filipino imports are making their final push to secure postseason spots.
Currently sitting at No. 2 in the East with a 36–16 record, AJ Edu’s Gunma Crane Thunders have an inside track for the playoffs.
However, holding on to that position won’t be easy. Gunma faces a tough closing stretch against Sun Rockers Shibuya, top seed Utsunomiya Brex, and playoff-chasing squads Levanga Hokkaido and Sendai 89ers.
Meanwhile, Quentin Millora-Brown and the Chiba Jets trail closely behind with a 35–16 slate.
Chiba is still in the thick of the playoff race, currently ranked third in the Wild Card standings, but still within shouting range of an outright playoff spot.
They will take on Kawasaki Brave Thunders, Hokkaido, Yokohama B-Corsairs, Hiroshima Dragonflies, and Altiri Chiba to wrap up the regular season.
The road gets even tougher for the Jets as QMB is dealing with sciatica and is expected to miss the next few games.
For Dwight Ramos and Levanga Hokkaido, they remain just outside the playoff picture at 32–20, three games behind Alvark Tokyo.
The upcoming stretch will be crucial for the Gilas Pilipinas guard, with Hokkaido set to face Altiri Chiba, as well as playoff-seeking teams Chiba Jets, Gunma, and Alvark.
Other imports look to avoid relegation
Elsewhere, other Filipino imports find themselves in the middle of the standings.
Kiefer Ravena and the Yokohama B-Corsairs are 11th in the playoff race with a 23–29 record, while Ray Parks and Osaka Evessa sit 14th at 20–32.
Meanwhile, Kai Sotto’s Koshigaya Alphas and the Nagoya Fighting Eagles of Francis Lopez are at 16th and 17th, respectively.
Their remaining games will be crucial as they try to avoid relegation to Division 2.
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