FILIPINO imports are in danger of missing out on the Japan B.League playoffs altogether for the first time since their entry in the league in 2021.
Ray Parks and the Osaka Evessa fell to the Ryukyu Golden Kings, 98-81, on Wednesday at Asue Arena Osaka, dealing a big dent on the Filipino Asian imports' postseason bid with seven games remaining in the regular season.
Evessa left with mountain to climb
Parks fired 10 points and two rebounds in 30 minutes of play in the defeat that sent Osaka down to 27-26 (win-loss) - seven games behind in the race for the eight seed in the wildcard race as they remain at third in the Western Conference.
For the Evessa to make it, they have to go sweep their final assignments, hope for losses by SeaHorses Mikawa and Gunma Crane Thunders, both holding identical 34-19 slates, and the luck of the tiebreak to favor them.
Other Pinoys, on the other hand, are left to play for nothing more than pride.
Matthew Wright's Kawasaki Brave Thunders earned a 98-93 win over Kiefer Ravena's Yokohama B-Corsairs at Kawasaki Todoroki Arena.
The Fil-Canadian gunner contributed 12 points, two rebounds, and two assists as Kawasaki rose to a 16-37 record.
Ravena, on the other hand, sat out due to injury as Yokohama dropped to 23-30.
AJ Edu also made his presence felt on the defensive end in Nagasaki Velca's slim 69-67 victory over Shiga Lakes at Happiness Arena.
The Gilas Pilipinas center hauled down 11 rebounds and swatted five shots to go with his five points and one steal for Nagasaki, which climbed to a 24-29 record.
Dwight Ramos has 10 points, six rebounds, an assist, and a block in Levanga Hokkaido's 82-62 defeat to Akita Northern Happinets at Hokkai Kitayell.
With the defeat, Hokkaido slides down to 19-34.
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