KAI Sotto was still very much in the minds of his Koshigaya Alphas peers as they pulled off a massive 91-89 overtime win over powerhouse Chiba Jets at Koshigaya Municipal General Gymnasium on Sunday.
Soichiro Inoue drained the game-winning jumper with five seconds to play then later dedicated the huge win to the Gilas Pilipinas big man, who is out for the season after tearing his ACL last weekend.
“Kai, we won!” he said during the postgame interview as he wore Sotto’s No. 11 jersey.
His timely heroics liften the Alphas to a 9-21 card to make up for their slim 72-70 loss to Chiba the day before.
Matthew Wright also came up big for Kawasaki Brave Thunders in their 73-66 win over Fighting Eagles Nagoya on Sunday at Nagoyashi Inae Sports Center.
The Fil-Canadian gunner drained two triples for his 19 points, to go with two assists, two steals, and one board to redeem himself from a sub-par game in their 94-80 loss on Saturday where he only had five points and four rebounds.
The weekend split enabled Kawasaki to win four of its last six and climb up to 8-22.
The other Filipino imports failed to register victories this weekend.
Dwight Ramos’ Levanga Hokkaido bowed to Kyoto Hannaryz at Hokkai Kitayell, first a 92-76 rout on Saturday where he scored 10 points and three rebounds, before an 84-68 defeat on Sunday where Ramos was limited to five points, three assists, and two rebounds. Hokkaido slipped to 10-20 for the season.
Ray Parks’ Osaka Evessa also got swept by Gunma Crane Thunders at Ookini Arena Maishima. They lost, 76-67, on Saturday where Parks had 11 points, three steals, and two rebounds, before a much closer 75-71 defeat a day after where he collected nine points, four boards, and three assists. Osaka now goes down to an even 15-15 record.
AJ Edu’s Nagasaki Velca dropped their weekend series versus Hiroshima Dragonflies at Hiroshima Sun Plaza Hall.
The Fil-Cypriot center notched seven points, six rebounds, two assists, and one steal in their 78-71 defeat on Friday, before an 82-70 loss saw him put up eight points, seven boards, a steal, and a block. Nagasaki is now at 13-17.
Kiefer Ravena’s Yokohama B-Corsairs could not hurdle the Ryukyu Golden Kings at Yokohama International Pool. He was a non-factor in their 76-60 loss on Saturday, only getting one point and two assists, before doing better with 10 points, four rebounds, and four assists in their 103-89 blowout on Sunday.
Yokohama now sits at 11-19 for the season.
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