FILIPINO imports promised a treat and boy, did they deliver as the Asia All-Stars outlasted the B.League Rising Stars, 118-114, in the 2023 Japan B.League All-Stars on Friday at Adastria Mito Arena.
Matthew Wright shot two triples for his 14 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and two steals as the Kyoto Hannaryz gunner shone the brightest among the Pinoy imports.
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"It was a great time, just seeing the fans especially the little kids enjoy the game. It reminds me when I was at their age watching the NBA or any kind of basketball for that matter, dreaming one day to play at some kind of All-Star festivities," said the Fil-Canadian gunner.
Kobe Paras also had a solid showing for the second division reinforcements, with the Altiri Chiba winger scoring 12 points from a bevy of dunks, and Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka's Greg Slaughter adding 12 points and nine boards to his name.
Nagoya Diamond Dolphins' Bobby Ray Parks also shot 3-of-8 from distance for his 11 points, five rebounds, and two assists, as Nagasaki Velca's Jordan Heading also drained three triples for his 11 points and five boards.
Overall, the Asia All-Stars shot 23-of-65 from rainbow country.
"I had so much fun tonight, I hope everybody who watched really enjoyed it," said Shiga Lakes' Kiefer Ravena.
Sendai 89ers' Taiki Okada led the B.League Rising Stars with 26 points from 8-of-16 shooting from distance, SeaHorses Mikawa's Yudai Nishida nabbed 18 points and four boards, and Chiba Jets' Takuma Sato scored 12.
The scores:
ASIA ALL-STARS 118 - Wang 18, Wright 14, Paras 12, Slaughter 12, Heading 11, Parks 11, Jawato 10, Yang 9, K. Ravena 8, T. Ravena 7, Cheon 3, Adams 3.
B.LEAGUE RISING STARS 114 - Okada 26, Nishida 18, Sato 12, Kawamata 10, Terashima 7, Masuda 7, Sugimoto 7, Yoshii 6, Toews 6, Hachimura 5, Flippin 4, Inoue 2, Kuzuhara 2, Donley 2, Saito 0.
Quarters: 34-22, 69-49, 86-80, 118-114.