SAN-EN NeoPhoenix once again got their act late and pulled off a 75-71 stunner over SunRockers Shibuya on Sunday in the 2020-21 B.League at Toyohashi City General Gymnasium.
The home team rallied from a 68-69 deficit with 5:21 remaining, unleashing a 12-0 blast capped off by a pair of Stevan Jelovac freebies with 1:10 remaining for a 72-68 lead.
Daisuke Noguchi kept Shibuya in the game with an and-one play with 1:02 left, but Shuto Terazono drew a foul from Gohei Sekino with 19 seconds remaining and canned a pair of freebies to make it a 74-71 lead.
Leo Vendrame tried to knot the game with a three, but he bungled his chance that led to Kyle Hunt icing the game with a split from the free throw line.
Hunt led the charge for the NeoPhoenix with 26 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, and four blocks as they improved to a 9-28 record.
Jelovac added 19 points and eight boards, while Terazono got 14 points, four rebounds, and two assists to nab back-to-back victories as they await the return of Filipino import Thirdy Ravena.
San-En continues its homestand against the Shiga Lakestars (13-23) on Feb. 27 and 28 at the same venue.
Charles Jackson paced Shibuya (23-13) with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Vendrame had 16 points, four boards, and two assists in the defeat.
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