KAI Sotto’s much awaited return will be the biggest story to watch out for Filipino in the upcoming 2025-26 Japan B.League season which tips off this weekend.
The 7-foot-3 center, who is coming off an ACL injury back in January, is poised for a comeback, as he plays his second season for the Koshigaya Alphas.
He was averaging 13.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 block in 26 games before suffering the injury which also forced him out of Gilas Pilipinas duty in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup.
This will be Sotto’s fourth year in Japan after spending his first two years in Hiroshima and Yokohama.
He leads the seven Filipino imports in the first division, as the Japanese professional league embraces the Asian Players Quota for the sixth straight season.
Among the new faces this year will be Ginebra forward Jamie Malonzo, who will now suit up for Kyoto Hannaryz, and the University of the Philippines high-flyer Francis Lopez, who makes his pro debut for Fighting Eagles Nagoya.
Gilas mainstay Dwight Ramos plays his fourth year in Japan, as he suits up for Levanga Hokkaido for the third straight season.
Fellow national team member AJ Edu has joined a new team in Gunma Crane Thunders after playing his first two years with Toyama Grouses and Nagasaki Velca.
Kiefer Ravena will play his second year with the Yokohama B-Corsairs, with this being his fourth season in the Land of the Rising Sun, while Ray Parks enters his fifth year in Japan, as he suits up for the Osaka Evessa for the second season.
Asian imports from Middle East
Filipinos, however, won’t be the only ones to add spice to this season, especially with the B.League opening its doors to the Middle East.
Immediately, three Lebanese players were scooped up in B1, namely Ali Mezher of the Akita Northern Happinets, Sergio El Darwich of the Sendai 89ers, and Omar Jameleddine of the Kawasaki Brave Thunders.
Completing the Asian imports in the first division are Korean studs Lee Hyun-jung (Nagasaki Velca) and Yang Jae-min (Ibaraki Robots), Chinese players Michael Ou (Chiba Jets) and Sun Siyao (Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka), and Yu Ai-Che of Chinese Taipei (Shiga Lakes).
This season, 26 teams will participate in the first division, as they will be split into two conferences.
In the East Division will be reigning champion Utsunomiya Brex, Akita Northern Happinets, Alvark Tokyo, Chiba Jets, Gunma Crane Thunders, Kawasaki Brave Thunders, Koshigaya Alphas, Ibaraki Robots, Levanga Hokkaido, Sendai 89ers, Sunrockers Shibuya, Yokohama B-Corsairs, and last year’s B2 champions Altiri Chiba.
Making up the West Division are last year’s runner-up Ryukyu Golden Kings, Fighting Eagles Nagoya, Hiroshima Dragonflies, Kyoto Hannaryz, Nagasaki Velca, Nagoya Diamond Dolphins, Osaka Evessa, Saga Ballooners, San-en NeoPhoenix, SeaHorses Mikawa, Shiga Lakes, Shimane Susanoo Magic, and the newly-promoted Toyama Grouses.
The top two teams from each division will advance to the postseason together with the four wildcard teams which has the next-best records across the league. The whole playoffs will be played in a best-of-three series.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
