This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
Kai Sotto delivers an all-around performance for the Koshigaya Alphas before suffering an apparent left ankle injury in their 13-point win over AJ Edu and the Nagasaki Velca in the Japan B. League
MANILA, Philippines – In a highly anticipated first matchup between two Gilas Pilipinas big men in the Japan B. League, Kai Sotto and the Koshigaya Alphas prevailed over AJ Edu and the Nagasaki Velca, 80-67, at the Koshigaya City Gymnasium on Wednesday, November 6.
Sotto delivered an all-around performance of 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 4 blocks to help Koshigaya (2-10) snap its six-game skid, while Edu had 6 points, 8 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block for Nagasaki (6-6) in the losing effort.
Unfortunately, Sotto suffered an apparent left ankle injury with 58.7 seconds to go in the third quarter while running back on defense after his teammate Ryoma Hashimoto hit a three-pointer to put Koshigaya up, 58-45.
Sotto was able to walk off the floor after the injury, but the towering 7-foot-3 center did not return the rest of the game as Koshigaya cruised to victory.
Both Sotto and Edu are expected to suit up for Gilas Pilipinas in their upcoming two-game home stand in the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers against New Zealand on November 21 and Hong Kong on November 24, both at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Elsewhere, the Levanga Hokkaido picked up their third straight victory with Dwight Ramos back in the fold as they outlasted the Sendai 89ers in overtime, 97-88, at the Hokkai Kita-yale.
Ramos — who recently returned from injury — continued his string of double-digit scoring performances as he finished with 11 points on 4-of-9 field goal clip, along with 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal for Hokkaido (5-7).
Meanwhile, Kiefer Ravena’s Yokohama B-Corsairs (5-7) and Ray Parks’s Osaka Evessa (6-6) absorbed twin narrow losses on Wednesday.
Ravena tallied 13 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, and 1 steal in Yokohama’s 80-77 setback against the Alvark Tokyo at the Yokohama International Pool.
Ravena scored all his 13 points in the fourth quarter, including a tough fadeaway trey with only 0.8 seconds left to pull Yokohama within one, 77-78.
However, it was too little, too late for Ravena and the rest of the B-Corsairs as Tokyo’s Kai Toews quickly iced the game with two free throws with just 0.6 ticks remaining.
Parks, for his part, recorded 15 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal in Osaka’s 93-91 defeat at the hands of the Hiroshima Dragonflies at the Hiroshima Sun Plaza Hall.
Finally, Matthew Wright was held scoreless in the Kawasaki Brave Thunders’ 112-89 loss to the San-En NeoPhoenix at the Toyohashi City Gymnasium.
Wright missed all his four attempts from the field and came up with only 2 rebounds and 1 assist for Kawasaki (3-9) in the lopsided defeat. – Rappler.com
