Ray Parks with his Osaka Evessa teammates during a Japan B.League game. –B.LEAGUE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The Koshigaya Alphas felt the absence of Filipino import Kai Sotto, falling to the Osaka Evessa, 77-70, on Sunday in the Japan B.League at Ookini Arena Maishima.
With the 7-foot-3 center Sotto still recovering after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee, Osaka had a tough time against Koshigaya, which had its way in the paint.
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Filipino import Ray Parks Jr. chipped in 10 points and four rebounds.
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Ryan Luther led Evessa (19-18) with 20 points, seven rebounds and three steals while Ray Parks chipped in 10 points and four rebounds.
Meanwhile, the Nagasaki Velca absorbed a 96-65 beatdown at the hands of the Nagoya Fighting Eagles at Nagoyashi Inae Sports Center despite AJ Edu’s solid showing.
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Edu, who will be joining Gilas Pilipinas in Doha, collected nine points, six rebounds and three steals in just 15 minutes for Nagasaki, which dropped to 16-21.
Matthew Wright also impressed in the Kawasaki Brave Thunders’ defeat at the hands of Brex at Arena Utsonomiya, 94-74.
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The former Phoenix Fuel Master recorded 11 points, three rebounds and two assists in the loss that sent Kawasaki crashing to 12-25.
Roosevelt Adams couldn’t escape the same fate as his Yamagata Wyverns succumbed to the Aomori Wat’s, 79-66, at Kakuhiro Group Super Arena.
Adams made the most of his minimal touches with nine points and five rebounds in the loss that saw Yamagata skid to a 16-23 slate.