The new season of the Japan B.League league tipped off a few days ago, and familiar names like Carl Tamayo and Kiefer Ravena have gotten buckets while debuting studs such as AJ Edu and RJ Abarrientos were able to leave a solid impression.
Here’s a recap of the Filipino Asian imports’ performances during the opening week.
Carl Tamayo – Ryukyu Golden Kings
Tamayo hardly saw action last season. This time, he seems on track for a bounce-back year. On October 5, the former UP Fighting Maroon posted 15 points, five rebounds, and two assists as the defending champs thrashed the Saga Ballooners, 80-63. In the rematch a couple of days later, the 6-foot-7 big registered five points and 10 rebounds in the Golden Kings’ 80-79 win. Tamayo is now averaging 30.5 minutes of playing time.
Kiefer Ravena – Shiga Lakes
The veteran combo guard had a fantastic start to the season as he went off for 21 points to help Shiga beat the Kumamoto Vorters, 100-86 on October 7. Manong Kiefer was coming off a commendable campaign with Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA World Cup and he seems to have carried the momentum during the Division 2 showcase. Ravena also notched four dimes in his squad’s road victory.
AJ Edu – Toyama Grouses
Edu had a memorable B.League debut despite the Grouses’ 93-73 defeat to the Osaka Evessa on Saturday. The 6-foot-10 pivot was a rock. In 23 minutes, the Cyprus-born big man was able to chip in 10 points, including several slams, and three rebounds. He shot 60% from the field and made all four of his free throw attempts. Toyama failed to bounce back against Osaka on Sunday, but Edu proved to be a monster on the board with 16 total rebound to pair with six points.
RJ Abarrientos – Shinshu Braves
The reigning Korean Basketball League Rookie of the Year also made his debut in Japan on Saturday. In 13 minutes of play, Abarrientos garnered six points, two rebounds, and an assist. Those are modest numbers indeed but the Braves needed all of them in their tight 84-79 win over the Ibaraki Robots. In his second game RJ was limited again to below 12 minutes, where scored only two points to go with four assists as Shinshu defeated Ibaraki Robots again, 91-83. Don’t expect a bucket-getter of Abarrientos’ caliber to stay quiet for long.
Ray Parks Jr. – Nagoya Diamond Dolphins
Parks helped out the Diamond Dolphins complete a 79-70 triumph over the Sun Rockers Shibuya. On Saturday, the 30-year-old playmaker put up 10 markers, five boards, and two dimes. For his efforts, Parks was chosen as Player of the Game. The following day, Parks repeated with 10 points as Nagoya escaped Shibuya, 76-74.
Thirdy Ravena - San-en NeoPhoenix
The B.League’s first Filipino Asian import flirted with a double-double, registering 11 points, nine rebounds, and three assists to help NeoPhoenix subdue the Kawasaki Brave Thunders, 86-75. Thirdy is a pioneer among Filipino cagers thriving in Japan, and he showed exactly why on Saturday.
Dwight Ramos – Levanga Hokkaido
St Dwight underwhelmed on Saturday as he only rendered five points, four boards, and two assists in 35 minutes. He certainly didn’t do much as Levanga fell to the Akita Northern Happinets, 69-59. Ramos failed to claim redemption the next day as Hokkaido lost to Akita once more, 79-70, with the popular Gilas Pilipinas player only hitting four points.
Matthew Wright – Kyoto Hannaryz
Also looking to redeem himself today is Matthew Wright. The shooting specialist only registered four points and as many rebounds on Saturday as Kyoto lost to the Yokohama B-Corsairs, 81-67. Wright bounced back with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists on Sunday but that wasn't enough as Kyoto lost to the same team in back-to-back days, 77-75.
A couple of other Filipino studs are still waiting to see action. Kai Sotto’s Hiroshima Dragonflies and Robert Bolick’s Fukushima Firebonds weren’t scheduled to play in the first two gamedays of the new season. For sure, they’ll be shaking up the league and social media as well, once they start suiting up.
(CF)