Despite struggling to score the basketball, both Kiefer Ravena and Matthew Wright scored wins with their new B.LEAGUE teams to open the new Japan basketball season.
Adjustment takes time.
Kiefer Ravena and Matthew Wright both secured winning debuts for their new teams as the 2024-25 B.LEAGUE season kicked off, though both players struggled to find their rhythm on offense.
Ravena, now with the Yokohama B-Corsairs, shot just 2/7 from the field for six points, but his team rallied late to pull off a 72-68 victory over the Sendai 89ers.
Yokohama started strong, building a 10-point lead after the first quarter, but offensive struggles in the second and third quarters allowed Sendai to take control.
However, the B-Corsairs stormed back in the final frame, outscoring Sendai 23-12 to secure the win.
Meanwhile, Matthew Wright had a similar rough shooting night for the Kawasaki Brave Thunders, finishing with just five points.
Despite his scoring woes, Wright made an impact in other areas, grabbing six rebounds, dishing out six assists, and tallying two steals.
Kawasaki built a 17-point lead and held on for an 81-73 home win over the Akita Northern Happinets.
Both Yokohama and Kawasaki will look to improve to 2-0 when they face the same opponents on October 6.
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[Editor's note: This article was generated by a member of the One Sports Digital team using AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]