WITH Thirdy Ravena getting ample help from his teammates, San-En got back at Kobe Paras and Niigata yesterday.
The NeoPhoenix nearly squandered an 11-point fourth quarter lead but held on to carve out an 85-8 victory over the visiting Albirex for their second win in the Japan B.League at the Hamamatsu Arena.
The 6-foot-2 Ravena barely missed on a double-double, scoring 13 points, pulling down nine rebounds, and dishing off two assists for San-En. Robert Carter led the team with 22 markers, two boards, and five dimes.
Elias Harris also added 11 and 12, Justin Knox had 11 points and five rebounds, and Yoshiyuki Matsuwaki contributed 10 points and four assists as the NeoPhoenix improved to 2-2. Niigata dropped to 2-2.
San-En made up for its 64-77 loss to the Albirex last Saturday.
In the other game, Kiefer Ravena helped steer Shiga to an 85-77 triumph over Ibaraki at the Ukaruchan Arena.
The NLEX star in the PBA wound up with 11 points, two rebounds, and seven assists as the Lakestars won their second straight match and hiked their record to 3-1.
The NeoPhoenix took a 61-50 lead, but Niigata refused to lie down and die and threatened at 75-77 on a Yuto Nohmi with 42 seconds remaining in the payoff period.
But Matsuwaki sank a booming three-pointer that made it 80-77 before Carter’s two free throws pushed San-En’s lead to 82-77 in the last 15 seconds.
Rosco Allen pulled the Albirex to within 80-82 with a triple, but Carter sealed the NeoPhoenix win with two freebies that pegged an 84-80 count.
Allen paced Niigata with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists, but Paras was held to just 11 points, three caroms, and three assists after scoring 21 points last Saturday.
“I’m just happy that I got to play against Thirdy. The last time we played was in college and I really thought that was the last time we were gonna play against each other,” Paras said.
“I’m just really happy that even here as pros, we got to play against each other,” he added.
Former NBA player Jeff Ayres came off the bench for his 14 points, five rebounds, and four dimes, while Tshilidzi Nephawe got 12 points and six boards for the Albirex.
The NeoPhoenix go back on the road and tangle with the Hiroshima Dragonflies at the Hiroshima Sun Plaza next weekend.
Niigata battles winless Levanga Hokkaido at the Hokkai Kitayell also next weekend.
The Robots, who are waiting for the arrival of former University of the Philippines forward Javi Gomez de Liaño, lost for the fourth time in a row.
Shiga goes on the road for the first-time next weekend it clashes with Kyoto Hannaryz at the Hannaryz Arena.
