B.League: Matthew Wright, Kyoto escape Kiefer Ravena’s Shiga

FILE–Kyoto Hannaryz player Matthew Wright. –B.LEAGUE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines —  Matthew Wright got the better of Kiefer Ravena as the Kyoto Hannaryz escaped the Shiga Lakes, 78-76, in the 2022-23 Japan B. League season on Wednesday at Kyoto City Gymnasium.

Wright fired 22 points including two free throws that pushed Kyoto’s lead to eight, 78-70 with 30 seconds left before Ravena scored six straight points capped by a clutch three-pointer with nine ticks remaining to cut the lead to just two, 78-76.

Shiga forced a turnover but Ravena missed the game-tying layup as the Hannaryz survived and improved to a 17-31 record with Wright also tallying five assists, four steals, and three rebounds.

Ravena had 12 points, three rebounds, five assists, and a steal as Shiga suffered back-to-back losses since its four-game win streak was snapped.

The Lakes dropped to a 10-38 card.

KAI SOTTO’S QUIET NIGHT

Kai Sotto. Photo from B.League

Meanwhile, Kai Sotto hardly made his presence felt as he only had two points, three rebounds, two assists, and a block in 14 minutes of play as a starter but the Hiroshima Dragonflies took down the Fighting Eagles Nagoya, 73-65, at Nagoya Biwajima Sports Center.

With the 7-foot-3 center struggling, Kerry Blackshear Jr. powered Hiroshima with 19 points, eight rebounds, and four assists as they stretched their winning streak to five games with an improved 36-12 card.

Dwight Ramos was also triumphant as he delivered eight points, six assists, three rebounds, two steals, and a block to help the Levanga Hokkaido in beating the Sendai 89ers, 82-74, at Hokkai Kita-yale.

Ramos and the Levanga ended a two-game skid to rise to a 14-34 card.

Nagoya Diamond Dolphins continued to miss Ray Parks Jr. but their eight-man team still dominated Thirdy Ravena and the San-En NeoPhoenix, 92-63, at Dolphins Arena.

Coty Clarke carried the cudgels of Nagoya with 25 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists as they led as many as 33 points in the game to improve their record to 35-13.

Ravena delivered five points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block in a lopsided game, where he committed eight turnovers.

San-En slid to a 19-29 card.

Carl Tamayo was held to just three points and two rebounds as the Ryukyu Golden Kings suffered a tough 89-88 loss to the Osaka Evessa at Okinawa Arena.

Ryukyu fell to a 37-11, losing two of its last three games.

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