B.League (file photo) |
MANILA--San-En ended its 2020 on a sour note after Akita dealt the Thirdy Ravena-bolstered team its worst loss so far in the current B.League season, a 53-85 blowout on Sunday at the CNA Arena in Akita, Japan.
While the NeoPhoenix had a better start this time unlike their first meeting on Saturday night, the Northern Happinets crushed them in the second quarter to set up the rout.
San-En actually had tastes of the lead in some junctures of the first period and was just down three, 19-22, entering the second.
Akita, however, held San-En to just six points in the second quarter to open a 42-25 halftime lead and never looked back from there, also sending its visitor to its worst offense this season.
Noboru Hasegawa led the Happinets with 16 points on 4-for-6 shooting from beyond the arc, one rebound, two steals, and three steals.
Alex Davis added 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, two rebounds, three assists, four blocks, and one steal.
Stevan Jelovac had a game high 17 markers on 5-for-9 field goals, seven rebounds, two assists, and one steal for the NeoPhoenix, who now dropped three straight games after three consecutive wins that pulled them out of the cellar in the Western Conference.
Ravena finished with a solid all-around game of five points, four rebounds, six assists, and two steals.
Akita forced a three-way tie with Toyoma and Kawasaki for fourth place in the Eastern Conference at 16-9.
The Grouses repeated over the Hiroshima Dragonflies at home, 85-70, that kept the latter down at the bottom of the West standings.
The Brave Thunders, however, fell on the road to the Ryukyu Golden Kings, 63-72.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno