San-En suffers Boxing Day KO at Akita

Alex Davis put up a near flawless performance for Akita to beat Thirdy Ravena and San-En. FIBA (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--San-En received a haymaker from Akita in their Boxing Day B.League showdown on Saturday night, suffering a 79-89 defeat at the CNA Arena in Akita, Japan.

The Northern Happinets went up for good against the NeoPhoenix as they finished the first quarter on a 16-2 run to open a 30-18 lead, even extending it to as high as 17 in the third.

San-En still tried to mount a comeback, cutting the lead down to just five, 74-69, with 6:23 to play in the fourth period, but Akita finally pulled away after dropping a 12-5 run midway through the final frame to widen the gap back to 12, 86-74, with 1:55 left.

Alex Davis put up 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting including a perfect 2-for-2 clip from three-point range, five rebounds, two assists, three blocks, and two steals for the Happinets, who are tied with the Toyoma Grouses for fifth place in the Eastern Conference at 15-9.

Toyoma also prevailed on Saturday night, Hiroshima at home, 84-76.

Masashi Hosoya added 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting, two rebounds, and one steal off the bench for Akita.

Stevan Jelovac led San-En, which fell for the second straight time to 5-19, with 16 points, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal, but he gave up four of the team's 20 turnovers.

Kyle Hunt and Hayato Kawashima each contributed 15 markers with the former getting a double-double with 10 boards.

Filipino reinforcement Thirdy Ravena returned to the starting unit and finished with nine points, two rebounds, and one assist.

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