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| Yuki Togashi was solid anew for semis-bound Chiba. Japan B.League (file photo) |
MANILA—Kai Sotto could only watch from the bench as the Hiroshima Dragonflies bowed out of the B.League playoffs after succumbing to the Chiba Jets in Game Three, 96-91, at the Funabashi Arena on Monday night
The 21-year-old Pinoy wonder kid only played a mere five
minutes, scoring 2 points and grabbing 2 rebounds as the top-seeded Jets
escaped the Dragonflies in their narrow five-point win.
After a sorry Game One loss, Chiba turned it up to win two
straight games including a blowout in Game Two to move on to the next round.
Team captain Yuki Togashi led the way for Chiba with 19
points and 14 assists as he and the Jets advance and face Alvark Tokyo, who
also punched their ticket into the semifinals after beating Shimane Susanoo
Magic, 83-82.
This loss marks the end of a short-lived first and possibly only B.League season for
Sotto, who averaged 9.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.3 blocks in 23
games played (18 starts). Sotto notably transferred from the Adelaide 36ers in
the NBL to the B.League to have an increased role only to experience the same
fate with Hiroshima.
Furthermore, Hiroshima end their 2022-2023 campaign on an improved
note after making the playoffs as the number eight-seeded team with an overall
record of 41-18—a 12-win increase from last year’s 29-28 record and 12th
seed finish.
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