B.LEAGUE

Osaka spoils Javi Gomez de Liaño's Japan debut as Ibaraki continues slide

Javi Gomez de Liaño finally made his Japan debut, making it nine Filipinos playing in the Japan Professional Basketball League (B.League) across the first and second divisions.

But his first outing in the season was quickly spoiled as his Ibaraki Robots fell to Osaka Evessa, 90-72, defeat on Saturday at the Ookini Arena Maishima.

Gomez de Liaño, who saw action for the UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP, was limited to only three points in 13 minutes of action. His teammate Marc Trasolini led the squad with a double-double of 17 markers and 11 rebounds.

Ibaraki will now sustain its third straight loss for a 1-9 card while Osaka will improve its standing to 4-6.

Trailing by slim four points heading to the final quarter, Ibaraki went scoreless for almost half of the fourth period with Marc Trasolino hitting back-to-back baskets to stop the bleeding, 62-74.

Prior to those conversions, Osaka unleashed a 13-0 run led by Eliet Donley Kyle Hunt.

Ibaraki never recovered from that point on as Osaka escaped with the win.

The Robots will clash with the same opponent anew on Sunday at 2:05 p.m.

—JMB, GMA News