Tamayo, Parks, Abarrientos squads score back-to-back wins in B.LEAGUE opening week

The newest season of the Japan B.LEAGUE opened on October 5 and the teams of Filipino imports Ray Parks, Carl Tamayo, and RJ Abarrientos notched back-to-back wins in the first week of Division 1 games.

Carl Tamayo waxes hot in Ryukyu opening game

Reigning champions Ryukyu Golden Kings defeated the Saga Ballooners, with Tamayo averaging 10 points per game as he fired four triples en route to a 15-point outing in their 80-63 opening win on October 5. In their second match last Saturday, while the former UP Fighting Maroon was limited to five points, Tamayo had 10 rebounds in the 80-79 victory.

Parks, Nagoya down Shibuya

Ray Parks and his Nagoya Diamond Dolphins squad opened their season with consecutive wins over the Sunrockers Shibuya, 79-70 and 76-74, last weekend. Parks posted 10 points each game. 

Winning debut for RJ Abarrientos

RJ Abarrientos had a winning debut in the B.League as his team the Shinshu Brave Warriors claimed victories over the Ibaraki Robots, 84-79 and 91-83, last weekend. The former Korean Basketball League Rookie of the Year had six points in his first game which was followed by a two-point outing in the next match.

Wright posts 19-10, but Kyoto falls to Yokohama

After Matthew Wright was limited to four points in Kyoto Hannaryz' 81-67 loss to the Yokohama B-Corsairs, the Filipino import posted a double-double performance of 19 points and 10 rebounds in their next match. However, Kyoto fell short against the B-Corsairs, 77-75.

Thirdy Ravena flirts with double-double in San-En's opener

The San-En NeoPhoenix opened their campaign this season with an 86-75 win against the Kawasaki Brave Thunders, with Thirdy Ravena registering 11 points and nine boards. However, San-En lost the day after, 84-71, with Ravena being limited to five points.

AJ Edu makes Toyama Grouses debut

AJ Edu made his debut for the Toyama Grouses but the team opened their season with back-to-back losses against Osaka Evessa, 93-73 and 86-77. Edu had 10 points and four boards in the campaign opener, followed by a six-point, 15-rebound outing in their second game.

Dwight Ramos, Levanga Hokkaido split games

Dwight Ramos and the Levanga Hokkaido squad opened their season with a loss to the Akita Northern Happinets, 69-59, with the Filipino import having five points and four boards. They bounced back the day after, 79-70, with Ramos posting four points and five rebounds. 

Ravena, Bolick, Adams, Slaughter split games in B2

Over in Division 2, the squads of Kiefer Ravena, Robert Bolick, Roosevelt Adams, and Greg Slaughter split their opening week games.

Kiefer posted averages of 16 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 2 steals per game as the Shiga Lakes' commenced the season with a 100-86 win against the Kumamoto Volters. They lost, however, 91-85, the following day.

Bolick made his Japan debut for the Fukushima Firebonds with a loss against the team of Roosevelt Adams, the Yamagata Wyverns, 95-90. Bolick made 10 points in the opener, while he did not play in their 82-71 win. Adams was limited only to a minute and eleven seconds of play in the first game, but did not play also in the second match.

Slaughter played for only 1:10 in the 78-75 win of the Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka against the Ehime Orange Vikings on October 6 while he had three points in their 77-70 loss the day after.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News