MANILA – San-En suffered its biggest loss so far in the B. League season on Sunday, an 85-53 Akita blowout win at the latter's homecourt, the CNA Arena.
After a close first quarter, the Northern Happinets held the NeoPhoenix to just six points in the second quarter to open a 42-25 halftime lead and never looked back from there.
Noboru Hasegawa led Akita, which actually swept its two-game series against San-En after the home team also won, 89-79, on Saturday night, 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.
The Happinets forced a three-way tie with the Toyoma Grouses and the Kawasaki Brave Thunders for fourth place in the Eastern Conference at 16-9.
Toyoma repeated over Hiroshima at home, 85-70, that kept the latter down at the bottom of the West standings.
Kawasaki, however, fell on the road to Ryukyu, 63-72.
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.
Filipino rookie Thirdy Ravena finished with a solid all-around game of five points, four rebounds, six assists, and two steals. (PNA)
