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Round 7 Group 1 - Saitama

ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE Rise, TOKYO VERDY Shine and Drama Unfolds in Saitama

As the 2025 3x3.EXE Premier Japan season heads into its final stretch, Round 7 Group 1 delivered high-stakes action, emotional twists, and a title-worthy response from ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE. Held in Sendai, this group featured 12 of the league’s top teams battling through four tightly contested pools, each vying for precious EXE points and momentum heading into the season’s final chapter. From clutch buzzer-beaters to overtime heart-stoppers, the road to the championship game was anything but straightforward.

ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE, having come up short in Round 6, looked every bit like a team on a mission, showcasing composure, size, and elite execution on both ends of the floor. TOKYO VERDY.EXE, led by the red-hot shooting of Ryuta Sekiguchi, made a powerful run to the final, while teams like EPIC.EXE, ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE, and TARUI RAZORBACKS.EXE all contributed to one of the most competitive rounds of the season. With multiple games decided in the final moments, and standout performances across the board, Round 7 Group 1 was a masterclass in playoff-intensity basketball.

POOL A

  • ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE (2) - 540 EXE POINTS | 92% Winning% | 20.5 PPG
  • TARUI RAZORBACKS.EXE (23) - 290 EXE POINTS | 42% Winning% | 16.1 PPG
  • SIMON.EXE (15) - 365 EXE POINTS | 47% Winning% | 18.1 PPG

POOL A MOMENT THAT MATTERED

Nishio’s Corner Magic Seals Dramatic Win for TARUI RAZORBACKS.EXE

With ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE already locking in the top spot in Pool A, the final group game between SIMON.EXE and TARUI RAZORBACKS.EXE carried major weight for standings implications. SIMON.EXE, battling to remain inside the top 15 on the overall 3x3.EXE Premier ladder, had everything to play for, while TARUI RAZORBACKS.EXE were searching for a morale-boosting win in Sendai. What followed was a back-and-forth thriller that delivered the round’s most dramatic finish.

SIMON.EXE leaned on the powerful interior presence of Mike Harry and the scoring poise of Cheick Keita, while TARUI RAZORBACKS.EXE responded with an early scoring surge from Rikiya Kato and a confident close to the game from Yamato Nishio. Both teams traded buckets throughout, setting up a nail-biting conclusion that had every spectator on their feet.

With the score tied at 19–19 and just 10 seconds remaining, Kato found a sliver of space and drove hard to the hoop, finishing through contact to give TARUI RAZORBACKS.EXE a narrow 20–19 lead. But SIMON.EXE were not done. A swift outlet from Kawasaki found Keita inside, who powered through a defender to tie the game again with just 2 seconds on the clock.

As overtime loomed, the game still had one final twist. Off the inbounds, a lightning-quick pass from Ozzie Henderson found Nishio in the corner. Despite defensive pressure in his face, he released a shot as the buzzer sounded, and buried it. The TARUI RAZORBACKS.EXE bench erupted as the final two-pointer gave them a stunning 22–20 walk-off win, breaking SIMON.EXE hearts and stealing the show in Pool A.

POOL A RESULTS

  • Game 1 - ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE (18) Def SIMON.EXE (12)
  • Game 2 - ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE (20) DefTARUI RAZORBACKS.EXE (12)
  • Game 3 - TARUI RAZORBACKS.EXE (21) Def SIMON.EXE (20)

POOL A WINNER:

ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE


POOL A NOTABLE SCORERS:

  • Devin Gilligan (ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE) - 7.5 PPG | 64% FG%
  • Cheick Keita (SIMON.EXE) – 7.0 PPG | 52% FG %
  • Rikiya Kato (TARUI RAZORBACKS.EXE) - 7.5 PPG | 58% - 1PT FG%

POOL B

  • EPIC.EXE (5) - 405 EXE POINTS | 70% Winning% | 17.8 PPG
  • SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE (30) - 275 EXE POINTS | 8% Winning% | 14.9 PPG
  • ADDELM ELEMENTS.EXE (30) - 275 EXE POINTS | 17% Winning% | 12.6 PPG

POOL B MOMENT THAT MATTERED

Kishikawa Sends EPIC.EXE to Semis with Overtime Game-Winner

In a winner-takes-all clash to close out Pool B, EPIC.EXE and SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE squared off with a semi-final berth on the line. For EPIC.EXE, this was a critical opportunity to bounce back after a disappointing performance in Round 6. On the other side, SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE, already out of the playoff hunt, were determined to close their season with a statement win.

From the opening tip, SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE set the tone defensively. Known for their grind-it-out style, they contested every pass and shot, disrupting EPIC.EXE’s typically high-paced rhythm. By the halfway mark, the usually potent EPIC.EXE offense had managed just six points, a testament to SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE’s relentless energy and execution.

As the game wound down, tensions flared and the drama escalated. With under 30 seconds remaining, Ryoma Takeda scored twice in the paint for SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE, but Tatsuki Kishikawa answered both times for EPIC.EXE, knotting the game at 15. Kishikawa looked set to close the game with a third drive, but a foul before the gather and a waved-off shot meant overtime would decide the outcome.

In the extra period, Takashi Sano opened scoring with a tough finish at the rim just as the shot clock expired. But fatigue crept in for SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE, and EPIC.EXE capitalised, grabbing five offensive rebounds and earning four clean looks from beyond the arc. The decisive moment came when Kishikawa rose above two defenders on the left wing and calmly drilled a two-pointer to win the game 17–16, sending EPIC.EXE to the semi-finals with a performance full of resilience and clutch execution.

POOL B RESULTS

  • Game 1 - SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE (17) Def ADDELM ELEMENTS.EXE (15)
  • Game 2 - EPIC.EXE (21) Def ADDELM ELEMENTS.EXE (11)
  • Game 3 - EPIC.EXE (17) Def SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE (16)

POOL B WINNER:

EPIC.EXE


POOL B NOTABLE SCORERS:

  • Takashi Sano (SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE) - 6.5 PPG | 50% - 1PT FG%
  • Keito Sakurai (ADDELM ELEMENTS.EXE) – 9.0 PPG | 48% FG%
  • Tatsuki Kishikawa (EPIC.EXE) - 7.7 PPG | 71% - 1PT FG%
  •  

POOL C

  • TOKYO VERDY.EXE (6) - 395 EXE POINTS | 59% Winning% | 18.3 PPG
  • UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE (16) - 345 EXE POINTS | 44% Winning% | 17.1 PPG
  • BRIDGELINE MP3.EXE (35) - 270 EXE POINTS | 0% Winning% | 10.7 PPG

POOL C MOMENT THAT MATTERED

Oguchi’s Game-Winner Lifts TOKYO VERDY.EXE After Epic Pool C Comeback

After surviving a tense one-point win over BRIDGELINE MP3.EXE in their first Pool C game, UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE stepped into their final group matchup with a semi-final spot on the line. Standing in their way was TOKYO VERDY.EXE, a top-six powerhouse with eyes firmly set on another deep run. It was a clash of rising grit versus established class, and it didn’t disappoint.

TOKYO VERDY.EXE missed a pair of early free throws, and UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE seized the moment. Kifu Mashiko lit it up from beyond the arc while Attila Ergir anchored the paint, helping their side take an early 8–3 lead. The momentum stayed with UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE until Riku Oguchi began to find his rhythm, stringing together plays that brought the score to an even 11–11.

Then came a potential knockout punch. A two-pointer from Daizen Saeki capped a 6–0 burst, pushing UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE ahead 19–13 with just over three minutes remaining. But as the clock ticked down, TOKYO VERDY.EXE turned up the intensity. Oguchi and Kento Uenodan nailed three deep shots in the span of a minute, sending the crowd into a frenzy as the game was tied once more at 19–19.

With both teams trading makes, the game reached 20–20, a “next basket wins” moment. Everyone in the gym knew who was getting the ball. Oguchi isolated on the wing, used a pair of silky crossovers to shake his defender, and drove hard to the rim. He finished through contact with composure and class, completing an 8–1 run in the final two minutes to secure the comeback win. TOKYO VERDY.EXE had survived the scare and punched their ticket to the semis.

POOL C RESULTS

  • Game 1 - TOKYO VERDY.EXE (21) Def BRIDGELINE MP3.EXE (11)
  • Game 2 - UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE (21) Def BRIDGELINE MP3.EXE (20)
  • Game 3 - TOKYO VERDY.EXE (21) Def UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE (20)

POOL C WINNER:

TOKYO VERDY.EXE


POOL C NOTABLE SCORERS:

  • Antuan Person (BRIDGELINE MP3.EXE) - 9.5 PPG | 41% - 2PT FG%
  • Riku Oguchi (TOKYO VERDY.EXE) - 10.8 PPG | 72% - 1PT FG%
  • Daizen Saeki (UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE) – 8.0 PPG | 55% - 2PT FG%

POOL D

  • ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE (10) - 375 EXE POINTS | 56% Winning% | 17.3 PPG
  • ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE (19) - 320 EXE POINTS | 43% Winning% | 17.1 PPG
  • SENDAI AIRJOKER.EXE (20) - 315 EXE POINTS | 50% Winning% | 17.3 PPG

POOL D MOMENT THAT MATTERED

Wakabayashi Clutch as ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE Survive Intense Pool D Pressure

Pool D of Round 7 shaped up as the most competitive grouping of the day, with qualification scenarios adding layers of complexity heading into the final clash between hometown favourites SENDAI AIRJOKER.EXE and ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE. Despite an earlier loss, SENDAI AIRJOKER.EXE could still qualify, but only if they scored 21 points and beat ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE by at least seven. For ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE, the equation was far simpler: reach 16 points and the semi-final spot was theirs.

Both teams felt the pressure early, with neither side able to generate consistent looks in the opening exchanges. After three minutes, the score sat at a cautious 4–3. Hitting the 16-point benchmark looked like a mountain to climb, until Tsugumi Ohashi and Yukimoto Wakabayashi connected on back-to-back deep shots to jolt ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE into rhythm and shift the pace of the contest entirely.

With the score tied at 11 and four minutes remaining, the game turned into a shootout. Both teams started trading two-point bombs, hitting five straight from long range in a stretch that had fans at the edge of their seats. When Ren Chida drilled one from the corner to put SENDAI AIRJOKER.EXE up 19–15, the possibility of a late miracle qualification suddenly became very real.

But Wakabayashi wouldn’t be denied. Receiving the ball on the opposite wing, he rose and buried yet another two-pointer to bring ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE to 17 points, enough to book their place in the semi-finals. With qualification secured, Haruka Kataoka added the finishing touches, hitting back-to-back two-pointers of his own to lock in the win and crush any hopes of a SENDAI AIRJOKER.EXE comeback. ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE advanced in both style and substance

POOL D RESULTS

  • Game 1 - ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE (21) Def ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE (15)
  • Game 2 - ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE (21) Def SENDAI AIRJOKER.EXE (15)
  • Game 3 - ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE (21) Def SENDAI AIRJOKER.EXE (20)

POOL D WINNER:

ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE


POOL D NOTABLE SCORERS:

  • Gjio Bain (ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE) - 8.4 PPG | 95% FG%
  • Ren Chida (SENDAI AIRJOKER.EXE) - 5.5 PPG | 50% - 1PT FG%
  • Uda Ryuhei (ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE) - 7.5 PPG | 78% - 1PT FG%

SEMI FINAL 1

ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE vs EPIC.EXE

Gilligan and Scott Lead ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE to Semi-Final Statement Win

A powerhouse throughout the 2025 season, ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE entered the semi-finals with the league’s highest win percentage and a reputation for physical dominance inside the paint. With a dynamic frontcourt and consistent team chemistry, they’ve proven nearly impossible to slow down when they hit their stride.

Known for their backcourt brilliance and sharp movement off the ball, EPIC.EXE’s strength lies in their guard play and hustle. After a dramatic overtime win in Pool B, they came into the semi-final full of belief and momentum, ready to challenge one of the season’s elite.

EPIC.EXE came out with purpose, opening the game through a clean finish from Tatsuki Kishikawa on the very first possession. Atsushi Isshiki followed up soon after, scoring twice inside to give EPIC.EXE a confident 3–1 lead in the opening minute. Despite ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE getting an early score from Ryoichi Dewa on a textbook seal in the paint, their second basket didn’t arrive until over 90 seconds later, when Jevonnie Scott collected an under-the-rim look to get them going.

With ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE struggling to find inside rhythm, EPIC.EXE maintained their early advantage by spreading the floor and getting all four players involved. At 6–2, they looked in control, but it was only a matter of time before the size mismatch began to tilt the scales. Scott went to work down low, scoring five unanswered points capped off by a statement dunk that gave ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE their first lead with just over five minutes remaining.

EPIC.EXE responded through Isshiki, who found Akito Omachi cutting behind the defense for a two-handed flush that tied things at 7 apiece. Coming out of the mid-game timeout, both sides leaned into their strengths: Kishikawa scored from the elbow while Devin Gilligan began asserting himself, muscling through traffic for multiple scores to push ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE ahead once more.

With the score at 12–11 and under three minutes to play, ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE turned up the pressure. A missed corner shot by Scott was cleaned up by Gilligan for a putback, sparking a run that would decide the game. From there, ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE strung together a dominant stretch, Scott spinning through traffic, Gilligan catching a backdoor lob, and Dewa isolating for a tough finish, stretching the lead to 17–12 in a flash.

Isshiki managed to get one more to fall for EPIC.EXE with an off-balance drive, but the offensive rhythm had disappeared. A late turnover was scooped up by Scott, who fed Gilligan one final time inside to seal the game. ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE ran out the clock and walked off with an 18–12 victory, punching their ticket to the final with a clinical closing performance.

SCORE

ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE (18) Def EPIC.EXE (12)

SEMI FINAL 2

TOKYO VERDY.EXE vs ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE

Down a Man, ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE Battle Bravely in Semi-Final Defeat

One of the most consistent mid-tier teams this season, TOKYO VERDY.EXE have shown flashes of brilliance with an up-tempo, sharpshooting style. With dynamic guard play and the ability to catch fire from deep, they came into the semis hoping to ride the momentum of their Pool C comeback win.

A gritty team that thrives on physicality and teamwork, ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE had already made headlines with their tactical execution in Pool D. Entering the semi-finals, they looked to lean on their size advantage and ride the interior presence of Gjio Bain to punch a surprise ticket to the final.

The semi-final tipped off with an immediate statement from ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE, as Gjio Bain muscled in a strong finish and Yukimoto Wakabayashi followed up with a putback to grab early control. But TOKYO VERDY.EXE wasted no time responding, Kento Uenodan splashed a two-pointer from deep and both teams had points on the board within 30 seconds.

Then, the energy shifted dramatically. In a scramble to deflect a pass, Dai Shinada and Bain accidentally collided, with Shinada taking a direct blow to the head. He was assessed on the court and eventually stretchered off, ruling him out for the remainder of the match and leaving ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE with only three players. A hush fell over the venue, but once play resumed, TOKYO VERDY.EXE’s Ryuta Sekiguchi took over.

Sekiguchi scored four points in 90 seconds, including a contested corner jumper and a tough And-1 finish, helping VERDY regain momentum. Kataoka Haruka gave ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE a lifeline with a deep two, but the tide was turning. With crisp ball movement and a clear numbers advantage, TOKYO VERDY.EXE created open looks for both Uenodan and Sekiguchi, pulling out to a 15–7 lead by the halfway mark.

Despite the adversity, ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE fought back. Bain earned a trip to the line and showed footwork in the post, while Wakabayashi added another bucket. But VERDY were relentless. Sekiguchi drained back-to-back two-pointers to push the score to 20, then came back down, isolated his defender on the perimeter, and calmly buried another deep two to close the game 22–12, his second game-winner of the day.

It was a professional and poised performance from TOKYO VERDY.EXE, who now move into the final with momentum and confidence, while ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE exit the round with admiration for their heart and resilience.

SCORE

TOKYO VERDY.EXE (21) Def ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE (10)

Grand FINAL

ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE vs TOKYO VERDY.EXE

ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE Complete Redemption Run in Round 7 Final

After coming up short in the Round 6 final, ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE returned to Sendai locked in on redemption. Their goal was simple: claim every available EXE point and reassert their dominance in the league. But standing in their way was a red-hot TOKYO VERDY.EXE squad, led by the explosive play of Ryuta Sekiguchi, who had already delivered two game-winners earlier in the day.

Both teams got on the scoreboard early. ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE struck first through Dai Shinada, whose deep two took a friendly roll before dropping in, while TOKYO VERDY.EXE answered with a clean mid-range jumper from Ryuta Sekiguchi to get their rhythm going. The teams traded early blows with high-level execution, Dewa’s And-1 finish for ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE and a sharp cut and layup from Sekiguchi kept things tight in the opening three minutes.

As the game progressed, the action stayed balanced. Cocoro Mieda and Sekiguchi added points for TOKYO VERDY.EXE, while Jevonnie Scott and Devin Gilligan went to work inside for ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE, showcasing great movement and timing. As they approached the mid-point break, the scores were locked at 8–8 in what was shaping up to be another tightly fought final.

Coming out of the timeout, ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE did what they’ve done all season, they flipped the switch. A pair of free throws, an inside finish from Gilligan, and a deep two from Scott gave them a sudden surge, and the momentum clearly began to shift. TOKYO VERDY.EXE tried to respond, with Mieda capitalising on a steal to finish at the rim, but ZETHREE’s pressure didn’t let up.

Scott drilled another corner two, only to see Uenodan respond immediately with a long-range make of his own. But the interior passing of ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE was relentless, Scott fed Gilligan inside once more, and the lead stretched to 16–11 with three minutes remaining. Another drive and layup from Gilligan made it 18–13, inching them closer to the finish line.

Sekiguchi fired in another two-pointer to lift TOKYO VERDY.EXE's hopes, but Dewa answered instantly with a long bomb of his own to maintain the gap. TOKYO continued to fight, trimming the lead with a pair of tough layups, but it wasn’t enough. Scott powered through for point 20, then tossed a lob to Gilligan, who rose up for an alley-oop finish that sealed the game and the championship.

ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE walked off with a 21–15 win, earning redemption for their Round 6 loss. Scott’s all-around brilliance and Gilligan’s paint dominance proved too much, while their collective defensive effort kept Sekiguchi largely in check. It was a clinical, composed, and complete performance that put ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE back on top of the 3x3.EXE Premier mountain.

SCORE

ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE (21) Def TOKYO VERDY.EXE (15)

🏆 MVP – Jevonnie Scott (ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE)

6.3 PPG | 62% - 1Pt FG% | 44% FG%

A dominant interior presence from start to finish, Jevonnie Scott was the engine behind ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE’s Round 7 title run. Whether muscling through defenders in the paint, crashing the offensive glass, or stepping out to knock down timely shots, Scott’s all-around impact was impossible to ignore. His ability to punish mismatches and convert under pressure became a constant advantage for ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE, particularly during key stretches when momentum was on the line.

In the final, Scott delivered his signature performance, finishing through contact, hitting a big corner two, and assisting the dagger alley-oop that sealed the win. But his impact went beyond the box score. From setting hard screens to switching onto perimeter players defensively, Scott embodied ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE’s physical and disciplined identity. In a field packed with talent, his consistent dominance made him the clear standout, and a worthy MVP of Round 7.

Results

Links

FIBA 3x3 Event PageFIBA 3x3 Event Link
YouTube LinkYoutube Link - Men's
3x3.EXE Standings3x3.EXE Standings
3x3.EXE Schedule3x3.EXE Schedule

Written by Andrew Cannings