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Round 7 Day 3 - Kanagawa

Mukai Leads TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE Past SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE to Claim Group 3 Crown

Round 7 of the 3x3.EXE Premier Japan season brought Group 3 action to Kanagawa, with SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE stepping onto their home court in front of a vocal local crowd. With only two rounds left in the regular season, every possession carried added weight as teams battled not just for a spot in the day’s semi-finals, but also to secure valuable EXE Points in the race for top-seven positions on the overall ladder.

The field featured a mix of seasoned contenders and hungry challengers, and the competition quickly lived up to expectations. From dramatic pool play turnarounds, to semi-finals filled with physical battles and clutch shooting, the stage was set for a fitting climax. In the end, TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE emerged with their first title of 2025, outlasting the hometown favourites SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE in a thrilling 21–18 final to cap off a memorable day of basketball in Kanagawa.

POOL A

  • HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE (11) - 370 EXE POINTS | 56% Winning% | 17.0 PPG
  • HIU ZEROCKETS.EXE (27) - 280 EXE POINTS | 17% Winning% | 13.9 PPG
  • EDEN.EXE (27) - 280 EXE POINTS | 17% Winning% | 13.9 PPG

POOL A MOMENT THAT MATTERED

HIU ZEROCKETS.EXE Surge Past HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE With 10–0 Run

HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE entered their second pool game under pressure, having already stumbled in their opener against EDEN.EXE. That early setback opened the door for HIU ZEROCKETS.EXE to take control of the group if they could hold their nerve.

With the score sitting at 6–5 in favour of HIU ZEROCKETS.EXE, Kenya Igo found a way through heavy traffic to convert a determined layup. It was the play that sparked belief on the bench and laid the foundation for a momentum-shifting run.

From that point, Taiyo Ito rose to the occasion. The guard caught fire from beyond the arc, draining back-to-back two-pointers that silenced HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE and swung the scoreboard decisively in HIU ZEROCKETS.EXE’s favour.

Ito wasn’t done. With defenders closing in, he buried a third straight two-pointer under intense pressure to cap a stunning 10–0 surge. In just two minutes, HIU ZEROCKETS.EXE had blown the game wide open and sealed their first semi-final appearance of the season.

POOL A RESULTS

  • Game 1 - EDEN.EXE (22) Def HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE (15)
  • Game 2 - HIU ZEROCKETS.EXE (21) Def HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE (11)
  • Game 3 - HIU ZEROCKETS.EXE (21) Def EDEN.EXE (9)

POOL A WINNER:

HIU ZEROCKETS.EXE


POOL A NOTABLE SCORERS:

  • Hibiki Osawa (HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE) - 3.5 PPG | 75% - 1PT FG%
  • Daikou Matsuzawa (HIU ZEROCKETS.EXE) – 6.0 PPG | 73% FG%
  • Tsukasa Nishimura (EDEN.EXE) – 7.0 PPG | 57% - 2PT FG%

POOL B

  • SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE (11) - 370 EXE POINTS | 65% Winning% | 19.8 PPG
  • SANJO BEATERS.EXE (30) - 275 EXE POINTS | 8% Winning% | 10.6 PPG
  • TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE (18) - 340 EXE POINTS | 50% Winning% | 18.6 PPG

POOL B MOMENT THAT MATTERED

TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE Survive Overtime Thriller Against SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE

The opening clash of Pool B set the tone for the group, as SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE and TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE battled to establish momentum before the final round of the season. Both sides brought contrasting strengths: SHINAGAWA’s speed and ball movement against the size and inside presence of TRYHOOP’s tandem of Okoye Peter Junior and Michael Phillips.

Midway through the contest, TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE looked firmly in control. Behind strong inside play, they built a 15–10 advantage with just three minutes left on the clock. But SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE refused to go away, turning defensive stops into transition scores to claw back into contention.

Hiroto Takeda’s determined drive tied the game at 16–16 inside the final minute, setting up a dramatic finish. Both sides exchanged critical baskets down the stretch, including a powerful take to the rim from Okoye that gave TRYHOOP the lead before Takeda answered with just five seconds remaining to force overtime at 18–18.

The extra period delivered one final twist. After both teams missed their first looks, Michael Phillips crashed to the floor chasing a loose ball, keeping TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE alive. In the scramble, Yusuke Mukai found space on the perimeter and, under immense pressure, drilled a clutch two-pointer to seal a thrilling 20–18 victory.

POOL B RESULTS

  • Game 1 - TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE (20) Def SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE (18)
  • Game 2 - TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE (22) Def SANJO BEATERS.EXE (8)
  • Game 3 - SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE (21) Def SANJO BEATERS.EXE (7)

POOL B WINNER:

TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE


POOL B NOTABLE SCORERS:

  • Yusuke Mukai (TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE) - 9.8 PPG | 50% FG%
  • H Bagamboula (SANJO BEATERS.EXE) – 4.0 PPG | 53% - 1PT FG%
  • Hiroto Takeda (SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE) - 8.5 PPG | 73% - 1PT FG%

POOL C

  • SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE (6) - 395 EXE POINTS | 65% Winning% | 19.1 PPG
  • NINJA AIRS.EXE (23) - 290 EXE POINTS | 33% Winning% | 16.0 PPG
  • SPINNERS.EXE (30) - 275 EXE POINTS | 8% Winning% | 12.8 PPG

POOL C MOMENT THAT MATTERED

Home Crowd Roars as SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE Cruise Into Semi-Finals

After dropping a narrow game earlier in the day to SPINNERS.EXE, NINJA AIRS.EXE entered their clash with the hometown side desperate to keep semi-final hopes alive. But for SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE, advancing on home soil was non-negotiable, and they wasted no time asserting control.

From the opening tip, SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE dictated the pace. Their defence smothered NINJA AIRS.EXE, who managed just a single point through the first three and a half minutes. Every drive was contested, every passing lane shut down, leaving NINJA AIRS.EXE searching for answers.

Stephen Hurt and Yves Niyokwizera set the early tone, combining for seven unanswered points to fuel a 9–1 lead. The energy inside the venue lifted with every basket, as SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE turned their size and intensity into a commanding advantage.

That blistering start proved decisive. With NINJA AIRS.EXE unable to recover, SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE controlled the remainder of the game to secure a 21–13 win. From start to finish, the outcome never looked in doubt as the home favourites stormed into the semi-finals.

POOL C RESULTS

  • Game 1 - SPINNERS.EXE (21) Def NINJA AIRS.EXE (18)
  • Game 2 - SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE (21) Def NINJA AIRS.EXE (13)
  • Game 3 - SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE (21) Def SPINNERS.EXE (9)

POOL C WINNER:

SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE


POOL C NOTABLE SCORERS:

  • Stephen Hurt (SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE) – 9.0 PPG | 80% FG%
  • Yusuf Joof (SPINNERS.EXE) – 5.0 PPG | 67% - 1PT FG%
  • Kosuke Kashiwao (NINJA AIRS.EXE) – 9.0 PPG | 80% - 1PT FG%

POOL D

  • BEEFMAN.EXE (8) - 385 EXE POINTS | 68% Winning% | 17.3 PPG
  • LEOVISTA.EXE (21) - 295 EXE POINTS | 42% Winning% | 16.3 PPG
  • YAIZU CITY UNITED.EXE (27) - 280 EXE POINTS | 17% Winning% | 13.3 PPG

POOL D MOMENT THAT MATTERED

Umebayashi’s Clutch Finish Saves BEEFMAN.EXE From Collapse

With three minutes remaining and BEEFMAN.EXE holding a 17–11 advantage, the result looked all but settled. Their physical play and ball movement had kept LEOVISTA.EXE at bay for most of the contest, and a comfortable finish seemed within reach.

But LEOVISTA.EXE refused to roll over. Kuon Kogawa almost single-handedly dragged his team back into the fight, erupting from beyond the arc. He buried four deep shots in quick succession, each one chipping away at the deficit and lifting his side’s hopes.

The defining moment came when Kogawa’s final two-pointer levelled the game at 20–20 with just over a minute left on the clock. Suddenly, a game that had looked out of reach was wide open, and the pressure swung firmly back onto BEEFMAN.EXE.

In the end, experience told. Toshitaka Umebayashi delivered the decisive play, catching the ball in the post and backing down his defender. Using his strength and composure, he muscled his way to the rim for the game-winning basket, sealing a narrow escape and securing top spot in Pool D for BEEFMAN.EXE.

POOL D RESULTS

  • Game 1 - BEEFMAN.EXE (21) Def LEOVISTA.EXE (20)
  • Game 2 - YAIZU CITY U.EXE (18) Def LEOVISTA.EXE (17)
  • Game 3 - BEEFMAN.EXE (21) Def YAIZU CITY U.EXE (15)

POOL D WINNER:

BEEFMAN.EXE


POOL D NOTABLE SCORERS:

  • Tatsuhito Noro (BEEFMAN.EXE) - 8.4 PPG | 80% - 1PT FG%
  • Kuon Kogawa (LEOVISTA.EXE) – 8.0 PPG | 33% FG%
  • Hiroki Sugiyama (YAIZU CITY UNITED.EXE) – 10.0 PPG | 41% FG%

SEMI FINAL 1

HUI ZEROCKETS.EXE vs TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE

Mukai’s Hot Hand and Phillips’ Strength Carry TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE Past HIU ZEROCKETS.EXE

HIU ZEROCKETS.EXE opened their first semi-final appearance of the season with confidence, finding rhythm early. Daikou Matsuzawa knocked down his first attempt from deep, followed it with a composed free throw, and set the tone as his side jumped ahead. Moments later, Hiroto Yamaki added a tough finish at the rim to extend the advantage and put TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE under early pressure.

TRYHOOP struggled to settle in the opening exchanges. Yusuke Mukai got them on the board, but missed his next three looks as the inside tandem of Okoye Peter Junior and Michael Phillips found themselves crowded out of space in the paint. It took a determined drive from Okoye to break through for their second basket, but HIU ZEROCKETS.EXE immediately answered through Kenya Igo to keep control.

The contest then took on a physical edge when Igo absorbed a hard elbow but responded in style, banking in a two-pointer to stretch HIU ZEROCKETS.EXE’s lead to 7–2. Mukai refused to let TRYHOOP fall away, answering with a long-range effort of his own. Both players traded blows from deep as the game quickly turned into a shootout.

By the midpoint of the contest, momentum began to swing. Mukai caught fire from beyond the arc, hitting another two-pointer to close the gap before Okoye muscled inside to tie the scores at 13–13. For the first time all game, HIU ZEROCKETS.EXE had no answer, and TRYHOOP had dragged themselves back into contention.

Coming out of the timeout, TRYHOOP struck again. Mukai stayed locked in, burying his fourth shot from deep to hand his side their first lead of the contest. Yamaki replied with a lightning drive to the basket, but Okoye steadied TRYHOOP with another layup, keeping them just ahead.

The highlight of the game came soon after. Mukai, showing slick footwork, created space on the perimeter and landed his fifth two-pointer of the semi-final. It was a dagger that kept HIU ZEROCKETS.EXE chasing, forcing them to find points through Igo and Yamaki inside to keep the pressure on.

TRYHOOP leaned on their interior strength in the final minutes, and Phillips rose to the occasion. Twice he powered through contact in the paint, scoring vital baskets. On his second finish, he drew a foul and calmly converted the free throw to complete the three-point play.

That final sequence proved decisive. Despite HIU ZEROCKETS.EXE’s best efforts to keep pace, TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE’s balance of perimeter shooting and inside dominance carried them through. With Phillips’ and-one sealing the result, TRYHOOP booked their place in their first 3x3.EXE Premier final of 2025.

SCORE

TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE (21) Def HIU ZEROCKETS.EXE (16)

SEMI FINAL 2

SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE vs BEEFMAN.EXE

BEEFMAN.EXE Battle Shorthanded, But SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE Prove Too Strong

Both teams entered the semi-final with plenty on the line, each chasing a crucial top-seven spot on the 3x3.EXE Premier ladder. But BEEFMAN.EXE were dealt a blow before tip-off, with Toshitaka Umebayashi sidelined after picking up a knee injury in the pool stage. From the opening possession, SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE made it clear they would exploit their size advantage, going straight to Stephen Hurt inside.

Hurt delivered immediately, finishing off a pick-and-roll to get his side on the board. Tomoyuki Kato added a floater, Hurt powered in another layup, and Kato drilled a two-pointer from deep. In just over a minute, SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE had stormed out to a 5–0 lead, igniting their home crowd.

BEEFMAN.EXE, undersized but quick, refused to fold. Haruki Tobori and Susumu Miyasaka drove hard to get their side moving, but every time they scored, SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE answered through Hurt and Yves Niyokwizera in the paint. The hosts’ dominance inside was relentless, and after three minutes they held an 8–5 edge.

Despite the physical mismatch, BEEFMAN.EXE showed grit. Tatsuhito Noro muscled through traffic to keep them within reach, but their defence had no answers for Hurt, who powered through contact at will. As defenders collapsed inside, Kato found himself open on the perimeter and calmly buried another two-pointer, stretching the lead to 15–7 at the midpoint.

Just when it looked like the game might slip away, BEEFMAN.EXE rallied. Noro drained back-to-back two-pointers, injecting life into their offence and cutting the margin to single digits. It was a reminder that speed and perimeter shooting could still cause problems, even against a bigger opponent.

But SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE remained composed. Hurt continued to impose himself in the post, while Kato added a mid-range jumper to restore control. The rhythm inside-outside balance proved too difficult for BEEFMAN.EXE to contain, forcing them into constant recovery mode.

As the minutes ticked away, the gap widened again. Hurt’s unstoppable presence in the paint broke BEEFMAN.EXE’s resistance, his strength under the rim ensuring every possession ended with high-percentage looks. The home crowd roared as SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE closed in on the finish line.

In the end, BEEFMAN.EXE’s valiant effort, short-handed and undersized, wasn’t enough to overcome SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE’s power. Behind Hurt’s dominant inside play and Kato’s timely shooting, the home side cruised to a 21–13 victory, booking their place in the final against TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE.

SCORE

SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE (21) Def BEEFMAN.EXE (13)

Grand FINAL

SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE vs TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE

TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE Stun SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE in Kanagawa Final

The Group 3 final in Kanagawa pitted two evenly matched sides in what promised to be a high-quality contest. TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE leaned on the perimeter firepower of Yusuke Mukai and the interior presence of Okoye Peter Junior and Michael Phillips, while SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE countered with the size of Stephen Hurt and Yves Niyokwizera and the scoring touch of Tomoyuki Kato. With the home crowd firmly behind SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE, the stage was set for a memorable battle.

The opening minutes set the tone. Phillips scored inside for TRYHOOP, while Hurt quickly answered in the paint for SHONAN. Kato added a jumper from mid-range before Mukai responded with a smooth two-pointer from the top of the key. A pair of free throws and a floater from Kato gave SHONAN the early edge, but once again Mukai kept TRYHOOP within striking distance, draining his second long-range effort.

As the game settled, both teams leaned on their strengths. Phillips rolled to the basket for an easy finish, only for Niyokwizera to mirror the play on the other end. Layups were exchanged on back-to-back possessions, with neither side able to build daylight. By the midway point, TRYHOOP’s Igo knocked down a big two-pointer, but SHONAN still held a narrow 12–10 lead.

The tempo rose out of the timeout. Kato and Hurt powered in baskets for SHONAN, but Igo again responded from deep, keeping TRYHOOP close. Then Mukai reignited, curling off a handoff and drilling another two to tie the game at 14–14 with four minutes left. The very next trip down, he splashed another from the corner to give TRYHOOP their first lead of the final.

Mukai wasn’t finished. On the following possession, he used a quick ball fake to attack the lane, finishing at the rim to cap a personal 7–1 run that flipped the game in TRYHOOP’s favour. Kato tried to steady SHONAN with a strong drive, but Mukai answered instantly, letting fly from the wing for his sixth two-pointer of the game. The shot dropped clean, silencing the home crowd and pushing TRYHOOP closer to victory.

SHONAN fought desperately to stay alive. Ryota Iwata sank free throws, and Kato converted inside to trim the deficit. But TRYHOOP had the momentum and the hot hand. Mukai slashed to the rim for yet another finish, putting SHONAN on the brink.

With defenders collapsing onto Mukai on every possession, space finally opened up elsewhere. On the decisive play, Mukai drew the defence and dished to Phillips, who had room to operate in the lane. Driving hard, he floated in the clinching basket as TRYHOOP sealed the win.

The final buzzer confirmed it: TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE had stunned SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE 21–18 in front of their home fans, capturing their first 3x3.EXE Premier title of the 2025 season. It was a breakthrough victory, earning maximum EXE Points and proving they are a team capable of challenging the league’s elite.

SCORE

TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE (21) Def SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE (18)

🏆 MVP - Yusuke Mukai (TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE)

9.8 PPG | 46% - 2Pt FG% | 50% FG%

Yusuke Mukai’s performance in Kanagawa was the driving force behind TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE’s breakthrough title. Averaging 9.8 points per game across the round, he combined volume scoring with remarkable efficiency, hitting 46% from beyond the arc and 50% from the field overall. His shooting stretched defences, his composure under pressure steadied his team, and his relentless energy turned tight games into winnable ones.

The final was his masterpiece. Mukai buried six two-pointers in a display of perimeter precision that silenced the home crowd and flipped the game on its head. Beyond the numbers, it was his timing, knocking down shots in clutch moments and attacking the rim when his team needed a response, that defined his MVP round. In delivering TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE their first title of 2025, Mukai cemented himself as one of the league’s most dangerous offensive weapons.

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