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Round 7 Group 2 - Utsunomiya

MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE Outlast UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE to Claim Round 7 Group 2 Title

Round 7 of the 3x3.EXE Premier Japan season brought Group 2 action to Utsunomiya, where 12 teams battled across four fiercely contested pools for a place in the semi-finals and a valuable haul of EXE Points with just one round remaining in the regular season. The stakes were high for every side, from top-ranked contenders looking to cement their playoff credentials, to mid-table challengers fighting to break into key ladder positions before the cut-off.

The day delivered a mix of tactical battles, explosive scoring runs, and high-stakes finishes. From UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE igniting the home crowd with statement plays, to SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE’s clinical execution in Pool B, and IKEBUKURO DROPS.EXE’s gritty late surge in Pool C, each matchup carried its own drama. MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE’s steady composure in Pool D rounded out a semi-final lineup stacked with contrasting styles, setting the stage for an intense knockout phase that would ultimately see veteran experience edge out youthful ambition in a nail-biting final.

POOL PLAY

POOL A

  • UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE (9) - 380 EXE POINTS | 67% Winning% | 19.0 PPG
  • 3STORM HIROSHIMA.EXE (25) - 285 EXE POINTS | 25% Winning% | 13.8 PPG
  • FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE (25) - 285 EXE POINTS | 8% Winning% | 13.9 PPG

POOL A MOMENT THAT MATTERED

Dunk and Block Ignite UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE in Top-Seven Push

With only a couple of rounds left in the regular season, every game carried added weight. UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE entered Round 7 eyeing a coveted top-seven finish on the 3x3.EXE Premier Japan ladder, while FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE were pushing to break into the top 15. Both teams knew that a win here would be a valuable step toward those goals, setting the stage for a contest with plenty of urgency from the opening possession.

UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE came out firing, quickly establishing a 6–2 lead through sharp ball movement and quick interior finishes. However, the early momentum briefly stalled as they hit a scoring slump, giving FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE an opening to claw their way back into the game. The intensity picked up as both sides began contesting every look, with neither willing to concede easy points.

The turning point came when Griffin Biwer, wearing number 13 for UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE, executed a perfectly timed pick-and-roll, exploding to the rim for a one-handed jam that brought the crowd to life. Just seconds later, Biwer chased down a FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE shooter and swatted the attempt into the stands, sending a clear message that the home side wasn’t about to let this one slip.

Those back-to-back highlights ignited UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE’s best stretch of the game, a 7–0 run over the next four minutes. FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE struggled to recover, unable to find clean looks against a locked-in defence. By the time the final whistle sounded, the momentum swing sparked by Biwer’s impact on both ends had all but shut the door on FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE’s chances, keeping UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE firmly in the hunt for their top-seven target.

POOL A RESULTS

  • Game 1 - UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE (21) Def FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE (8)
  • Game 2 - 3STORM HIROSHIMA.EXE (21) Def FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE (15)
  • Game 3 - UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE (21) Def 3STORM HIROSHIMA.EXE (9)

POOL A WINNER:

UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE


POOL A NOTABLE SCORERS:

  • Griffin Biwer (UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE) - 8.5 PPG |50% - 2PT FG%
  • Yuto Kimura (FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE) - 4.5 PPG | 53% FG%
  • Katsuhiro Muneno (3STORM HIROSHIMA.EXE) – 5.0 PPG |67% - 2PT FG%

POOL B

  • SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE (1) - 580 EXE POINTS | 93% Winning% | 20.7 PPG
  • HACHINOHE DIME.EXE (3) - 500 EXE POINTS | 83% Winning% | 20.0 PPG
  • ASUKAYAMA CHERRYBLOSSOMS.EXE (36) - 260 EXE POINTS | 36% Winning% | 15.6 PPG

POOL B MOMENT THAT MATTERED

Relentless Opening Run Powers SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE in Top-Three Clash

In one of the marquee matchups of the day, Round 6 winners SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE faced the formidable power duo of Chihiro Sawagashira and Chu Maduabum from HACHINOHE DIME.EXE. With both teams ranked inside the top three on the 3x3.EXE Premier Japan ladder, the stakes were clear, this was a chance to claim an early psychological edge heading into the knockout rounds.

SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE wasted no time stamping their authority. Crisp passing and fluid ball movement opened up high-percentage looks, and in just two minutes they raced out to a 6–0 lead. Their balanced attack and willingness to make the extra pass kept HACHINOHE DIME.EXE scrambling, forcing them to adjust quickly just to get on the scoreboard.

HACHINOHE DIME.EXE managed to halt the run briefly, finding a couple of inside scores to settle the nerves. But any hopes of a comeback were quickly quashed as SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE shifted gears again. A well-executed pick-and-roll between Dušan Samardžić and Ryoma Saito opened the floodgates, triggering the game’s decisive run.

From there, Samardžić and Hayate Suzuki took turns inflicting damage. Both players knocked down key buckets during a 9–1 burst that unfolded over just two minutes, pushing the lead into double digits and leaving HACHINOHE DIME.EXE with little room to respond. By the time the dust settled, SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE had sent a clear message, their Round 6 title run was no fluke, and they were here to dominate from the opening tip in Utsunomiya.

POOL B RESULTS

  • Game 1 - SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE (21) Def HACHINOHE DIME.EXE (9)
  • Game 2 - SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE (21) Def ASUKAYAMA CHERRYBLOSSOMS.EXE (11)
  • Game 3 - HACHINOHE DIME.EXE (22) Def ASUKAYAMA CHERRYBLOSSOMS.EXE (13)

POOL B WINNER:

SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE


POOL B NOTABLE SCORERS:

  • Dušan Samardžić (SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE) - 5.7 PPG | 82% - 1PT FG%
  • Ren Kikuchi (ASUKAYAMA CHERRYBLOSSOMS.EXE) - 3.5 PPG | 50% - 1PT FG%
  • Chu Maduabum (HACHINOHE DIME.EXE) – 5.0 PPG | 72% FG%

POOL C

  • IKEBUKURO DROPS.EXE (16) - 345 EXE POINTS | 53% Winning% | 17.5 PPG
  • MEGURO SIXERS.EXE (21) - 295 EXE POINTS | 42% Winning% | 14.9 PPG
  • SAITAMA HEARTS.EXE (30) - 275 EXE POINTS | 8% Winning% | 11.1 PPG

POOL C MOMENT THAT MATTERED

IKEBUKURO DROPS.EXE Rally Late to Edge MEGURO SIXERS.EXE

With both sides in the hunt for a top-15 finish, Pool C carried extra weight. A win here not only secured a place in the semi-finals for Round 7, but also delivered valuable EXE Points that could prove decisive heading into the final round of the season. From the outset, both IKEBUKURO DROPS.EXE and MEGURO SIXERS.EXE approached the game with playoff-like intensity.

MEGURO SIXERS.EXE looked the sharper of the two early on. Toranosuke Kondo found his range from outside, while Satoru Wakagi asserted himself in the paint, combining for a steady inside-out attack that helped Meguro build an 11–5 cushion by the halfway mark. IKEBUKURO DROPS.EXE were struggling to find rhythm, but a clock-beating two-pointer from Riku Yamada gave them a lifeline and shifted the momentum.

Sensing the change, Taroburaitochukuoma Saito began attacking the lane with purpose, cutting the deficit to just a couple of points. The contest turned into a back-and-forth battle, with every possession carrying significance as time wound down. The critical moment arrived with under 90 seconds to play, when Saito muscled his way inside to draw a foul, and Spencer Jennings calmly converted at the free-throw line to give IKEBUKURO DROPS.EXE their first lead of the game.

With the pressure on, Saito shifted from scorer to playmaker, delivering a perfectly timed pass to Yamada for a crucial basket that put them ahead by two. That quick sequence swung the momentum firmly in IKEBUKURO DROPS.EXE’s favour, allowing them to hold off MEGURO SIXERS.EXE in the final minute and book their spot in the semi-finals, a result that could prove pivotal in their chase for a top-15 finish.

POOL C RESULTS

  • Game 1 - IKEBUKURO DROPS.EXE (20) Def SAITAMA HEARTS.EXE (14)
  • Game 2 - IKEBUKURO DROPS.EXE (19) Def MEGURO SIXERS.EXE (18)
  • Game 3 - SAITAMA HEARTS.EXE (20) Def MEGURO SIXERS.EXE (16)

POOL C WINNER:

IKEBUKURO DROPS.EXE


POOL C NOTABLE SCORERS:

  • Taroburaitochukuoma Saito (IKEBUKURO DROPS.EXE) – 7.0 PPG | 89% - 1PT FG%
  • Toranosuke Kondo (MEGURO SIXERS.EXE) - 6.5 PPG | 50 FG%
  • Yuya Hosoda (SAITAMA HEARTS.EXE) - 5.5 PPG | 62% FG%

POOL D

  • MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE (4) - 440 EXE POINTS | 80% Winning% | 19.7 PPG
  • TOKYO DIME.EXE (11) - 370 EXE POINTS | 61% Winning% | 19.3 PPG
  • IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE (11) - 370 EXE POINTS | 65% Winning% | 18.6 PPG

POOL D MOMENT THAT MATTERED

Ćojbašić Dominates Inside as MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE Advance

After dropping their opening game of the day, IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE were eager to bounce back and close out pool play on a high note. Standing in their way was MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE, a team aiming to rediscover the early-season rhythm that once had them pegged as one of the favourites in the 3x3.EXE Premier Japan campaign. With both sides capable of explosive offence, the game promised a battle of contrasting strengths.

From the outset, IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE showcased their trademark balanced attack, moving the ball well and getting scoring contributions from multiple positions. Their strong guard play kept the tempo high and allowed them to trade baskets with MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE, who leaned heavily on the inside dominance of Miloš Ćojbašić. The big man was an unstoppable force in the paint, powering through defenders and keeping his team in step with Iris.

The duel remained deadlocked deep into the contest, with the scoreboard reading 16–16 after eight minutes of play. That’s when MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE found their breakthrough. Ćojbašić went to work inside once more, absorbing contact and finishing through traffic to put his side ahead. On the next possession, IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE had a chance to tie, but their attempt came up short, giving Minakami the window they needed.

Capitalising on the miss, Riku Watanabe drained an off-balance jumper just outside the key to stretch the lead to two. Those back-to-back scoring plays proved decisive, sparking a closing surge that saw MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE run out 21–17 winners. The result secured them top spot in Pool D and a place in the semi-finals, while IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE were left to ponder what might have been.

POOL D RESULTS

  • Game 1 - TOKYO DIME.EXE (19) Def IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE (14)
  • Game 2 - MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE (21) Def IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE (17)
  • Game 3 - MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE (21) Def TOKYO DIME.EXE (13)

POOL D WINNER:

MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE


POOL D NOTABLE SCORERS:

  • Miloš Ćojbašić (MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE) - 7.3 PPG | 75% - 1PT FG%
  • Sato Daisuke (IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE) - 5.5 PPG | 37% FG%
  • Yu Nishiune (TOKYO DIME.EXE) - 7.5 PPG | 50% - 1PT FG%

SEMI FINAL 1

UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE vs SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE

Home Crowd Fuels UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE in Semi-Final Victory Over SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE

The opening semi-final of Round 7 promised a clash of styles between the surging UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE and the season’s front-runners, SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE. Both teams entered the knockout stage in strong form, having dispatched their pool opponents with relative ease. With UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE backed by a vocal home crowd and SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE’s reputation for late-game heroics, this was set to be a heavyweight battle.

Griffin Biwer opened the scoring for UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE from the free-throw line, before Dušan Samardžić answered quickly with a layup for SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE. The early exchanges were evenly matched, the scoreboard reading 4–3 after two minutes. Yet the flow of play suggested UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE were finding cleaner looks through their well-drilled pick-and-roll, while SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE were forced to work harder for every point against a disciplined defence.

Biwer sparked the first real separation with a floater in the lane, then immediately stole the ball for a coast-to-coast layup, drawing roars from the crowd. SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE’s Hayate Suzuki briefly slowed the momentum with a neat pick-and-roll finish, but a costly foul on Biwer from deep gave UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE three free throws, two of which he converted. Moments later, Yuki Nakanishi drilled a big two-pointer, and when Yuichi Nagaoka added a layup, the lead began to swell.

With the score at 13–6 midway through, UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE were in full control. A timeout gave SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE a chance to regroup, and they returned to the floor with renewed intensity. Jan Demsar nailed a free throw, and Ryoma Saito muscled through traffic for a layup to keep SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE within reach. But every push from SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE was met with an answer, Yasuo Iijima’s driving layup and another silky spin finish from Biwer restored the cushion.

As the clock ticked under three minutes, UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE still held a 15–10 advantage. SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE, true to form, refused to go quietly. Samardžić responded to a quick Nagaoka layup with one of his own, before Demsar rolled to the rim for another bucket that cut the deficit to four. Yet two more free throws from UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE nudged them closer to the 21-point target.

Demsar kept SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE’s hopes alive with a strong layup and a massive two from the wing, bringing the gap down to three. With the momentum teetering, UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE tightened their defence, forcing SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE into rushed looks from beyond the arc. The clock became the ally of UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE, with every missed opportunity making the comeback less likely.

In the end, it was the groundwork laid in the opening minutes that proved decisive. UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE’s early burst and consistent execution in the halfcourt allowed them to control the tempo and manage SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE’s late rally. The final buzzer sealed a 19–15 victory for UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE, sending the home side into the Round 7 final and sending the crowd into celebration.

SCORE

UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE (19) Def SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE (15)

SEMI FINAL 2

IKEBUKURO DROPS.EXE vs MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE

Inside Presence of Ćojbašić Lifts MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE Over IKEBUKURO DROPS.EXE

The second semi-final brought together two teams with very different objectives, IKEBUKURO DROPS.EXE looking to prove they had the quality to contend for the playoffs, and MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE determined to return to a final after a brief absence from the championship stage. Both sides had impressed in pool play, setting the scene for a contest that would hinge on execution and discipline.

IKEBUKURO DROPS.EXE struck first through Spencer Jennings, who followed up his opening basket with a pinpoint assist to Taroburaitochukuoma Saito for an uncontested layup. MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE got on the board from the free-throw line, but more significantly, the early mismatch inside with Miloš Ćojbašić forced IKEBUKURO DROPS.EXE into an early foul strategy. Within the first 90 seconds, they had already committed four fouls, a number that loomed over the rest of the game.

Saito added a two-pointer, Riku Yamada converted a layup, and Jennings knocked down another long-range effort to give IKEBUKURO DROPS.EXE the early edge. However, momentum shifted sharply in the next 60 seconds. Ćojbašić asserted himself in the paint with a pair of easy finishes, and Shugo Bando drilled a corner two to complete a 6–1 run for MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE.

While Saito kept IKEBUKURO DROPS.EXE competitive with fearless drives to the rim, the interior began to open up for MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE. Bando and Shun Otsuka took advantage of the extra space, keeping their side in front. Another corner two from Bando extended the lead, and MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE went into the midpoint timeout ahead 14–10.

Coming out of the break, Ćojbašić wasted no time adding to his tally with back-to-back paint scores, pushing the margin to six. Yamada offered a moment of relief for IKEBUKURO DROPS.EXE by finding daylight for a two-pointer, but Ćojbašić answered instantly with another inside finish. Yamada then stepped up again, hitting his second two-pointer of the half to bring the deficit back to three.

The early foul trouble for IKEBUKURO DROPS.EXE returned to haunt them when they sent Bando to the line, where he coolly sank both free throws to push MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE to 19 points. Saito muscled in another layup to keep his team alive, but Bando’s next basket brought MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE to game point.

It was left to veteran Otsuka to deliver the final blow. Spinning past his defender on the baseline, he banked in the decisive layup to close out a 21–15 victory. MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE’s mix of inside dominance and clutch perimeter shooting ensured their return to a final, while IKEBUKURO DROPS.EXE were left to reflect on a strong run that ended just short of the title game.

SCORE

MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE (21) Def IKEBUKURO DROPS.EXE (15)

Grand FINAL

UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE vs MINIKAMI TOWN.EXE

MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE Hold Off UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE in Nail-Biting Final

The last game of the day brought the hometown contenders, UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE, face-to-face with heavyweight challengers MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE in a battle that promised valuable EXE Points with just one round left in the season. UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE, powered by the play of Yasuo Iijima and Griffin Biwer, were set for a fierce contest against MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE’s dynamic duo of Shugo Bando and Miloš Ćojbašić.

Biwer struck first for UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE with a polished post move, but MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE replied immediately as Riku Watanabe scored through contact to tie the early exchanges. Both teams tightened their defences, with baskets hard to come by in the opening minutes. Biwer added another layup, only for Bando to respond with a deep two-pointer from the corner, setting the tone for a game where neither side could gain much separation early.

Once cleared to return from a brief stoppage, Watanabe made an instant impact for MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE, hitting a floater before Otsuka scored inside to nudge his team ahead. UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE answered when Biwer gathered a loose ball and drilled a two from the wing. With Ćojbašić and Yuki Nakanishi trading inside scores, the scoreboard read 6–5 to MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE after three minutes.

MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE began to find rhythm as Ćojbašić became the focal point of their pick-and-roll attack, adding two more baskets in quick succession. Bando then connected on an off-balance two from the top, stretching the advantage. But just as the game threatened to get away from them, UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE roared back as Jan Demsar hit back-to-back long-range shots, bringing the crowd to life and cutting the deficit to 12–9 by the midpoint.

The surge continued when Nakanishi scored under the basket and Biwer spun past his defender for a layup, pulling UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE within one. MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE were forced to call timeout to steady themselves, but the momentum stayed with the home side. Demsar tied the game at 12 with a driving layup, then intercepted a pass and fed Nakanishi to give UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE their first lead since the opening minutes.

That sparked a veteran response from Otsuka, who stemmed the tide with a layup before feeding Ćojbašić for back-to-back scores that restored a 15–13 MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE advantage. A block from Otsuka on Demsar further tilted control their way, and when Bando added a basket in the paint, the gap grew to four. Nakanishi’s quick reply cut it back to two, but time was beginning to work against the home side.

With under a minute remaining, both teams missed chances close to the rim before Bando found a driving lane to push MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE ahead 17–14. Biwer answered with a quick basket out of a pick-and-roll, setting up a tense final 30 seconds. A missed shot by MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE handed UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE a lifeline, and Demsar’s initial attempt to tie fell short. Nakanishi grabbed the rebound and kicked it back to Demsar for a last-second heave, but the shot drifted wide as the buzzer sounded.

MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE escaped with a hard-fought 17–15 victory, claiming the Round 7 Group 2 crown against a resilient and determined UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE side. It was a final that showcased both sides’ toughness and execution under pressure, with MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE’s veteran leadership and timely scoring proving just enough to seal the win.

SCORE

MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE (17) Def UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE (15)

🏆 MVP - Miloš Ćojbašić (MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE)

7.3 PPG | 75% - 1PT FG%

In a day filled with high-pressure moments and tight margins, Miloš Ćojbašić’s presence in the paint proved to be the difference for MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE. Averaging 7.3 points per game on an efficient 75% shooting from inside the arc, Ćojbašić was a constant matchup problem for opponents, using his size, footwork, and touch around the rim to punish defenders all afternoon.

Whether sealing deep for easy layups, working pick-and-roll actions to perfection, or drawing extra attention that freed up his teammates, Ćojbašić was the anchor of MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE’s offence. His composure under pressure, particularly in the semi-final against IKEBUKURO DROPS.EXE and during the final’s decisive possessions, was instrumental in securing the Round 7 Group 2 title. It was a performance that showcased not just scoring ability, but the kind of leadership and reliability that championship teams are built around.

Results

Links

FIBA 3x3 Event PageFIBA 3x3 Event Link
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3x3.EXE Standings3x3.EXE Standings
3x3.EXE Schedule3x3.EXE Schedule

Written by Andrew Cannings