Welcome to 3x3.EXE Premier Japan — Women’s Series.

Round 2, Day 3 – Women’s Series Recap: Chiba Hosts Final Stage of Round 2

After a short break in the calendar, the 3x3.EXE Premier Japan Women’s Series resumed with the final day of Round 2 action, this time unfolding under the open skies of Chiba. The stakes were high, as three of the top four teams from Round 1, TOKYO VERDY.EXE, UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE, and SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE, squared off in a round-robin battle for top honours and valuable EXE Points. With only three games on the schedule, every possession carried extra weight in the race to establish early dominance in the 2025 standings.

Much like the outdoor conditions seen at Waterras earlier in the round, the wind in Chiba played a subtle but steady role throughout the day, especially for shooters looking to convert from distance. As a result, defensive intensity became the hallmark of the day. Teams tightened their rotations, fought for every rebound, and made space inside the key a rare commodity. In an environment where baskets were earned through grit rather than finesse, it became clear that the top women’s teams in 3x3.EXE take immense pride in their ability to lock down their opponents, and today, that defensive pride was on full display.

Game 1

TOKYO VERDY.EXE Reclaims the Edge in Gritty Round 1 Semi-Final Rematch

The first clash of the day in Chiba reignited a fierce rivalry between UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE and reigning 3x3.EXE Premier champions TOKYO VERDY.EXE, a rematch of their tightly contested Round 1 semi-final, which had gone the way of UENOHARA by just a single point. This time, however, it was TOKYO VERDY.EXE who held their nerve in a physical and tactically sharp encounter, walking away with a crucial 10-7 win to open Round 2.

UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE struck first, with Makoto Tanaka executing a smart set to free up Shinobu Yoshitake for an uncontested layup. But the response from the defending champions was immediate, Yuki Noguchi capitalised off a hand-off to level the score with her own driving finish. What initially appeared to be a free-flowing contest quickly tightened up, as both teams ratcheted up their defensive intensity, denying easy looks and forcing every possession to be earned. Ayami Saito eventually broke the deadlock for TOKYO VERDY.EXE with a tough turnaround jumper, but Kisa Yagi responded in kind, setting the tone for a back-and-forth battle.

Karin Imori gave TOKYO VERDY.EXE a slight edge midway through the contest, finding lanes to the rim and muscling through contact to carve out a 7-4 lead heading into the final five minutes. The timeout did little to ease the intensity. Both teams ramped up the physicality, bodies colliding under the rim and shots contested on every touch. With under two minutes remaining, Yoshitake scrapped through traffic for a second-effort bucket, pulling UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE within two, and moments later a slick wraparound pass from Megumi Yamakuwa brought them within one, though windy conditions prevented them from tying it.

Just when momentum seemed to tilt, Noguchi steadied the ship. A sharp interior assist to Saito, followed by a coolly taken free throw, restored a buffer. With 40 seconds left, Noguchi struck again, slicing through the lane to extend the lead to four. UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE continued to fight, but the clock, the wind, and a composed VERDY.EXE defence conspired against them. As the final buzzer sounded, TOKYO VERDY.EXE emerged with a hard-earned victory, one that not only avenged their Round 1 loss but placed them in pole position to claim full EXE Points from Chiba.

FINAL SCORE

TOKYO VERDY.EXE (10) Def UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE (7)

Game 2

TOKYO VERDY.EXE Hold Off SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE Surge to Secure Top Spot in Chiba

Game 2 saw TOKYO VERDY.EXE return to the court with a chance to go unbeaten on the day, this time facing a SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE squad eager to prove themselves after a tough draw in Round 1. Despite back-to-back matchups against FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE earlier in the season, SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE showed no signs of backing down and came into the matchup looking to disrupt TOKYO VERDY.EXE’s path to the top of the leaderboard.

TOKYO VERDY.EXE wasted no time setting the tone. Rua Tsubouchi and Karin Imori, whose chemistry had been on display in their first game, linked up for a perfectly executed opening possession to draw first blood. SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE, playing their first game of the day, struggled initially to adjust to the swirling Chiba winds, settling for long-range attempts that fell short of their mark. But once they found a way inside, the tide began to turn. Mizuki Kamiya broke the drought with a clean score in the paint — her team’s first basket of Round 2 — only to see Tsubouchi immediately respond to keep TOKYO VERDY.EXE’s advantage intact.

The next few minutes showcased how physically and mentally demanding 3x3 basketball can be. Every possession was contested, every point hard-earned. Yuki Noguchi added a circus layup that bounced over her shoulder and in, followed by an Imori finish to stretch the lead to 5-2 after three minutes. But SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE weren’t going away quietly. Kamiya, once again the focal point, used a slick hesitation move to convert off a sharp assist from Megumi Yamazawa, tying the game at 5-5 and breathing life into their campaign.

The turning point came just as both teams were digging into their defensive trenches. TOKYO VERDY.EXE’s combination of patience and precision began to pay dividends, with Ayami Saito and Imori orchestrating a critical 6-1 run that broke the game open. The highlight came via a deep two from Tsubouchi — a momentum-shifting shot that pushed VERDY ahead 12-7 with a couple of minutes remaining.

Despite a spirited push from SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE, including strong late efforts by Miori Ikeda and Kamiya, the damage had been done. TOKYO VERDY.EXE closed out the contest with composure and clarity, sealing a 14-10 victory and capping off an undefeated day. With two wins from two games, they secured first place in Chiba and the full 70 EXE Points on offer — a strong statement from the reigning champions as the Women’s Series continues to gather steam.

Final Score:
TOKYO VERDY.EXE (14) Def SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE (10)

Game 3

UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE Outlast SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE to Lock In Second Place

With the top spot already sealed by TOKYO VERDY.EXE, the final women’s game of the day turned into a battle for pride, and precious EXE Points, as UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE faced SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE to determine who would finish second in Chiba. Both teams had shown flashes of brilliance throughout the day, but it was clear from the opening tip that this contest meant something more: a statement ahead of Round 3.

UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE made their intentions known immediately. Tanaka Makoto muscled her way to the basket on the opening possession, setting the tone with a physical finish in the post. She then backed it up on the next play, securing a crucial rebound and sparking a fast-break opportunity that Kisa Yagi converted with ease. SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE responded swiftly, with Megumi Yamazawa threading a bounce pass to a cutting Niina Ishida for a composed finish, but that would be the last moment of offensive fluidity for either side for several minutes.

What followed was a stretch of classic 3x3 grit, bodies diving, shots contested, space at a premium. A single point was all either team could muster over a three-minute stretch until Mizuki Kamiya broke through with a strong offensive rebound and finish, momentarily tilting the balance. Yet Makoto continued to assert her presence on both ends, playing with relentless intensity that made life difficult for SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE at every turn.

As the final five minutes approached, with UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE leading 5-2, the game remained in the balance. Kamiya cut the deficit again, but every response was met with immediate resistance. Makoto, playing arguably her most complete game of the season, answered time and time again, including a crucial basket following Ishida’s graceful turnaround jumper, to maintain a three-point cushion at 10-7.

SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE continued to fight, and Kamiya delivered once more with a spinning shot from the heart of the key. But as the clock wound down, UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE found their closer. Shinobu Yoshitake bulldozed her way past defenders for back-to-back scores, then Kisa Yagi delivered the final dagger — a perfectly timed two-pointer, the only one made in the women’s competition all day, sealing a 14-8 victory. The win also ensuring second place in Chiba for UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE, who walk away with 60 valuable EXE Points and a wave of momentum heading into Round 3.

Final Score:
UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE (14) Def SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE (8)

🏆 MVP

Karin Imori of TOKYO VERDY.EXE was named MVP of Round 2, Day 3 of the 3x3.EXE Premier Japan Women’s Series, after steering her squad to a perfect 2-0 record and first place in Chiba. Imori’s impact was felt on every possession — whether slicing through defenders with explosive drives to the rim or creating space for her teammates through sharp decision-making and relentless movement off the ball. Her composure under pressure and ability to shift momentum in key moments made her a constant threat, finishing the day with an impressive 4.0 points per game on 44% shooting from the field. With her leadership and poise, TOKYO VERDY.EXE continue to set the standard for the competition in 2025.

Written by Andrew Cannings