Welcome to 3x3.EXE Premier Japan — Women’s Series.
The 3x3.EXE Premier Japan Women’s Series continues to build momentum with elite athletes, sharp team chemistry, and a rapidly growing fanbase. As each round unfolds, we’re seeing distinct play styles, strategic versatility, and players who are defining the rhythm and energy of the league.

With new teams entering the spotlight and veterans raising the bar, every game is a chance to witness something special — from smart defensive switches to momentum-shifting two-pointers and clutch finishes.

Round 2 tipped off in Tokyo, with FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE, SANJO BEATERS.EXE, and TONO VALKYRIES.EXE battling it out in Group 1 action.

This is your recap of Day 1 – Round 2.

Game 1

FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE picks up where they left off with dominant win over SANJO BEATERS.EXE

Returning from the FIBA Women’s Series in Chengdu, Round 1 champions FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE faced SANJO BEATERS.EXE, who entered the game hungry for their first win after a narrow two-point loss to ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE in the previous round.

Saya Isai wasted no time making an impact — hitting a deep two-pointer on FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE’s opening possession and setting the tone early.

Over the next few minutes, Gunma turned up the pressure defensively, forcing rushed shots and capitalising with transition opportunities. Isai added a pair of buckets — one off a steal, another by overpowering her defender inside — helping her team jump to a 5–0 lead before Midori Kanazawa got SANJO BEATERS.EXE on the board.

Kanazawa followed with another tough make, but FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE answered with clean execution. Fuyuko Takahashi hit a two-pointer off smart ball movement, then nailed a mid-range jumper that pushed the lead further.

It wasn’t until four and a half minutes in that SANJO BEATERS.EXE found some rhythm. Takase Yunoka battled for a second-chance score and followed it with a wide-open layup in transition to cut the deficit to 12–6.

However, foul trouble began to mount. With SANJO BEATERS.EXE over the limit, Gunma capitalised at the line. Despite a late push by Yumi Takakuwa, the speed, defensive energy, and composure of FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE proved too much.

Fittingly, it was Isai who closed the game — scoring three of the final four points to cap off a well-rounded team performance and secure a 12-point win to open their Round 2 campaign.

FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE 21 – 9 SANJO BEATERS.EXE

Game 2

FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE overwhelms TONO VALKYRIES.EXE with a relentless offensive display

The second game of the day saw FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE take on TONO VALKYRIES.EXE, another squad eager to notch their first win of the 2025 season in Round 2. But from the outset, it was clear that FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE had come in locked and loaded.

The reigning Round 1 winners wasted no time establishing their rhythm — all four players hit their first shot. Saya Isai powered through two defenders for the opening bucket, Misa Yokoi drained a two-pointer, and both Mina Ohashi and Fuyuko Takahashi scored at the rim to build a commanding 5–0 lead in just over a minute.

TONO VALKYRIES.EXE responded with a sharp interior connection — Kotomi Kayano found Makoto Mitsuhashi under the rim for their first score, and the same pairing linked up again shortly after to bring the game to life. Following a stretch of intense defensive pressure, the scoreboard read 6–4 in favour of FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE after three minutes.

But from that point on, the experience and composure of FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE began to take over. Isai scored a pair of easy baskets — a wide-open layup and a putback — prompting TONO VALKYRIES.EXE to call a timeout in hopes of halting the surge.

The timeout didn’t slow down Gunma.

Coming out of the break, Isai and Takahashi each added quick points. Kayano tried to keep her side in it with a mid-range jumper, but the momentum was clearly shifting. Isai then knocked down back-to-back two-pointers, extending the lead to 14–5 just before the five-minute mark.

Defensive pressure from both teams limited scoring briefly, but a strong And-1 finish by Isai signalled the end was near. TONO VALKYRIES.EXE had one final highlight — Yuka Fujisaki dished a perfect assist to an open Mitsuhashi — but it wasn’t enough to stop the run.

FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE closed the game on a 4–0 burst to secure a dominant 21–7 win and complete a perfect Day 1 in Group 1 play.

Final Score:
FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE 21 – 7 TONO VALKYRIES.EXE

Game 3

SANJO BEATERS.EXE close strong to claim first win of the 2025 season against TONO VALKYRIES.EXE

With both teams coming off tough losses to FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE, the final Group 1 matchup between TONO VALKYRIES.EXE and SANJO BEATERS.EXE was a crucial opportunity to bounce back, reset momentum, and secure their first win of the 2025 3x3.EXE Premier season.

From the opening possessions, it was clear both teams knew what was at stake. After several missed chances on both ends, Yunoka Takase finally broke the deadlock with slick footwork and a strong finish at the rim — setting the tone for what would become a highly competitive contest.

It took nearly a minute more for TONO VALKYRIES.EXE to get on the board. After Yuka Fujisaki narrowly missed a layup through contact, she converted the ensuing free throw. A minute later, Kotomi Kayano executed a smooth post move to tie the game at 2–2.

From there, the tempo increased.

Kayano followed up with another inside basket, but Yumi Takakuwa responded immediately for SANJO BEATERS.EXE. A short run by TONO VALKYRIES.EXE was capped by a right-wing two-pointer from Fujisaki, pushing the lead to 9–4 — until Midori Kanazawa replied in kind with a quick two of her own, then followed it with another deep shot to cut the deficit to one.

That momentum swing ignited Takakuwa, who stepped up and drained back-to-back two-pointers, tying the game at 12–12 with just over four minutes remaining.

Not to be outdone, Fujisaki answered with a clutch two to give TONO VALKYRIES.EXE some breathing room. Then came a pivotal play: a well-timed steal and pass from Fujisaki found Kayano, who powered through contact for a basket and hit the free throw — extending the lead to 16–13 with 90 seconds to play.

But SANJO wasn’t done.

Kanazawa calmly hit a deep two after grabbing a long rebound from Takakuwa, then found a cutting Yumi for a layup to level the score at 16–16. On the next possession, Kanazawa again found space inside to put SANJO in front.

Takase added another basket next to the rim, but Kayano immediately tied it again for TONO.

With time running out, a pair of costly mistakes by TONO VALKYRIES.EXE gave SANJO BEATERS.EXE a late advantage. Trailing by one with under 15 seconds to play, TONO was forced to foul — and, being over the limit, sent Kanazawa to the line. She calmly converted both free throws, extending the lead to 20–17.

A missed shot from TONO on the next possession gave SANJO the chance to seal it. On the final play, Yumi received the check, ripped baseline, and attacked the rim — finishing cleanly to secure SANJO BEATERS.EXE their first win of the 2025 season.

Final Score:
SANJO BEATERS.EXE 21 – 17 TONO VALKYRIES.EXE

Pool A Notable Scorers:

  • Saya Isai (FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE)– 9.5 PPG | 71% FG%
  • Takakuwa Yumi (SANJO BEATERS.EXE) – 7 PPG | 60% - 1PT FG%
  • Kotomi Kayano (TONO VALKYRIES.EXE)– 5.5PPG | 43% FG%

🏆 MVP – Saya Isai (FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE)

Saya Isai once again led from the front for FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE, delivering a composed and clinical performance across both games in Round 2. Averaging 9.5 points per game on a blistering 71% shooting, Isai was unstoppable in transition, dominant from the perimeter, and crucial in closing out both wins. Her presence on both ends of the floor was the difference-maker as FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE went undefeated once again.

Final Standings

Written by Andrew Cannings