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

The 2025 Women’s Series continues to evolve — and Day 2 of Round 2 marked a turning point, with three new teams stepping onto the court for the first time this season: ST-KASUMI.EXE, TAITO OWLS.EXE, and ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE. With fresh rosters, emerging talent, and distinct team identities, this group brought new energy and style into the fold.

From defensive intensity to creative ball movement and high-effort finishes at the rim, the second day of competition at WATERRAS delivered another dose of elite-level 3x3 basketball — and a glimpse into the depth and future of the women’s competition.

Game 1

ST-KASUMI.EXE Hold Off Late Surge to Edge TAITO OWLS.EXE in Windy Thriller

Our first game of day 2 has ST-KASUMI.EXE coming into the matchup with confidence after splitting their games in Round 1 and earning a top-six finish, while TAITO OWLS.EXE were still chasing their first win of the season. Despite their 0–2 start, the Owls showed potential, having faced eventual pool winners FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE in their opening round.

TAITO OWLS.EXE wasted no time setting the defensive tone, as Nene Ohtahara came up with a strong block on Shoji Mikino’s opening drive. Both teams brought early intensity, denying clean looks and forcing tough possessions in the first minute. It was Akie Maruyama of ST-KASUMI.EXE who finally broke the deadlock, powering through contact for a tough finish at the rim to open the scoring.

Following a circus shot from Akie Maruyama, who tossed the ball overhead and scored without even looking, TAITO OWLS.EXE responded quickly with a transition basket from Himena Takumi, ensuring both teams were on the board. But offensive rhythm remained elusive, as both teams battled not only each other’s defensive intensity but also the gale-force winds sweeping across WATERRAS — disrupting timing and shot selection on nearly every possession.

A well-executed set play from the Owls saw Nozomi Suga deliver a perfect lead pass to a slashing Nene Ohtahara, levelling the score at 3–3 just over three minutes into the contest. On the very next possession, Nana Shimizu buried the first basket of the game from outside the key — a two-pointer that gave TAITO OWLS.EXE a slight edge.

Over the next stretch, both sides traded baskets. Maruyama continued to be active for ST-KASUMI.EXE, while Takumi and Suga kept the Owls within reach. The game was tied again at 8–8 with four minutes remaining, setting the stage for a tense finish.

As the tempo ramped up, Kana Fukumoto knocked down a free throw to give ST-KASUMI.EXE the lead — but Suga once again answered with a strong layup to keep it even.

With the score tied at 12–12 and 90 seconds left, Kanako Nagata stepped to the line for ST-KASUMI.EXE and coolly knocked down a free throw to regain the lead. TAITO OWLS.EXE had a chance to respond from the stripe, but the wind proved to be a silent defender, pushing the shot off course.

Maruyama then came through again — hitting a tough step-back jumper from the post to stretch the lead to two. Shoji Mikino managed a determined finish at the rim to bring TAITO OWLS.EXE back within one.

Despite creating good looks in the final minute, the Owls just couldn’t convert. Their chances rimmed out, and with under 10 seconds to go, Fukumoto delivered the dagger — a smooth turnaround jumper to seal the win for ST-KASUMI.EXE, who took control of Day 2’s pool standings with the clutch victory.

ST-KASUMI.EXE 15 – 13 TAITO OWLS.EXE

Game 2

ST-KASUMI.EXE outmuscle ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE to sweep the group on Day 2

Coming off a hard-fought win over TAITO OWLS.EXE in their opening game, ST-KASUMI.EXE entered their second matchup of the day looking to complete a clean sweep and take full control of the group. Meanwhile, ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE stepped onto the court for their first game of the day — aiming to build on a solid Round 1, where they split their two matches and flashed offensive upside. With both teams in contention, this matchup carried major implications for Day 2’s final standings.

With the gusty winds still swirling around WATERRAS, both teams struggled early to find rhythm. Possessions were cautious, and neither team attacked the paint in the opening minute. It was Kana Fukumoto who broke the deadlock — taking what she learned from Game 1 and slicing through the defence for the first basket of the game.

That opened the floodgates for ST-KASUMI.EXE.

Akie Maruyama and Kanako Nagata followed Fukumoto’s lead, each scoring in the paint to build early momentum. Another rare mid-range jumper from Fukumoto extended the run, and both she and Nagata added layups to make it a commanding 7–0 start. Finally, Aimi Machiya got ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE on the board with a layup two and a half minutes in — and shortly after, delivered a great assist to Miki Asama to bring some energy back into the game.

However, every time ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE found a small opening, ST-KASUMI.EXE answered with poise. For each quality look they created, ST-KASUMI.EXE responded with two of their own. By the five-minute mark, the margin had ballooned to 12–3.

With just over three minutes remaining and the score at 13–5, Nagata took her defender off the dribble and finished at the rim. Machiya responded almost immediately to show ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE weren’t going away quietly.

The final minutes saw both teams trade baskets, but the damage had already been done. Neither side managed to string together more than three in a row, and the early run from ST-KASUMI.EXE proved insurmountable.

With steady execution and strong interior finishing, ST-KASUMI.EXE closed out the game 19–12, cementing themselves as the winners of the group on Day 2 of Round 2 in 3x3.EXE Premier Japan.

Final Score:
ST-KASUMI.EXE 19 – 12 ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE

Game 3

TAITO OWLS.EXE Edge ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE in Tight Finish to Close Day 2

With both teams coming off losses earlier in the day, TAITO OWLS.EXE and ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE entered their final matchup of Round 2 eager to leave WATERRAS on a high. For the Owls, it was about capitalising on flashes of cohesion from Game 1. For ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE, it was about rebounding quickly from a tough loss to ST-KASUMI.EXE and proving they could execute in tight moments. With pride and positioning on the line, both sides came out with urgency from the opening checkball.

On the first possession, Aimi Machiya got ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE on the board with a smooth pull-up runner from just in front of the free-throw line. Not to be outdone, Nozomi Suga made her presence felt early — grabbing three straight rebounds before earning a trip to the line to tie it up.

Shooting conditions remained tough, as swirling wind combined with tight defence limited quality looks. Neither side connected from deep for several minutes, but Machiya broke the dry spell with a sneaky offensive rebound and putback. Nene Ohtahara responded with a jumper from the elbow, and on the very next play, Suga came up with a stealthy steal and dished a perfect assist to Himena Takumi for an easy finish.

The tempo quickly picked up, with both teams finding rhythm through smooth pick-and-roll action and smart interior cuts. Multiple players contributed on both ends as the game turned into a battle of who could finish more effectively in the paint — leading to a 7–7 scoreline heading into the final five minutes.

Then came one of the few outside highlights of the game — a corner two-pointer from Tomomi Ikeda, one of the rare made jumpers on a wind-affected day. That tied the game again and drew a roar from the crowd, setting the stage for a thrilling finish.

With just 45 seconds remaining and the score tied at 12, Takumi dumped the ball into the post to Suga, who went one-on-one. A right shoulder shimmy and left-hand turnaround gave TAITO OWLS.EXE a slim 14–12 lead. Miki Asama answered immediately for ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE, trimming the lead to one.

But once again, the ball found its way to Suga — who went back to work in the post, scored through contact, and extended the Owls’ lead to 15–13. With little time left, ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE was forced into rushed perimeter attempts. The wind played its part once again, pushing shots off course and allowing TAITO OWLS.EXE to hold on and run out the clock.

Final Score:
TAITO OWLS.EXE 15 – 13 ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE

Pool B Notable Scorers:

  • Aimi Machiya (ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE) – 4.5 PPG | 57% FG%
  • Nagata Kanako (ST-KASUMI.EXE) – 6 PPG | 58% - 1PT FG%
  • Nozomi Suga (TAITO OWLS.EXE)– 5.5PPG | 42% FG%

🏆 MVP – Kanako Nagata (ST-KASUMI.EXE)

Kanako Nagata was the steady anchor behind ST-KASUMI.EXE’s perfect run on Day 2. Averaging 6.0 points per game on an efficient 58% shooting from inside the arc, Nagata brought composure, timing, and consistent scoring when it mattered most. Whether finishing through contact or making smart cuts, she played a crucial role in locking up top spot in the group and securing ST-KASUMI.EXE’s place as a rising force in the Women’s Series.

Final Standings

Written by Andrew Cannings