【RECAP】3x3.EXE PREMIER 2025 WOMEN'S JAPAN ROUND.3

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

Round 3 – Hachinohe Heats Up

The 3x3.EXE Premier Japan Women’s Series rolled into Hachinohe for Round 3, bringing with it a day packed with rising intensity, high-stakes clashes, and standout performances across all pools. With teams now deep into the 2025 season, every possession in Hachinohe carried added weight, whether it was staying in playoff contention, chasing EXE Points, or simply proving they could compete at the highest level of the women's series.

From the opening check ball, the standard of play was lifted. Tight defensive matchups, physical finishes, and some of the best shooting of the season were on display as each pool delivered its own drama. Whether it was last-minute heroics, calculated comebacks, or breakout individual efforts, Hachinohe gave us the clearest look yet at which teams are emerging as serious title contenders, and which players are writing their names into the story of the season.

POOL A

• SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE - (110 EXE POINTS) – 1 Win, 20% Winning %, 12.8 PPG
• ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE - (100 EXE POINTS) – 1 Win, 25% Winning %, 14.0 PPG
• TONO VALKYRIES.EXE - (100 EXE POINTS) – 0 Win, 0% Winning %, 12.5 PPG

MOMENT THAT MATTERED

Late Surge and Ice-Cold Finish Sends ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE Past TONO VALKYRIES.EXE.

With no team scoring maximum points in their first match, the final pool game between ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE and TONO VALKYRIES.EXE had everything on the line. Both sides came into the contest still searching for rhythm across the opening two rounds, and the door was wide open for TONO VALKYRIES.EXE to leapfrog into the top spot, even after dropping their first game. From the opening check ball, it was clear this would be a physical battle, with TONO VALKYRIES.EXE racking up six team fouls in the first two minutes. That early foul trouble gave ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE a head start, driven by composed play from Ikeda Tomomi.

Despite the early setbacks, TONO VALKYRIES.EXE showed grit and intensity through Sae Oyama, whose explosive drives and outside shooting kept her team firmly in the contest. The back-and-forth pace never let up. Inside, Kotomi Kayano’s power game was answered shot for shot by Aoi Ariake, with neither side willing to give ground. The fouls continued to pile up, creating tension with every possession, as both teams crossed the limit midway through the game.

As the game entered its final stages, ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE strung together a decisive run. A textbook pick-and-roll between Uetaki Kilala and Asama triggered a 6-0 burst, punctuated by Asama slashing to the basket to stretch the lead to 19-15. It looked like the game was firmly in their hands—until Kayano calmly sank two crucial free throws and sparked a TONO VALKYRIES.EXE comeback that tied the game once more.

But in the defining moment of Pool A, with the shot clock winding down and pressure rising, Asama found herself open at the top of the key. She caught and released then buried the go-ahead shot, sealing a dramatic 21-19 win for ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE and punching their ticket to the semi-finals. It was a statement win at the perfect time.

POOL A SCORES

• SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE (16) Def TONO VALKYRIES.EXE (12)
• ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE (14) Def SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE (12)
• ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE (21) Def TONO VALKYRIES.EXE (19)

POOL A WINNER

ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE

2 Wins, 17.5 PPG, Winning margin 2 PPG

NOTABLE SCORERS

• Kotomi Kayano (TONO VALKYRIES.EXE) – 9.0 PPG | 83% FT%
• Miori Ikeda (SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE) – 4.5 PPG | 55% - 1 PT FG%
• Aoi Ariake (ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE) – 4.3 PPG | 41% FG %

POOL B

• SANJO BEATERS.EXE - (110 EXE Points) – 1 Win, 25% Winning %, 14.5 PPG
• TAITO OWLS.EXE -(105 EXE Points) – 1 Win, 25% Winning %, 12.8 PPG
• TOKYO VERDY.EXE -(140 EXE Points) – 4 Win, 80% Winning %, 15.4 PPG

MOMENT THAT MATTERED

Kanazawa Ignites SANJO BEATERS.EXE in Pool B Decider

Much like the drama in Pool A, the final matchup in Pool B carried heavy consequences. SANJO BEATERS.EXE had announced their intent early in the round with a commanding 11-point win, while TOKYO VERDY.EXE had escaped their first game thanks to some last-minute brilliance from Rua Tsubouchi and Yuki Noguchi. With both teams entering this clash undefeated, the stakes were simple, win, and you're through to the semi-finals. Lose and you may slide in, depending on what happened in the last game in Pool C

The check ball hadn’t even been returned before SANJO BEATERS.EXE were already pressing the pace. A slick first step and sharp finish from Yunoka Takase lit the spark, igniting a quick 4-0 burst that stunned TOKYO VERDY.EXE. Ayami Saito finally broke through with a tough drive to the rim, but the defensive pressure and rhythm from SANJO BEATERS.EXE continued to disrupt any hopes of a comeback.

Just as TOKYO VERDY.EXE looked to be finding their groove, Midori Kanazawa drained a deep two-pointer that completely flipped momentum. On the next possession, she sliced through for an open layup, and suddenly the floodgates were open. Sakura Hisai and Akari Takeuchi joined the scoring surge, combining for a blistering 7-1 run that put SANJO BEATERS.EXE firmly in control.

From there, the game settled into a back-and-forth rhythm, with Karin Imori doing everything she could to keep TOKYO VERDY.EXE within reach. But the spark that helped them earn maximum points in Round 2 was nowhere to be found this time. SANJO BEATERS.EXE maintained composure, matched every score, and sealed a well-earned 21-14 win to punch their ticket to the semi-finals.

POOL B SCORES

• SANJO BEATERS.EXE (19) Def TAITO OWLS.EXE (8)
• TOKYO VERDY.EXE (21) Def TAITO OWLS.EXE (19)
• SANJO BEATERS.EXE (21) Def TOKYO VERDY.EXE (14)

POOL B WINNER

SANJO BEATERS.EXE

2 Wins, 20 PPG, Winning Margin 9 PPG

NOTABLE SCORERS

• Midori Kanazawa (SANJO BEATERS.EXE) – 8.3 PPG | 67% FG%
• Maya Isozaki (TAITO OWLS.EXE) – 6.5 PPG | 58% FG%
• Rua Tsubouchi (TOKYO VERDY.EXE) - 6.0 PPG | 67% FG%

POOL C

• UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE – (140 EXE Points) – 4 Wins, 66% Winning %, 16.2 PPG
• ST-KASUMI.EXE – (120 EXE Points) – 3 Wins, 75% Winning %, 16.3 PPG
• FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE – (170 EXE Points) – 6 Wins, 100% Winning %, 21.0 PPG

MOMENT THAT MATTERED

Points and Precision: UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE Clinch Victory, Both Teams Qualify in Tight Pool Finale

With a combined record of 13 wins from 16 games heading into Round 3, Pool C was undoubtedly the toughest group of the women’s competition. Among the heavyweights were FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE and UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE, two top-tier squads whose only prior meeting saw FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE claim the Round 1 Final with a 21-14 win. With both teams having already dropped 21 points on ST-KASUMI.EXE earlier in the round, this showdown was always destined to come down to the wire, and it didn’t disappoint.

Neither team gave an inch in the early going, applying suffocating pressure from the first check ball. Two minutes in, the score stood locked at 1-1 as both squads battled to find rhythm. FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE began to unlock the defense through Fuyuko Takahashi, whose quick footwork and fearless drives into traffic netted back-to-back tough finishes. But just as they began to gain the upper hand, Shinobu Yoshitake hit from range to keep the score tight and steady the SUNRISE.EXE response.

A quick surge midway through the game saw Yoshitake hit again from deep, followed by a confident make from Kiri Endo to put UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE ahead 10-6. Yet momentum flipped once more as Takahashi and Saya Isai each buried a pair of twos to bring FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE storming back, leveling the contest at 13 apiece with just under three minutes to go.

At 14-14, a new layer of drama emerged. The stakes weren’t just about winning, the total points tally had brought both teams level with TOKYO VERDY.EXE in Pool B, meaning just one more point each would send both squads to the semi-finals, regardless of the final result. Isai broke free and finished at the rim to hit that critical mark for FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE.

Then came the defining moment. Tanaka Makoto was fouled with the pressure mounting and stepped to the line knowing that a single point would also confirm UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE’s progression. With ice in her veins, she calmly sank the free throw. A few more points from Makoto and Endo sealed an 18-16 victory, but more importantly, both sides secured their place in the knockout rounds after an intense and intelligent contest befitting the deepest pool of the competition.

POOL C SCORES

• UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE (21) Def ST-KASUMI.EXE (14)
• FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE (21) Def ST-KASUMI.EXE (11)
• UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE (18) Def FLOWLISHGUNMA.EXE (16)

POOL B WINNER

UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE

2 Wins, 19.5 PPG, Winning Margin 4.5 PPG

NOTABLE SCORERS

• Shinobu Yoshitake (UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE) – 6.3 PPG | 70% - 1PT FG%
• Misa Yokoi (FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE) – 5.7 PPG | 69% FG%
• Kana Fukumoto (ST-KASUMI.EXE) – 4.0 PPG | 70% - 1PT FG%

Semi Final 1

Kanazawa and Hisai Power SANJO BEATERS.EXE Past FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE in Semi-Final Showdown

The first semi-final of Round 3 brought together two of the most dominant forces in the women's competition. SANJO BEATERS.EXE arrived full of momentum, having steamrolled their pool opponents by an average margin of nine points. Meanwhile, FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE—arguably the benchmark team across the first two rounds—entered looking to rebound after a tense, tactical Pool C finale. From the check ball, the atmosphere was thick with intensity, and it was clear that both teams understood what was at stake.

The tone was set early on defense. Saya Isai came up with a huge block on the first SANJO BEATERS.EXE drive, then scrambled to save the ball before it rolled out of bounds—an early signal of her team’s grit. But Yunoka Takase responded with an emphatic block of her own at the perimeter, setting the stage for what would be a bruising, physical battle. It was Sakura Hisai who broke through first, carving out back-to-back layups over defenders before finishing a perfectly timed pick-and-roll to give SANJO BEATERS.EXE an early 3–0 advantage.

FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE—typically quick to reach 21 in previous rounds—took nearly two minutes to find the bottom of the net. Isai eventually ended the drought, but not without missed chances leading up to it. SANJO BEATERS.EXE kept pushing the tempo, and a spectacular And-1 from Takase, who was practically horizontal in the air when fouled, put her side back up by two. For much of the first half, FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE struggled to generate quality looks outside of drawing fouls, with Fuyuko Takahashi scoring 3 of their first 5 points from the stripe.

It wasn’t until Takahashi heaved a tough shot through a defender as the buzzer sounded that FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE finally netted their first field goal from beyond the paint. Still, their trademark rhythm was missing. It wasn’t until the four-and-a-half-minute mark that FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE’s composure began to show. Behind patient ball movement and rebounding hustle, they clawed back into the game, drawing even at 8–8.

But SANJO BEATERS.EXE had no intention of letting the momentum swing. Coming out of a timeout, Midori Kanazawa delivered one of the day’s highlight plays—an ankle-breaking behind-the-back move that left her defender stumbling and created space for a clean two-pointer, pushing her team back in front. As the minutes ticked down, the game’s physicality only increased, with both sides refusing to yield a single inch of court space.

At 12–12, Akari Takeuchi drove hard to the rim, drawing the defense in before kicking the ball out to Hisai, who calmly knocked down a two-point shot to break the deadlock. Then came another major swing: Kanazawa swatted away a key attempt from GUNMA.EXE, and Takase scored an open layup on the break. Though Misa Yokoi answered quickly to keep the score tight at 15–14, SANJO BEATERS.EXE were simply too composed in the final stretch.

A pair of strong finishes at the rim followed by another long-range dagger from Kanazawa sealed the deal. The final 6–1 run left FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE stunned, and confirmed SANJO BEATERS.EXE’s place in the Round 3 final with a statement 21–15 victory. In a contest packed with hustle, highlight plays, and relentless energy, it was SANJO BEATERS.EXE who found another gear when it mattered most.

SANJO BEATERS.EXE (21) Def FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE (15)

Semi Final 2

UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE Shine Bright Behind Endo’s All-Around Performance in Semi-Final Rout

The second semi-final pitted two teams on the rise, both entering the match with a renewed sense of confidence and purpose. For ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE, who picked up their second win of the 2025 season in 3x3.EXE Premier Japan—a sign that the team was gaining momentum. On the other side stood UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE, a team that had surged through Pool D with two hard fought victories and now looked determined to carry that energy into a place in the final.

Right from the opening check ball, Kiri Endo set the tone for what would become a masterclass. She battled through the paint to grab an offensive rebound and scored the game’s first basket with a powerful put-back. Not content with just scoring, Endo swatted away ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE’s reply on the next possession before stepping out and drilling back-to-back two-pointers. In just over a minute, she had filled the box score and turned the game sharply in UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE’s favour.

ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE found themselves reeling early, unable to find a rhythm against a high-pressure defense. It took an isolation play from Ariake Aoi to break the silence and get her team on the board, cutting the margin slightly to 6–1. But the damage had already been done, and the UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE momentum was showing no signs of fading.

Endo continued to shine—this time as a facilitator. With her passing as sharp as her shooting, she set up teammates with ease, proving that her impact extended well beyond scoring. One of her assists sparked a brilliant backdoor connection between Tanaka Makoto and Shinobu Yoshitake, a play that perfectly captured the flow and freedom with which UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE were playing. Four minutes in, the scoreboard read 11–2, and the gap was only growing.

To their credit, ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE showed flashes of the skill that earned them a semi-final berth. One of the game’s prettiest moments came from Uetaki Kilala, who wrapped a pass around the back of her defender to find Mika Asama for a wide-open layup. But such moments were rare, and UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE quickly responded each time with sharp shooting and physical defense.

With Endo continuing to lead the charge and strong contributions from Yoshitake, Kisa Yagi, and Makoto, the gap widened to an insurmountable level. UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE were simply too fast, too physical, and too accurate on the day. The 21–5 final scoreline didn’t just reflect dominance—it sent a warning to any opponent standing between them and the Round 3 title.

As the buzzer sounded, UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE had booked their place in the final with confidence and composure. Their complete team performance set the stage for a must-see championship clash against SANJO BEATERS.EXE.

UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE (21) Def ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE (5)

Round 3 Grand Final

Team Basketball Triumphs as UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE Claim Round 3 Glory

After 11 intense games in Round 3, the women’s competition came down to two teams who had not only performed when it mattered most but also delivered some of the most electrifying moments of the day. UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE and SANJO BEATERS.EXE had both been consistent and composed, grinding out key wins in the semi-finals to earn their shot at the title. With both teams anchored by elite defenders and explosive scoring options, Kanazawa on one side, Yoshitake on the other, this final was always going to be a tactical and physical showdown.

From the opening check ball, it was UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE who struck first, with Kiri Endo once again getting her team started with a tough finish inside. SANJO BEATERS.EXE were slow to get going, needing a few trips down the floor before Midori Kanazawa drove strong to the rim and drew a foul to open their account from the free throw line. Moments later, Sakura Hisai joined the party with a two-point shot to give SANJO BEATERS.EXE their first lead, brief though it was.

Not to be outdone, Kisa Yagi responded immediately with a deep two of her own, swinging momentum back toward UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE. Then, Shinobu Yoshitake found herself isolated on a mismatch, blowing past her defender for a tough And-1 finish that reignited the SUNRISE.EXE attack. But Kanazawa, who had been answering every challenge throughout the day, struck back with a blistering two-pointer off a handoff to knot the score at 6–6 just three minutes in.

As the final unfolded, it became clear that UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE were intent on sharing the load. Endo continued her all-around dominance, finding Yoshitake with a perfectly timed pass off a ghost screen that restored a three-point lead. This time, SANJO BEATERS.EXE had no immediate answer. Yagi, once again, stepped up from beyond the arc to drain another clutch two, capping a 5–1 run and giving SUNRISE.EXE their largest lead of the game.

SANJO BEATERS.EXE tried to claw their way back through the combined efforts of Kanazawa and Hisai, but the tide had already turned. UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE’s ball movement, spacing, and ability to convert at crucial moments proved too much. Yagi remained a focal point, not just as a scorer but as a distributor, setting up teammates while keeping the defense honest.

Down the stretch, the composure of SUNRISE.EXE took over. Yagi’s decision-making and calm presence at the free throw line helped seal the game. The final score 21–14 was a reflection not just of scoring power, but of tactical maturity and team cohesion. UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE didn’t just win the Round 3 final, they controlled it from start to finish.

UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE (21) Def SANJO BEATERS.EXE (14)

🏆 MVP - Kisa YAGI (UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE)

4.8 PPG | 33% - 2Pt FG% | 48% FG%

In a final defined by composure and playmaking, Kisa Yagi delivered across the board. Averaging 4.8 points per game across Round 3 and shooting 48% from the field, including 33% from two-point range, Yagi was the heartbeat of UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE’s offense. Whether knocking down deep shots, finding teammates in rhythm, or closing out the game at the free throw line, her performance anchored SUNRISE.EXE’s title run and earned her well-deserved MVP honours.

Written by Andrew Cannings