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

Round 4 Group 1 - AICHI


Round 4 of the 3x3.EXE Premier Japan Women’s Series tipped off in AICHI with a condensed but critical opening day featuring just three of the nine participating teams: UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE, TAITO OWLS.EXE, and TONO VALKYRIES.EXE. With only one round-robin session on the schedule, the format was simple, three games, one winner, and 70 valuable EXE Points up for grabs. Each team had everything to play for, especially as the season begins to pivot toward its second half.

The day featured tight defensive battles, highlight plays, and another standout performance from a familiar star. While TAITO OWLS.EXE and TONO VALKYRIES.EXE entered with something to prove, it was UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE who once again made the biggest statement. Behind the dominant scoring of Kiri Endo and the consistent presence of Kisa Yagi, UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE claimed both wins on the day and solidified their position as one of the league’s most dangerous squads.

Round 4 Group 1 Teams

  • UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE - 240 EXE POINTS | 80% Winning% | 17.8 PPG
  • TAITO OWLS.EXE - 155 EXE POINTS | 17% Winning% | 13.0 PPG
  • TONO VALKYRIES.EXE - 150 EXE POINTS | 0% Winning% | 13.5 PPG

GAME 1

TONO VALKYRIES.EXE vs TAITO OWLS.EXE

Suzuki Seals It Late as TAITO OWLS.EXE Down TONO VALKYRIES.EXE in Tough Opener

With both teams still seeking form as the 2025 season approaches its midpoint, TAITO OWLS.EXE and TONO VALKYRIES.EXE entered their Round 4 opener hungry to bounce back from narrow two-point losses in the final pool games of Round 3. This clash was more than just about EXE Points, it was about rebuilding momentum and proving they belonged in the competitive mix of the Women’s Series.

TAITO OWLS.EXE struck first, showing cohesion from the tip. Nozomi Suga found Mayu Matsumoto wide open cutting to the basket, and Matsumoto converted with ease to get the OWLS on the board. But the response from TONO VALKYRIES.EXE came just as quickly. Yuka Fujisaki isolated her defender at the top of the key, using a sharp first step to finish at the rim and draw things level.

Both teams quickly turned up the defensive intensity, contesting every look and clogging the paint. Points were at a premium during the early exchanges, with physical defense preventing any offensive rhythm. By the five-minute mark, the scoreboard read just 5–5, a testament to the grit and determination both sides brought to the floor.

Following the media timeout, Matsumoto again made her mark, this time as a playmaker. She drove the lane and dished to a wide-open Maya Isozaki, who buried the game’s first two-pointer to give TAITO OWLS.EXE a narrow edge. But the lead didn’t last long. Mea Okamoto responded moments later with one of the best individual plays of the day, shaking her defender with a lethal crossover and gliding to the hoop.

As Suga and Sae Oyama traded baskets, the TAITO OWLS.EXE clung to a slim 8–7 advantage with just over three minutes to play. Then came another Isozaki moment, coming off a handoff, she spotted just enough space beyond the arc and drained her second two-pointer, pushing the lead to three and putting pressure squarely back on TONO VALKYRIES.EXE.

Foul trouble soon became a factor for the TAITO OWLS.EXE, allowing Oyama to close the gap with two clutch free throws. But the calm execution from TAITO OWLS.EXE in crunch time proved decisive. Isozaki hit a smooth midrange jumper, followed by a Matsumoto free throw, which stretched the lead once more heading into the final minute.

Then came the knockout blow. Matsumoto chased down a huge offensive rebound, reset the possession, and found Yuika Suzuki on the perimeter. Without hesitation, Suzuki pulled up and drilled a two-pointer to ice the game. Oyama answered with a late triple of her own, but the damage was done, TAITO OWLS.EXE held firm to claim a 16–12 win and their second victory of the season.

TAITO OWLS.EXEJPN (16) Def TONO VALKYRIES.EXEJPN (12)

GAME 2

UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE vs TONO VALKYRIES.EXE

Oyama Fights On, But SUNRISE.EXE Overwhelm VALKYRIES with 21–9 Statement

Game 2 in Aichi saw TONO VALKYRIES.EXE return to the court for their second matchup of the day, hoping to rebound after a narrow loss in the opener. Standing in their way was the high-powered duo of Kisa Yagi and Kiri Endo from UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE, one of the most offensively efficient teams in the series and fresh off a commanding Round 3 championship win. With 70 EXE Points on the line, UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE had every intention of keeping their momentum rolling.

TONO VALKYRIES.EXE opened with solid defensive intent, smothering UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE on the first few possessions and denying any clean looks. But it was Megumi Yamakuwa who finally broke through, chasing down her own miss and converting a put-back to open the scoring. That bucket sparked action at both ends, with Sae Oyama responding quickly by drilling a two-pointer and continuing her strong form from Game 1.

The calm response came through Endo, who quickly stamped her authority on the game. Breaking free off the ball, she poured in four straight points before Shinobu Yoshitake chipped in a free throw to stretch the lead. Within moments, UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE had seized control, dictating pace and exploiting space with ease.

TONO VALKYRIES.EXE struggled to keep pace. While Oyama remained their offensive anchor with another timely basket, the rest of the lineup struggled to generate scoring opportunities. Back-to-back finishes from Endo widened the gap further, and SUNRISE.EXE entered the timeout with a 9–4 lead and all the momentum.

But they weren’t done. Coming out of the timeout, SUNRISE.EXE erupted with a 5–0 run in just over a minute, with almost every player getting involved. The crisp ball movement, smart spacing, and composed finishes left TONO VALKYRIES.EXE scrambling on defense as the lead ballooned to double digits.

Oyama refused to quit, delivering a personal highlight with two consecutive deep twos that offered a glimpse of resistance. However, the gap proved too great. UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE showed their class down the stretch, calmly managing the clock and closing on a 6–1 run. Once again, it was Endo who sealed it, driving with purpose and setting the tone for what may be another dominant round.

With a 21–9 win, UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE took care of business and picked up their first win of the day, keeping their Round 4 title hopes very much alive heading into the final clash.

UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXEJPN (21) Def TONO VALKYRIES.EXEJPN (9)

GAME 3

UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE vs TAITO OWLS.EXE

Endo Erupts Again as UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE Clinch Day 1

The final game of Day 1 in Hachinohe brought with it a high-stakes showdown between two in-form teams. Both UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE and TAITO OWLS.EXE entered the contest with a win under their belts, setting the stage for a winner-takes-all matchup. With 70 EXE Points on the line and both teams yet to meet this season, the clash promised intensity…and it delivered.

TAITO OWLS.EXE struck first. Nozomi Suga got a hand on a pass and quickly turned defense into offense, dishing to Maya Isozaki under the hoop for a smooth opening basket. But UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE were quick to reply. Kisa Yagi wasted no time, scoring two quick buckets and turning the game into a shootout inside the opening 30 seconds.

For the next couple of minutes, the game was evenly matched, with both teams exchanging baskets and keeping the tempo high. The score sat at 4–4 before a familiar name began to take over. Kiri Endo, who had already delivered a standout performance earlier in the day, took control with a layup, a forced turnover, and a two-pointer in just 30 seconds. In the blink of an eye, UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE held a four-point lead and the game’s rhythm shifted sharply.

Yagi, not to be outdone, followed up with a determined drive and finish. And just like that, Endo responded again, burying another two-pointer to extend the lead and fully tilt momentum. UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE had turned a balanced contest into a commanding advantage in under two minutes, outscoring TAITO OWLS.EXE 11–2 in a stretch that broke the game wide open.

Suga and Yuika Suzuki tried to halt the run, connecting on a smooth lead pass and layup that offered a glimmer of resistance. But Endo’s response was immediate and emphatic, driving through traffic for yet another basket. With every possession, UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE demonstrated why they’re one of the most dangerous offensive units in the league.

Despite late efforts from Mayu Matsumoto and Suga to close the gap, there was simply no slowing down SUNRISE.EXE’s offensive rhythm. Endo finished with 11 points, while Yagi chipped in 6, combining for 17 of the team’s 22 in a statement-making performance that capped off a dominant day.

With the 22–11 win, UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE not only secured back-to-back victories but claimed the full 70 EXE Points available on Day 1 of Round 4, firmly establishing themselves as on of the teams to beat as 3x3.EXE Premier Japan’s women’s series nears its midpoint.

UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXEJPN (22) Def TAITO OWLS.EXEJPN (11)

Winner of Round 4 Day 1

UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE

Notable Scorers:

  • Maya Isozaki (TAITO OWLS.EXE) – 4.5 PPG | 50% - 1PT FG%
  • Sae Oyama (TONO VALKYRIES.EXE) – 7.5 PPG | 45% FG%
  • Kiri Endo (UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE) – 12.5 PPG | 77% FG%

🏆 MVP – Kiri Endo (UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE)

12.5 PPG | 94% - 1Pt FG% | 77% FG%

Kiri Endo proved once again why she’s one of the most lethal offensive threats in the 3x3.EXE Premier Japan Women’s Series. Averaging 12.5 points per game across Day 1 of Round 4 and shooting a blistering 77% from the field, Endo was unstoppable in both isolation and transition. Her ability to score in bursts, create space, and deliver under pressure helped power UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE to back-to-back wins and the full 70 EXE Points on offer. A complete performance from a player in peak form.

Links

FIBA 3x3 Event Page - 3x3.EXE Premier Japan - FIBA 3x3 Event Page

Youtube Link - 3x3.EXE Premier Japan - Round 4 Day 1

3x3EXE Standings - https://sandpit.tokyo/premier/standings/

3x3EXE Schedule - https://sandpit.tokyo/premier/schedules/

Written by Andrew Cannings