【RECAP】3x3.EXE PREMIER JAPAN 2025 ROUND.2

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Round 2 – Day 1: New Challenges, Renewed Intent

With the dust settled on Round 1, all eyes turned to the opening day of Round 2 in the 3x3.EXE Premier Japan Men’s Conference. The day delivered new matchups, fresh momentum swings, and a renewed sense of urgency across the league.

Early contenders MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE and SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE looked to build on their strong starts to the season, aiming to reinforce their positions as teams to watch. Meanwhile, a host of other squads — from experienced line-ups to retooled rosters — entered the day with a point to prove after faltering in the opening round.

From high-stakes pool battles to tightly contested knockouts, Day 1 of Round 2 brought intensity, tactical adjustments, and flashes of brilliance as the 2025 season continued to take shape.

Pool A - Pivotal Moment

Takeda and Sano Spark Second-Half Surge for SAITAMA Breakthrough

The opening clash of Round 2 saw two winless squads, SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE and SPINNERS.EXE, battling for a critical first victory of the 2025 season. With both teams having shown flashes of promise in Round 1, this matchup was a chance to reset and spark their respective campaigns.

Early on, SPINNERS.EXE looked like the more composed side. A smooth two-pointer from Takuya Shiotani followed by a strong finish at the rim by Kota Moriya gave SPINNERS.EXE a 3-0 burst and flipped the momentum firmly in their favour. Their energy on both ends pushed them ahead to an 11-9 lead with just over five minutes remaining, as the pressure began to mount for SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE.

But that pressure was exactly what Takashi Sano thrived on.

After calmly converting a free throw to steady the ship, Sano turned up the intensity on defence. Contesting a difficult corner shot and then hustling to grab the rebound, he immediately transitioned to offence, finding an open Ryoma Takeda on the perimeter. Takeda made no mistake, draining a two-pointer that shifted both the scoreboard and the game’s energy.

The bucket was just the beginning.

Feeding off Sano’s hustle, the WILDBEARS.EXE launched a furious 7-0 run. Sano, staying involved on both ends, capped the surge with a massive two-pointer of his own, putting SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE up 15-11 and sending a clear message that they were not going to let another win slip away.

Despite SPINNERS.EXE's attempts to regroup, the gap proved too large to overcome. With SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE keeping their foot on the gas, they closed out the game 21-15 to lock in their first win of the season — and possibly turn the tide of their early campaign.

Pool A Results

• SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE (21) defSPINNERS.EXE (15)
• ASUKAYAMA CHERRYBLOSSOMS.EXE (21) defSPINNERS.EXE (9)
• ASUKAYAMA CHERRYBLOSSOMS.EXE (21) def SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE (16)

Pool A Winner:

ASUKAYAMA CHERRYBLOSSOMS.EXE

Pool A Notable Scorers:

• Masato Yano (ASUKAYAMA CHERRYBLOSSOMS.EXE) – 9.3 PPG | 42% - 2 PT%
• Takashi Sano (SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE) – 6.0 PPG | 100% - 1 PT%
• Takuya Shiotani (SPINNERS.EXE) – 6.0 PPG | 42% FG%

Pool B - Pivotal Moment

MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE Stay Perfect, Punch Semifinal Ticket in Style

Pool B delivered a high-stakes clash between two confident sides — MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE, fresh off their dominant Round 1 Day 2 championship run, and SIMON.EXE, riding momentum from their first win of the 2025 season earlier in the day. With a spot in the semi-finals on the line, both teams came in ready to assert themselves physically and mentally.

From the opening tip, the battle was shaped by size and strength. MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE leaned on the interior presence of Miloš Ćojbašić and Steve Kubema Joseph, while SIMON.EXE countered with their own frontcourt duo of Mike Harry and Cheick Keita. The early exchanges were tough and bruising, as both squads looked to impose their will in the paint.

The tone shifted midway through the game when the physicality began to catch up with SIMON.EXE. With just over five minutes remaining, foul trouble began to creep in — and MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE were quick to capitalise. On a critical hand-off action, 3x3.EXE veteran Shun Otsuka drew contact and calmly converted both free throws to extend the lead to 11-7, signalling a turning point in the contest.

Otsuka’s composure opened the floodgates.

On the very next possession, Ćojbašić found himself with space in the corner and drilled a clutch two-pointer, stretching the lead further and putting the pressure squarely on SIMON.EXE. Forced to call a timeout to regroup, SIMON.EXE struggled to respond. Otsuka once again found a gap in the defence to finish at the rim, as MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE surged ahead with a commanding 8-point lead.

From there, it was clinical execution.

MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE controlled the tempo, protected the ball, and used their experience to shut the door on any late push. They sealed the game 21-14, securing top position in the pool and continuing their undefeated run through the early stages of the season.

Pool B Results

• SIMON.EXE (21) Def SANJO BEATERS.EXE (6)
• MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE (21) defSANJO BEATERS.EXE (6)
• MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE (21) def SIMON.EXE (14)

Pool B Winner:

MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE

Pool B Notable Scorers

• Miloš Ćojbašić (MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE)– 6.0 PPG | 79% – 1PT FG
• Cheick Keita (SIMON.EXE)– 6.0 PPG | 100% – 2PT FG
• H. Bagamboula (SANJO BEATERS.EXE)– 3.5 PPG | 60% – 1PT FG

Pool C - Pivotal Moment

Hustle Play by Gonda Turns the Tide for ADDELM ELEMENTS.EXE

With both teams seeking redemption — SAITAMA HEARTS.EXE coming off a tough earlier loss, and ADDELM ELEMENTS.EXE still hunting for their first win of the 2025 campaign — Pool C’s closing contest promised grit, urgency, and a pivotal shift in momentum for whichever side could seize it.

From tip-off, the match played out as a tightly contested battle. The opening four minutes saw back-and-forth exchanges, with neither team able to string together enough possessions to create daylight on the scoreboard. With six minutes remaining, the game was deadlocked at 8-8, and both sides were showing signs of exhaustion from a gruelling schedule under outdoor conditions.

Then came the Sparc.

After a defensive lapse left Toshiya Katase wide open beyond the arc, the ADDELM ELEMENTS.EXE guard made no mistake, burying a two-pointer that nudged his team ahead 10-8. While the bucket itself was crucial, what followed cemented the tone of the second half. Katase soon found himself at the free throw line to potentially stretch the lead, but his shot rattled off the rim multiple times and fell short.

Sensing the moment slipping, Ryuto Gonda dove for the loose ball, hitting the floor hard in a full-extension effort. He secured the offensive rebound and, without hesitation, dished the ball back to a cutting Katase in the lane. The finish, and the hustle that led to it, sent a surge of energy through ADDELM ELEMENTS.EXE — and signalled that they weren’t leaving Round 2 empty-handed.

That play ignited a 6–1 run, fuelled by active hands on defence and quick ball movement, which broke open the deadlock and left SAITAMA HEARTS.EXE scrambling to keep up. Fatigue, both mental and physical, began to show in the closing minutes, as ADDELM ELEMENTS.EXE remained poised, composed, and hungry for the win.

As the clock wound down, the early balance of the game faded into memory — and a determined ADDELM ELEMENTS.EXE squad walked away with a statement victory and their first win of the 2025 3x3.EXE Premier Japan season.

Pool C Results

• HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE (21) defSAITAMA HEARTS.EXE (10)
• ADDELM ELEMENTS.EXE (21) defSAITAMA HEARTS.EXE (17)
• HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE (22) def ADDELM ELEMENTS.EXE (11)

Pool C Winner:

HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE

Pool C Notable Scorers

• Hirotaka Fujisawa (HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE)– 6.0 PPG | 46% FG%
• Keito Sakurai (ADDELM ELEMENTS.EXE) – 10.0 PPG | 40% - 2PT%
• Isogai Reo (SAITAMA HEARTS.EXE) – 5.5 PPG | 35% FG%

Pool D - Pivotal Moment

SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE Survive Toughest Pool Behind Takeda’s Heroics

In what many dubbed the most competitive pool of Round 2 Day 1, SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE — fresh off a third-place finish in Round 1 — clashed with the ever-dangerous ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE, who had reached the final just one week prior. With both teams seeking to solidify their position among the league’s top contenders, this matchup had all the ingredients of a classic.

From the opening possession, the strategies were clear. ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE aimed to dominate the paint through the towering presence of Gjio Bain, a physical force whose size had overwhelmed opponents in previous rounds. On the other end, SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE were committed to perimeter precision, relying on the sharpshooting duo of Shinji Naruse and Naoto Ito to stretch the floor and keep Bain from collapsing the lane.

Despite the tactical clarity, both squads struggled to find rhythm early. Missed opportunities and strong defensive pressure on both sides created a tense, grinding pace. Every possession mattered, and it became evident that whichever team could string together momentum first would likely seize control.

Enter Takeda.

With the game finely balanced nearing its midpoint, Takeda injected a burst of tempo. First, he rejected a screen and powered his way to the rim with a hard drive, finishing through contact. Moments later, he timed a cut perfectly off a Naoto Ito assist for another strong finish. A successful trip to the free throw line followed, giving SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE a narrow lead — and giving Takeda a breather on the bench.

His absence spoke volumes. Neither team managed to score during his brief rest, and the shift in tempo was palpable.

Returning to the floor with just under two minutes remaining, Takeda wasted no time. Coming off a dribble handoff from Yuto Maita, he rose into a tightly contested two-pointer and buried it — a dagger shot that silenced ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE’s comeback hopes and sealed SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE’s unbeaten Pool D campaign.

It was a gritty, tactical contest — and Takeda’s individual 5–1 run proved the difference in a game that demanded patience, execution, and a touch of brilliance when it mattered most.

Pool D Results

• SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE (21) Def 3STORM HIROSHIMA.EXE (16)
• SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE (21) Def ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE (14)
• 3STORM HIROSHIMA.EXE (21) Def ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE (15)

Pool D Winner:

SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE

Pool D Notable Scorers

• Hiroto Takeda (SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE)– 7.3 PPG | 70% – FG%
• Riku Kaneko (3STORM HIROSHIMA.EXE)– 5.0 PPG | 45% – 2PT FG%
• Yukimoto Wakabayashi (ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE)– 8.0 PPG | 76% – 1PT FG%

Semi Final 1 Recap

MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE Overpowers Underdogs to Book Second Straight Final

In the opening semi-final of Round 2, tournament favourites MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE took the court with serious intent. Led by the versatile scoring of Shugo Bando and the twin tower pairing of Miloš Ćojbašić and Steve Kubema Joseph, they faced a rising ASUKAYAMA CHERRYBLOSSOMS.EXE team featuring Masato Yano, whose offensive surge had lifted him to over nine points per game in Round 2. Although new to the semi-final stage, ASUKAYAMA CHERRYBLOSSOMS.EXE had the confidence of a team ready to disrupt expectations.

From the opening whistle, MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE looked to impose their physicality in the paint. It took just two possessions to set the tone — Kubema Joseph scoring inside on a mismatch, followed by a quick assist to Ćojbašić. The message was clear: this would be a battle of strength versus speed. But ASUKAYAMA CHERRYBLOSSOMS.EXE didn’t blink. Takaya Yoshida, using his quickness to exploit the mismatch on the perimeter, slashed past Kubema Joseph for a crafty layup — their first points and a statement that they wouldn’t go quietly.

As the game settled into rhythm, both teams traded punches. MINAKAMI continued to feed the interior, while Yano started to heat up from long range, keeping his side in the hunt with a pair of deep twos. The physical play didn’t slow the tempo, and within three minutes, the scoreboard was locked at 8–8 — a testament to both team’s execution and composure under pressure.

But that was when Shugo Bando stepped in. With his reputation already rising after a breakout opening round, Bando took full control of the moment. He drilled back-to-back shots from beyond the arc, pushing MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE to a 12–8 lead — their first real breathing room. As momentum shifted, Yoshida tried to spark a reply with a two-pointer of his own, but MINAKAMI had found their rhythm.

Adding to the trouble, Shun Otsuka brought his veteran presence to the fore. On the very next possession, he attacked the defence with a decisive drive to the rim, restoring the two-possession buffer. Even as Yano hit again from the top of the key to bring the margin back within one, foul trouble was beginning to weigh heavily on ASUKAYAMA CHERRYBLOSSOMS.EXE.

That pressure came to a head when Otsuka was fouled on another drive, converting the free throw to complete a three-point play. With the physical toll mounting and fouls adding up, MINAKAMI’s frontcourt strength — anchored by Kubema Joseph and Ćojbašić — began to break open the game. Offensive rebounds, second-chance looks, and worn-down defenders created a snowball effect that ASUKAYAMA simply couldn’t stop.

Eventually, MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE’s class proved too much, closing out a 21–14 victory and locking in their second consecutive finals appearance of the 2025 season. The balance of outside shooting and interior dominance had once again delivered — and the message was loud and clear: MINAKAMI aren’t just here to compete — they’re here to win it all.

Final Score:
MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE (21) Def ASUKAYAMA CHERRYBLOSSOMS.EXE (14)

Semi-Final 2 Recap

RHINOS Resist Comeback Charge to Book Final Spot in Round 2 Thriller

With momentum surging from dominant pool play wins — averaging an eye-opening 11-point margin — HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE entered the second semi-final with swagger. Their opponents, SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE, had tasted the semi-final stage in Round 1 but were still chasing that elusive step into the championship match. Both sides had made subtle roster adjustments ahead of this clash, and from the opening possessions, it was clear this contest would be defined by defensive grit and clutch execution.

It was Hirotaka Fukisawa who opened the scoring for RHINOS.EXE with a polished turnaround jumper from the block — the kind of shot that instantly sets a tone. But Yuto Maita didn’t waste a second in firing back, slashing hard to the rim for a tough finish that brought the crowd to life. The early minutes were a chess match of stops and adjustments, as both teams used their similar size to contest every shot and disrupt rhythm on both ends.

Two minutes into the action, the stalemate was broken by Hibiki Osawa, who rose up from behind the arc under heavy pressure from Naoto Ito and drained the first two-pointer of the game. It was a sign of what was to come. Ito, unfazed, responded the only way he knows how — with a blistering first step and a three-point play that showed SHINAGAWA’s refusal to fold under pressure.

As the pace quickened, RHINOS.EXE leaned into their perimeter shooting, with Fukisawa and Yuya Ohno both connecting from distance to edge their team ahead 9–5. Ohno's next basket — a ridiculous spinning, off-balance prayer that found nothing but net — stretched the margin and left even the defenders in disbelief. Suddenly, RHINOS.EXE held a five-point cushion, and the WILDCATS were in danger of being outpaced.

But this is a SHINAGAWA team that plays with heart and IQ. Shinji Naruse, the cerebral core of the offence, began carving up the defence with backdoor assists — first to Takeda, then to Ito — both leading to clean finishes. Maita, sensing an opportunity, barrelled to the hoop to bring the deficit back to 12–10 at the midway mark. The WILDCATS had clawed back within striking distance, and the game was now wide open.

For the next few minutes, the two sides exchanged buckets, with the tempo intensifying and every possession growing in value. That was until a critical sequence — a wrap-around assist from Ohno to Shingo Maeda followed by a thunderous putback from Fukisawa — gave HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE the burst they needed to pull ahead by five with the finish line in sight.

Still, SHINAGAWA had one last run left. Takeda, relentless and unshaken, scored on a strong drive and then hit a heavily contested long two to cut it to 19–16. A follow-up layup by Maita and a monster offensive rebound and putback by Takeda suddenly saw the score trimmed to a single point with under 30 seconds remaining.

But RHINOS.EXE weren’t done either. On their final key possession, Maeda attacked his matchup and converted a crucial layup, pushing the lead back to two. SHINAGAWA’s final hope rested on a rushed two-pointer — one that missed the mark. Forced to foul on the rebound, they sent Fukisawa to the line, where he calmly sank the dagger to close out a gripping 21–18 win and secure HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE their place in the final.

Final Score:

HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE (21) Def SCC WILDCATS.EXE (18)

Final Recap

MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE Goes Back-to-Back, Outmuscles RHINOS.EXE in Commanding Finals Display

With confidence soaring after a flawless Day 2 performance in Round 1, MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE stepped into the final with experience, size, and momentum firmly on their side. Their opponents, a resurgent HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE, had retooled their lineup and clawed their way from a 12th place finish just one week prior into championship contention. It was a clash between continuity and resurgence, physical dominance and speed-driven flair.

Right from the tip, the contrast in strategies was clear. MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE, boasting a four-inch average height advantage, sought to assert their physical presence inside — and Miloš Ćojbašić wasted no time highlighting that mismatch, sealing deep and converting with ease on the first possession. But HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE came to play. Yuya Ohno sliced through the defence with his signature quickness, scoring an uncontested layup and then immediately creating havoc with a forced turnover on the next defensive trip.

The opening exchanges were ferocious. RHINOS.EXE found seams through sharp movement and speed, while MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE leaned into their interior dominance, lobbing high-percentage passes to Ćojbašić and Steve Kubema Joseph, who had no trouble converting near the rim. The tension was palpable, and with both teams executing their identities well, the score was locked at 7–7 after just three minutes of back-and-forth brilliance.

Sensing the need to tilt the game, HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE tried to clamp down on sharpshooter Shugo Bando, but overcommitted. Fouling him on the perimeter gifted Bando two free throws, both of which he buried. Then came the turning point. A rare miscue by RHINOS.EXE gave MINAKAMI an extra possession — and Ćojbašić made them pay, faking a hand-off and pulling up for a cold-blooded two-pointer. Just like that, MINAKAMI opened up the game’s first two-possession lead.

Bando, always a threat from deep, struck again moments later, and suddenly a 6–0 run had MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE in the driver’s seat. Ohno momentarily stopped the bleeding with a slick backdoor dime to Osawa, but the momentum had firmly swung. Another precision interior finish from Kubema Joseph extended the margin to 14–8, and RHINOS.EXE’s energy began to waver.

To their credit, Shingo Maeda gave a late push inside the paint, but MINAKAMI’s well-oiled machine continued to churn. Bando kept firing from range, and Ćojbašić and Kubema Joseph executed flawlessly in the high-low tandem, stretching the defence in every direction. The final blow came with Kubema Joseph standing at the free throw line, calmly knocking down the point that sealed a runaway 21–10 victory.

With the win, MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE not only claimed their second straight round title — but also cemented themselves as the early juggernaut of the 2025 season.

 Final Score:
MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE (21) Def HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE (10)

🏆 MVP – Miloš Ćojbašić (MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE) – 6.0 PPG | 79% 1PT FG | 59% FG

Miloš Ćojbašić proved once again why he is one of the most dominant interior players in the league. A relentless presence around the basket, Ćojbašić was instrumental in MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE’s title run — finishing plays with efficiency, controlling the glass, and consistently putting pressure on opposing defences. Whether it was cleaning up second-chance opportunities or stepping outside to hit timely mid-range shots, his impact was felt on every possession. A worthy MVP for a team quickly establishing itself as the championship benchmark.

Written by Andrew Cannings