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Round 5 Group 1 - Hokkaido

High-Octane Sapporo Showdown: TOKYO VERDY.EXE Tops IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE for Premier Glory

The 3x3.EXE Premier made its way to Sapporo’s indoor arena for Men’s Round 5 Group 1, and the day delivered everything fans crave: high-octane scoring, razor-thin margins and breakout performances. Sixteen teams arrived with varying histories, some hunting their first final of the season, others aiming for redemption, and only the sharpest shooters and toughest defenders would emerge unscathed.

From the opening tip, every pool offered a “Moment That Mattered,” whether it was IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE’s late-game surge to clinch Pool A or SIMON.EXE’s nail-biting 21–18 win in Pool B. Upstairs in Pool C, TOKYO VERDY.EXE leaned on disciplined defense to stifle UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE, while ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE exploded in Pool D to claim top spot. Those pivotal swings set the stage for two gripping semifinals: a back-and-forth duel between SIMON.EXE and IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE, and a sharpshooting showdown pitting TOKYO VERDY.EXE against ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE.

In the end, it all came down to a final between TOKYO VERDY.EXE hungry for their first title of the season and IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE who were making their long-awaited return to the championship game. Across eight knockout minutes, both teams traded buckets until Riku Oguchi’s clutch free-throw and assist secured a 21–19 triumph. Oguchi’s 11.3 PPG performance at 57% on 1-pointers and 45% overall earned him MVP honours, capping a day defined by precision, grit and electrifying 3x3 basketball.

POOL A

  • IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE - 230 EXE POINTS | 60% Winning% | 17.7 PPG
  • MEGURO SIXERS.EXE - 195 EXE POINTS | 38% Winning% | 13.6 PPG
  • SPINNERS.EXE - 180 EXE POINTS | 0% Winning% | 11.4 PPG

POOL A MOMENT THAT MATTERED

Sato’s Late Two-Pointer Seals Pool A Title for IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE

The opening game in Sapporo’s indoor court set the tone for Pool A, as IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE and MEGURO SIXERS.EXE battled with the group title on the line. With no weather concerns inside the arena, both teams leaned into their strengths from the opening tip, knowing that the winner here would carry crucial momentum into the knockout rounds.

Meguro grabbed an early edge behind Makoto Seki’s sharpshooting, as he drained back-to-back two-pointers to push the Sixers ahead. Aichi, however, responded with a collective effort, Adachi Hayato, Sota Yamada, Ryuki Sono and Yuki Nakazaki each knocked down scores, keeping the contest tight and illustrating the depth of IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE’s roster.

By the midway mark, Aichi had inched out to a 12–9 lead, forcing Meguro to regroup with a timeout. On the very next sequence, Daisuke Sato exploded for five straight points, capping a decisive 6–2 run with a booming two-pointer that all but sealed the pool victory. His burst not only swung the scoreboard but also deflated the Sixers’ momentum.

Despite Kohei Ishida’s late flurry of doubles for Meguro, the gap proved insurmountable. IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE held on comfortably down the stretch, clinching top spot in Pool A and stamping their authority

POOL A RESULTS

POOL A WINNER:

EPIC.EXE


POOL A NOTABLE SCORERS:

  • Sato Daisuke (IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE) – 8.5 PPG | 53% FG%
  • Kohei Ishida (MEGURO SIXERS.EXE) – 8.5 PPG | 60% FG%
  • Takuya Shiotani (SPINNERS.EXE) – 8.5 PPG | 50% - 1PT FG%

POOL B

  • FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE - 195 EXE POINTS | 11% Winning% | 14.7 PPG
  • HIU ZEROCKETS.EXE - 180 EXE POINTS | 0% Winning% | 11.6 PPG
  • SIMON.EXE - 235 EXE POINTS | 45% Winning% | 17.5 PPG

POOL B MOMENT THAT MATTERED

Igo’s Deep Barrage Falls Just Short as Simon Clinch Pool B

HIU ZEROCKETS.EXE and SIMON.EXE met in the second game of Pool B with top-of-the-group ambitions on the line. After a sluggish start to the season, HIU ZEROCKETS.EXE hoped to build on the promise shown in Round 4, especially with Kenya Igo back from national-team duty. SIMON.EXE, too, came in determined to rebound, eager to seize their chance to advance.

SIMON.EXE jumped out to an early 11–4 lead behind Mike Harry’s work in the paint and Cheick Keita’s strong finishes at the rim. Lawrence Kawasaki kept the momentum rolling from deep, drilling back-to-back two-pointers that had HIU on their heels inside the first three minutes.

By midway through the contest, HIU ZEROCKETS.EXE trailed 15–9. But signs of life appeared as Igo and Yuta Kusano began to heat up. After a HIU ZEROCKETS.EXE timeout, Igo took over, displaying his traditional big-man shooting touch by splashing four of his six attempts from beyond the arc over the next two minutes.

Despite Igo’s barrage that trimmed the deficit to just one possession, SIMON.EXE refused to crack. With the score tied 18–18, Tsubasa Iseki drove hard to the elbow, rose into an off-balance jumper and watched it rattle in. That clutch make sealed a 21–18 win for SIMON.EXE and clinched top spot in Pool B.

POOL B RESULTS

POOL B WINNER:

SIMON.EXE


POOL B NOTABLE SCORERS:

  • Kenya Igo (HIU ZEROCKETS.EXE) – 9.0 PPG | 54% - 2 PT%
  • Mike Harry (SIMON.EXE) – 7.3 PPG | 79% FG%
  • Yosuke Tajiri (FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE) – 5.0 PPG | 50% - 1 PT%

POOL C

  • SENDAI AIRJOKER.EXE - 220 EXE POINTS | 50% Winning% | 17.2 PPG
  • TOKYO VERDY.EXE - 235 EXE POINTS | 50% Winning% | 17.4 PPG
  • UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE - 250 EXE POINTS | 64% Winning% | 18.5 PPG

POOL C MOMENT THAT MATTERED

Clutch Drive and Free Throws Seal TOKYO VERDY.EXE’s Win-or-Go-Home Victory

TOKYO VERDY.EXE entered their Pool C showdown with UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE knowing that any loss meant elimination after a rocky opener. UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE, meanwhile, held the simpler path, reach 20 points or lose by just one, thus carried the upper hand on paper. Mathematical permutations hung in the balance: TOKYO VERDY.EXE needed a one-point win coupled with surpassing 13 total points to clinch progression. Leading TOKYO VERDY.EXE’s charge was Riku Oguchi, shouldering the offensive load with discipline and precision.

From the opening tip, TOKYO VERDY.EXE imposed a team-oriented, disciplined style. Oguchi orchestrated the attack, finding space for Ryuta Sekiguchi, Kento Uenodan and Cocoro Mieda to knock down 1s and 2s. Their stifling defense smothered Souleymane Coulibaly and Griffin Biwer at every turn, forcing contested shots and turnovers. At the midway break, TOKYO VERDY.EXE led 11–6, having built a buffer through calculated shot selection and collective rebounding.

However, that early aggression invited whistles, sending Sekiguchi and Uenodan to the bench in foul trouble. UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE pounced, with Yudai Ara and Yasuo Iijima carving out inside points that trimmed the gap to 13–12. Then, with just over three minutes remaining, TOKYO VERDY.EXE crossed the 13-point mark, simultaneously extinguishing the hopes of the third team in Pool C and positioning themselves firmly for advancement.

With the contest still hanging in the balance at 20–17, Oguchi barreled to the rim and absorbed heavy contact that sent him to the free-throw line. After a brief pause, he calmly sank both attempts, icing the game and confirming TOKYO VERDY.EXE’s passage out of Pool C.

POOL C RESULTS

  • Game 1 - SENDAI AIRJOKER.EXE (21) def TOKYO VERDY.EXE (19)
  • Game 2 - UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE (22) def SENDAI AIRJOKER.EXE (11)
  • Game 3 - TOKYO VERDY.EXE (21) def UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE (17)

POOL C WINNER:

SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE


POOL C NOTABLE SCORERS:

  • Riku Oguchi (TOKYO VERDY.EXE) – 11.3 PPG | 45% FG%
  • Ren Chida (SENDAI AIRJOKER.EXE) – 6.5 PPG | 42% - 1pt FG%
  • Yudai Ara (UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE) – 6.5 PPG | 53% FG%

POOL D

  • ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE - 265 EXE POINTS | 54% Winning% | 17.7 PPG
  • SANJO BEATERS.EXE - 180 EXE POINTS | 0% Winning% | 9.5 PPG
  • SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE - 185 EXE POINTS | 13% Winning% | 15.3 PPG

POOL D MOMENT THAT MATTERED

Otaki’s Balanced Rally Downs Sanjo for Pool D Crown

ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE arrived in Sapporo determined to prove they belong at the top of 3x3.EXE Premier, while SANJO BEATERS.EXE rode high on the momentum of an overtime thriller against SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE. With both teams eyeing the Pool D crown, this matchup promised a back-and-forth battle.Win and you advance; lose, and it’s home early.

Sanjo struck first. By the three-minute mark, Ayumu Haga drained a deep two, and H Bagamboula followed with a wing-ranger jumper, building a 7–5 lead through precision outside shooting. Their early success forced Otaki to chase, testing their defensive rotations and ball-screen coverages.

Otaki answered in kind. Kazuto Matsuyama and Gjio Bain led a balanced response that saw them overturn the deficit. By midway, ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE had edged ahead 10–9, thanks to crisp passing and smart cut-and-fill plays that freed Matsuyama for open looks and Bain for put-backs.

The turning point came in a blistering 7–1 run between the 6:45 and 3:45 marks. Matsuyama poured in three points, Bain torched the rim for two more, and Haruka Kataoka and Tsugumi Ohashi each knocked down clutch scores. Though Sanjo clawed back within two late, Otaki’s collective surge proved decisive, and ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE claimed top spot in Pool D.

POOL D RESULTS

  • Game 1 - SANJO BEATERS.EXE (20) def SAITAMA WILDB.EXE (18)
  • Game 2 - ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE (21) def SAITAMA WILDB.EXE (15)
  • Game 3 - ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE (18) def SANJO BEATERS.EXE (16)

POOL D WINNER:

ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE


POOL D NOTABLE SCORERS:

  • H.Bagamboula (SANJO BEATERS.EXE) – 6.5 PPG | 81% - 1 PT%
  • Gjio Bain (ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE) – 8.0 PPG | 80% - 1 PT%
  • Takashi Sano (SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE) – 4.5 PPG | 33% - 1 PT%

SEMI FINAL 1

IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE vs SIMON.EXE

Back-and-Forth Thriller: IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE Edges SIMON.EXE to Reach First Final

Having never met in 2025 and separated by just one game in the standings, this semifinal represented a key opportunity for both SIMON.EXE and IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE to strengthen their cases as the season heads into its second half. Simon arrived in Sapporo on the back of a dominant pool performance, winning by an average of six points per game and reaching the Round 4 final, while Aichi Partners were desperate to rebound after an early exit in Round 1 and punch their ticket to a first final this season.

The tone was set on the very first possession. Daisuke Sato used a burst of speed to slice through the paint and score for Aichi, only for Cheick Keita to answer immediately with a powerful post-up finish for Simon. Over the next two trips, both star scorers traded baskets again, underscoring the one-on-one subplot at the heart of this clash.

SIMON.EXE’s defense then made a statement: Keita’s rejection on IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE’s drive ricocheted straight to Mike Harry, who converted an easy layup on the break. For the next two minutes, Harry and Keita patrolled the paint with authority denying IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE any clean looks while tacking on points of their own.

But IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE’s engine kept running. Sato sniffed out a seam in the SIMON.EXE defense, absorbed contact, and completed an and-one finish to halt SIMON.EXE’s momentum. His craftiness on the drive reminded everyone why he’s one of the league’s most dangerous scorers.

Buoyed by that play, Adachi Hayato nailed a two from the wing and Yuki Nakazaki followed with a strong finish at the rim to knot the game. IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE’s balanced attack had Simon on its heels once again.

SIMON.EXE answered through Lawrence Kawasaki, whose scooping left-hand layup restored their lead. Moments later, Tsubasa Iseki spun off a Harry hand-off for a runner that kept IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE at bay. Harry then muscled through heavy contact for an and-one that capped a 5–0 Simon run and pushed them clear.

Despite that burst, Sato cracked the code again, blowing by his defender for a quick layup and then racing the shot clock for a second bucket. Iseki answered with a buzzer-beating runner to send the teams into the break with SIMON.EXE clinging to a narrow 12–9 advantage.

The second half opened in similar fashion. Sato came out of the timeout flying with a layup and a booming two, while Keita matched him score for score. Hayato and Nakazaki countered with points in the paint to even it at 15-all. Sato then spun through traffic for a go-ahead score, and in the final two minutes, Sota Yamada and Keita traded inside buckets to make it 18-17. A determined drive by Hayato sent him tumbling into the paint, but he rose to grab his own offensive rebound and rush back up for a putback that pushed IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE’s lead to two.

A high-lob entry found Keita, who cut the deficit to one with 25 seconds remaining. SIMON.EXE fouled; Yamada calmly sank his free throw to restore the two-point cushion. Harry’s desperation heave from beyond the arc rattled off the rim, and IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE held on for a hard-fought 20–18 victory, booking their first final of the 2025 3x3.EXE Premier season.

SCORE

IRISPARTNERS A.EXE (20) def SIMON.EXE (18)

SEMI FINAL 2

TOKYO VERDY.EXE vs ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE

Oguchi’s Deep Range and Drives Power TOKYO VERDY.EXE Past ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE, 21–16

ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE came into the semifinal off two comfortable pool wins, each by an average of four points, while TOKYO VERDY.EXE sneaked through after splitting their pool games, edging on total points scored. Both sides were determined to advance one step further than Round 4, where each fell to the eventual group winner.

From the opening tip, the pace was frenetic. Yukimoto Wakabayashi attacked the rim for the first bucket, Gjio Bain followed with an and-one finish, and Haruka Kataoka splashed a deep two, all which came inside the first 30 seconds.

TOKYO VERDY.EXE’s Kento Uenodan answered in kind, drilling back-to-back two-pointers on his way to five early points and giving TOKYO VERDY.EXE a 6–5 edge after the first minute.

As the teams settled, Riku Oguchi buried a deep two, then stepped on the line with his next long attempt, which only counted as a single point. Bain slammed home an interior reply for ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE, but Oguchi struck again with a two that stretched TOKYO VERDY.EXE’s lead to 11–6 and forced Otaki to call timeout.

The break sparked ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE’s comeback. Bain converted two easy finishes in the paint and Wakabayashi knocked down a wing two, trimming the deficit to 11–9 and breathing new life into the underdogs.

Oguchi refused to let TOKYO VERDY.EXE’s momentum slip. From beyond the logo he drained a huge two, and after a lazy perimeter foul sent Bain to the line, ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE’s big man calmly sank both free throws before grabbing his own offensive rebound and scoring again with his burst narrowing the gap to just 15–12 at the five-minute mark and prompting another ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE timeout.

Defences clamped down after that stoppage, producing several scoreless possessions until Mieda Cocoro spun past his defender for a crafty layup that pushed TOKYO VERDY.EXE closer to victory. Oguchi then drew contact from deep and knocked down both free throws, putting clear water between the teams.

ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE wouldn’t quit, Wakabayashi and Kazuto Matsuyama each converted layups to stay within striking distance, but Oguchi’s final driving finish through traffic sealed a 21–16 win. He finished with 14 points and carried TOKYO VERDY.EXE into the final.

SCORE

TOKYO VERDY.EXE (21) def ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE (16)

Grand FINAL

TOKYO VERDY.EXE vs IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE

Sekiguchi’s Vision and Oguchi’s Finish Propel TOKYO VERDY.EXE to Round 5 Victory

OKYO VERDY.EXE and IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE arrived in the final as the two most potent offenses of the day, each averaging over 17.5 points per game. For IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE, it was a return to the championship stage for the first time since Round 1; TOKYO VERDY.EXE, by contrast, had fallen in two prior finals and eyed a third-charm breakthrough. With both teams boasting deep shooting arsenals, Sapporo promised a showdown of sharpshooters.

The opening possession set the tone. Riku Oguchi picked up where he left off in the semifinal, drilling a two from the top of the key for TOKYO VERDY.EXE. IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE answered instantly as Daisuke Sato sliced to the rim for a clean layup, announcing that neither side would yield easy points.

On IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE’s next trip, Sota Yamada put his defender into a spin cycle with exquisite footwork before finishing at the rim. Ryuta Sekiguchi responded in kind for TOKYO VERDY.EXE, using a quick post-up move to sink a turnaround jumper. Oguchi then powered through for another layup, and Kento Uenodan followed with a catch-and-shoot two, giving TOKYO VERDY.EXE a slight early cushion.

Undeterred, IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE refused to be outworked. Hayato Adachi grabbed two consecutive offensive rebounds and converted both second-chance shots. Sato then bullied his way through contact to level the score, before Adachi hauled in a defensive board and pushed in transition points, capping a 5–0 IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE run. Uenodan finally halted the surge with a baseline jumper, leaving the tally 9–8 in IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE’s favour after three minutes.

Buckets were traded in rapid succession as neither team could pull away. The sides entered the mid-game timeout knotted at 11–11. Emerging from the break, Cocoro Mieda earned two free throws for TOKYO VERDY.EXE, and Sato knocked down a wing two for IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE. Thereafter, intensified defensive pressure produced a brief scoreless stretch.

With just over three minutes remaining, Yamada spun inside for a floating layup, and Uenodan promptly answered from deep, tying the contest at 15 apiece for the sixth time. Seconds later, Uenodan spun again in the lane for a running bank shot, and Mieda followed with an underarm floater, giving TOKYO VERDY.EXE a slender 17–15 edge.

Sato drew two defenders on IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE’s next possession, stepped back behind the arc and drained a critical two to pull the game level. In the closing two minutes, Oguchi drove through traffic, lured help defenders to leave Sekiguchi wide-open on the wing, and Sekiguchi delivered a precise two, tying the game at 19–19.

Needing two points to clinch, Oguchi was fouled beyond the arc and calmly sank his first free throw; the second rattled out. IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE’s rebound attempt went out of bounds, gifting TOKYO VERDY.EXE one final opportunity. Mieda drove the lane and tossed a behind-the-back pass that Sekiguchi caught off-balance. Rather than shoot, Sekiguchi dished to an unguarded Oguchi beneath the rim who buried the game-winner. TOKYO VERDY.EXE prevailed 21–19 and lifted their first title of the 2025 3x3.EXE Premier season.

  •  

SCORE

TOKYO VERDY.EXE (21) def IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE (19)

🏆 MVP – Riku Oguchi (TOKYO VERDY.EXE)

11.3 PPG | 57% - 1Pt FG% | 45% FG%

Riku Oguchi capped an exceptional day in Sapporo by anchoring TOKYO VERDY.EXE’s championship run with a tournament‐high average of 11.3 points per game. He shot a blistering 57% on all 1-pointers, bulldozing through defences for drives and mid-range finishes and maintained a 45% overall field-goal clip. Oguchi’s composure at the free-throw line, where he calmly sank the game-tying and pressure-packed final attempts, underscored his status as the league’s most reliable closer.

Beyond the box score, Oguchi’s impact went deeper: his court vision created the final assist on the championship‐winning play, and his relentless energy on both ends set the tone for TOKYO VERDY.EXE’s unblemished run through Round 5. As the day’s clear standout, Oguchi not only delivered in crunch moments but also lifted his teammates’ performance cementing his MVP honours in the 2025 3x3.EXE Premier Sapporo final.

Event Ladder

Links

Event Link

FIBA 3x3 Event PageFIBA 3x3 Event Link
YouTube LinkYoutube Link
3x3.EXE Standings3x3.EXE Standings
3x3.EXE Schedule3x3.EXE Schedule

Written by Andrew Cannings