Welcome to 3x3.EXE Premier Japan — the world’s largest professional 3x3 basketball league.
Round 6 Knockout Stage – Sendai
Top contenders collide as SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE rise to #1 in Japan
As the 3x3.EXE Premier Japan season moved into its sixth round, all eyes turned to Sendai for a knockout stage packed with playoff intensity. With only two rounds remaining after this weekend, every result carried added weight, and with early exits from several top-ranked teams, the door opened for new challengers to climb the ladder. SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE, HACHINOHE DIME.EXE, and TOKYO DIME.EXE were among the standouts, navigating a tough Round of 16 before battling through to the semi-finals.
In a field filled with momentum shifts, clutch moments, and statement performances, it was SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE who emerged with the Round 6 crown. Behind the steady brilliance of Jan Demsar, the Tokyo powerhouse defeated rivals old and new, including a commanding win in the final over HACHINOHE DIME.EXE, to leap into first place on the league table. With just two stops remaining in the 2025 regular season, the playoff race is officially in full swing.
Round of 16 Storylines
Game 1 - SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE (2nd) vs SIMON.EXE (13th)
SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE survive late challenge from SIMON.EXE as Jan Demsar’s all-round effort sparks a decisive 6–2 closing run.
SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE (21) Def SIMON.EXE (17)
Game 2 - SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE (5th) vs MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE (4th)
MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE outlast SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE in a gritty battle, sealing the game with back-to-back clutch buckets from Shun Otsuka.
MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE (21) Def SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE (16)
Game 3 - EPIC.EXE (5th) vs TOKYO VERDY.EXE (5th)
EPIC.EXE knock out TOKYO VERDY.EXE behind early energy from Akito Omachi and the scoring punch of Tatsuki Kishikawa and Atsushi Isshiki.
EPIC.EXE (18) Def TOKYO VERDY.EXE (14)
Game 4 – UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE (17th) vs UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE (14th)
UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE surge past UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE with a dominant 10–0 run led by Griffin Biwer’s defense and three players scoring from the line.
UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE (21) Def UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE (14)
Game 5 – SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE (10th) vs TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE (19th)
TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE overpower SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE thanks to a two-man scoring masterclass from Okoye Peter Junior and Michael Phillips.
TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE (21) Def SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE (16)
Game 6 – IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE (10th) vs HACHINOHE DIME.EXE (3rd)
HACHINOHE DIME.EXE edge out IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE in a back-and-forth contest, with Chu Maduabum and Chihiro Sawagashira combining for 16 points.
HACHINOHE DIME.EXE (21) Def IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE (17)
Game 7 – BEEFMAN.EXE (9th) vs HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE (10th)
BEEFMAN.EXE dominate HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE in the most one-sided game of the round, using precise ball movement and a balanced team attack.
BEEFMAN.EXE (22) Def HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE (10)
Game 8 – TOKYO DIME.EXE (16th) vs ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE (1st)
TOKYO DIME.EXE shock ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE in the biggest upset of the day, fueled by Wataru Kuroda’s fast start and Yu Nishiune’s clutch finish.
TOKYO DIME.EXE (21) Def ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE (17)
Quarter Final Moments that mattered
Quarter Final 1
SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE vs MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE
Demsar and Ochiai help spark 6-point swing for SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE
In a matchup between two of the league’s top-four teams, SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE and MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE faced off in a quarter-final that promised quality, and delivered in full. Both teams had posted 21 points or more in every game of Round 6, and it was MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE who struck first, with Miloš Ćojbašić and Shugo Bando getting early baskets to apply pressure.
SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE took nearly 90 seconds to get their first points, but once Dušan Samardžić got rolling, they quickly found their rhythm. The tempo lifted midway through the game, as Samardžić and Bando traded baskets in an entertaining stretch that saw the scoreboard tick to 11–9.
Then came the turning point, a ruthless 40-second sequence that changed everything. Jan Demsar powered to the rim for a key basket, Tomoya Ochiai finished a slick cut off a pass from Ryo Ozawa, and Ozawa followed it up with three makes from the free throw line to blow open a six-point lead.
That run proved decisive. MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE fought to regain their footing, but SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE stayed composed and in control, closing out a clinical win that underlined their growing reputation as one of the most complete teams in the competition.
SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE (22) Def MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE (15)
Quarter Final 2
EPIC.EXE vs UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE
Seven unanswered points swing momentum in UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE’s favour
In a rematch from Round 1, UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE were seeking revenge against EPIC.EXE, but this time, the stakes were far greater. A win here would keep UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE inside the critical top 15 in the 3x3.EXE Premier Japan standings, making this elimination game far more than just personal redemption.
UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE came out firing, riding the momentum of their dominant Round of 16 performance to claim the first three points of the contest. It was a confident and aggressive start that caught EPIC.EXE off guard and immediately shifted the pressure onto the side that had bested them earlier in the season.
EPIC.EXE eventually settled, and a strong drive and finish from Atsushi Isshiki helped bring the score back to 5–4 after four minutes of play. It looked like the tempo was balancing, until UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE landed a body blow of their own.
Yasuo Iijima turned the game on its head, scoring seven straight points for his side, including back-to-back two-point shots and a layup, in a run that gave UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE firm control of the game. That scoring burst was the turning point, breaking EPIC.EXE’s rhythm and pushing UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE one step closer to securing their playoff hopes.
UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE (21) Def EPIC.EXE (11)
Quarter Final 3
TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE vs HACHINOHE DIME.EXE
Sawagashira and Miyakoshi lift HACHINOHE DIME.EXE to key quarter-final win
A familiar matchup brought HACHINOHE DIME.EXE and TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE back onto the court together for their second clash of the season. In their previous meeting, HACHINOHE DIME.EXE had controlled the game en route to a 21–15 win, and the big question coming into this quarter-final was whether they could once again handle the interior threat posed by Okoye Peter Junior and Michael Phillips.
TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE showed more balance this time around, with Koki Wakasa keeping the game tight by converting a pair of free throws to bring the margin within one with just over four and a half minutes to play. The defensive intensity from both teams ramped up immediately after, with neither side giving an inch over the next few trips down the floor.
That changed when Chihiro Sawagashira came off a high screen from Chu Maduabum and rose up confidently over his defender to knock down a momentum-shifting jumper. It was the breakthrough HACHINOHE DIME.EXE needed, giving them a 17–14 edge and silencing the surging TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE bench.
On the following possession, TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE committed a costly foul, sending Yasuki Miyakoshi to the line. Calm and composed, he knocked down both free throws to extend the lead, and HACHINOHE DIME.EXE never looked back, sealing another victory and continuing their strong run in Sendai.
HACHINOHE DIME.EXE (21) Def TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE (17)
Quarter Final 4
BEEFMAN.EXE vs TOKYO DIME.EXE
Clutch gene: Nishiune sends TOKYO DIME.EXE into semis with game-winner
With both teams having suffered early exits in Round 3, the quarter-final clash between TOKYO DIME.EXE and BEEFMAN.EXE was charged with urgency. Only one could rewrite their trajectory and reach the Round 6 semi-finals, and from the opening whistle, it was clear neither side was willing to back down.
Haruki Tobori gave BEEFMAN.EXE a critical edge midway through the game, knocking down a two-point shot from the top of the key to stretch their lead to five. But TOKYO DIME.EXE stayed composed. Yu Nishiune responded with a two of his own, and Wataru Kuroda followed it with a well-timed layup to pull the game level at 15–15 with just over two minutes remaining.
The tension only grew from there. Both teams continued to trade baskets, and as the clock ticked under a minute, Tatsuhito Noro tied it once more at 19–19, setting up a dramatic finish in front of a roaring crowd in Sendai.
With everything on the line, the ball found its way back to Nishiune. Everyone in the arena knew what was coming, but stopping it was another matter. He caught it near the top, took a single dribble left, and elevated over two defenders. The shot rattled in, sealing a thrilling 21–19 victory for TOKYO DIME.EXE and punching their ticket to the semi-finals.
TOKYO DIME.EXE (21) Def BEEFMAN.EXE (19)
Semi Final 1
SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE vs UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE
Ochiai’s dagger seals SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE’s path to the Grand Final
With both teams priding themselves on elite defensive execution throughout Round 6, this semi-final clash between SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE and UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE was always going to be a battle of willpower as much as skill. SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE had limited opponents to just 13 points per game, while UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE were conceding only 10.5, both top marks across the weekend. But only one could carry that momentum into the final.
SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE came into the contest with an added incentive: following ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE’s surprise exit in the Round of 16, a win would place them at the top of the league standings. For UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE, a semi-final victory would push them closer to the coveted top 8 and a potential postseason berth.
It was UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE who struck first, opening with a smart backdoor pass from Griffin Biwer to Yuki Nakanishi, who then followed it up with a solo effort to keep the defence guessing. Biwer added a mid-range jumper shortly after, capping a strong opening stretch.
SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE responded through Jan Demsar, who got them on the board before Dušan Samardžić and Demsar again connected to level the score at 3–3 after just one minute. The offensive rhythm would soon slow, though, as both teams tightened defensively, a trademark that had carried them through the round.
Tomoya Ochiai briefly broke the stalemate with a two-point shot, but Nakanishi remained active, slashing through the lane for another layup. Samardžić powered through for a tough finish, but Yasuo Iijima turned defence into points with an and-one, quickly followed by another strong move from Biwer and an instinctive read by Nakanishi to cap off a 4–0 UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE run.
With the game locked at 11–11 and just over four minutes remaining, the intensity continued to build. Iijima again finished strong at the rim, but Ochiai responded with an and-one before lofting a perfectly timed lob pass to Demsar to keep SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE in rhythm. Nakanishi answered back again with a quick layup, but Samardžić hit a deep two to give SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE their largest lead at 17–14.
After a timeout, UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE came roaring back. Nakanishi slipped by his defender once again for a layup, Biwer spun into a clean finish in the post, and Yudai Ara added another drive, but SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE kept pace behind Samardžić’s composed scoring, holding the edge at 17–16.
As time ticked down, SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE began to pull away. Ryo Ozawa orchestrated a pair of pick-and-roll sets to perfection, helping create separation and control. Then, as two defenders collapsed to deny Samardžić an open look from the corner, the ball swung to Ochiai on the wing. He rose with confidence, and delivered the knockout blow, burying a two-pointer to seal a 21–16 win and yet another trip to the Grand Final.
SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE (21) Def UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE (16)
Semi Final 2
HACHINOHE DIME.EXE vs TOKYO DIME.EXE
Maduabum banks in game-winner as HACHINOHE DIME.EXE edge TOKYO DIME.EXE in instant classic
After taking down competition leaders and surviving a shootout quarter-final, TOKYO DIME.EXE entered the semi-final brimming with belief. Their opponent, HACHINOHE DIME.EXE, had battled through a relentless draw of physical contests and were eager to cap off their Round 6 campaign with a Grand Final berth. With EXE points and playoff momentum on the line, this was always going to be a heavyweight clash.
All eyes were on the duel between two elite scorers, Yu Nishiune for Tokyo and Chihiro Sawagashira for Hachinohe, while the defensive matchup between Masahiro Komatsu and Chu Maduabum promised added intrigue. From the opening possession, Nishiune accepted the challenge. Despite tight pressure from the Hachinohe defence, he opened with a deep two and followed it with a lightning-quick drive to the rim.
Taishi Kakuta responded with a strong finish for HACHINOHE DIME.EXE before Maduabum powered through for an and-one. TOKYO DIME.EXE struck back with baskets from Wataru Kuroda and Nishiune, but Hachinohe’s inside attack stayed relentless, Sawagashira and Maduabum both finding their way to the rim in a seesawing start.
Kuroda broke the early tie with a tough drive, but Sawagashira answered with a two-pointer off a fortunate bounce, then split defenders on the next play for a smooth layup. With Nishiune drawing double teams, he dished off to Ryoma Nozawa for an easy finish, keeping TOKYO DIME.EXE within reach.
Midway through, HACHINOHE DIME.EXE began to assert their presence in the paint. Maduabum, Kakuta, and Sawagashira all added scores to build a 12–9 advantage, while Nishiune could only manage a single basket during that stretch. But the game would swing again. Following a timeout, Nishiune ignited, scoring six points in 90 seconds, including a deep two that tied the game at 15–15 with three minutes left.
The final minutes were electric. Sawagashira and Nishiune traded tough layups and long-range daggers in a scoring duel that kept the crowd roaring. Then Maduabum threw down a two-handed dunk, and Sawagashira added another drive to put HACHINOHE DIME.EXE on the doorstep of victory.
But Nishiune wasn’t done. Left unguarded in the corner, he buried a cold-blooded two-pointer to tie it at 20 apiece and force a next-basket-wins scenario. HACHINOHE DIME.EXE called timeout, regrouped, and went to their strength, Maduabum in the post. TOKYO DIME.EXE had no answer but to foul, and with the pressure of a Grand Final resting on the shot, Maduabum banked in the free throw to deliver a dramatic 21–20 win, the fourth final appearance of the season for HACHINOHE DIME.EXE.
HACHINOHE DIME.EXE (21) Def TOKYO DIME.EXE (20)
Grand Final
SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE vs HACHINOHE DIME.EXE
Demsar leads the charge as SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE overpower HACHINOHE DIME.EXE
Round 6 of the 3x3.EXE Premier Japan season reached its climax with a heavyweight showdown between SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE and HACHINOHE DIME.EXE. Entering the final ranked second and third respectively, both teams had a clear path to claiming the top spot on the league ladder, if they could outlast one another in their third meeting of the season. With the head-to-head series tied at one apiece, this battle carried more than just points, it carried pride, positioning, and momentum with only two rounds left to play.
HACHINOHE DIME.EXE made the first statement, with Chu Maduabum knocking down a deep two to open the scoring. But SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE didn’t flinch. Jan Demsar replied immediately with a layup and soon followed with another basket inside, while Dušan Samardžić added a pair of strong finishes of his own to get Shinagawa into rhythm. Yasuki Miyakoshi connected from distance to keep HACHINOHE DIME.EXE in range, and when Chihiro Sawagashira and Ryo Ozawa traded twos, the game was locked at 6–6 after three minutes.
As space on the perimeter began to close, both sides adjusted their approach. Shinagawa started attacking the rim with purpose, Demsar, Ozawa, and Samardžić each finding angles to finish through contact. HACHINOHE DIME.EXE struggled to find the same interior efficiency, though they kept pace briefly through Miyakoshi, Kakuta, and a clean midrange pull-up from Sawagashira.
Demsar, who had been consistent all day, continued to find seams in the defense. His finish inside gave SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE a 2-point edge at the halfway mark. Out of the timeout, he remained the spark — drawing a foul for a made free throw, then finishing consecutive layups as the tempo turned in SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE’s favour.
With Ozawa slicing to the basket and adding another score, HACHINOHE DIME.EXE found themselves trailing 15–10 and in need of a response. Samardžić delivered a potential dagger as the shot clock expired, drilling a shot from the wing to extend the lead to seven and ignite the Sendai crowd.
Maduabum tried to rally his team with back-to-back baskets in the paint, but the SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE machine kept rolling. Samardžić added another inside finish, before Demsar rose up from beyond the arc and buried a two-point dagger to put the game firmly out of reach.
Maduabum muscled in one final basket, but the ending was inevitable. On the next possession, Demsar set a perfect off-ball screen and Ozawa stepped into a deep two, clean through the net. That final swish sealed the 22–13 victory and SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE’s ascension to first place on the 3x3.EXE Premier Japan ladder with just two rounds to play.
SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE (22) Def HACHINOHE DIME.EXE (13)
🏆 MVP – Jan Demsar (SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE)
6.7 PPG | 56% FG% | 70% - 1PT FG%
Jan Demsar was the steady force behind SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE’s championship run in Sendai, delivering elite efficiency and impeccable timing on both ends of the floor. His interior scoring and smart cutting punished defenders all day long, but it was his work in the Grand Final that truly stood out, consistently finding space in the paint, hitting from deep when needed, and setting the tone with relentless activity around the basket.
Averaging 6.7 points per game on 56% shooting, Demsar’s contributions were not just consistent, they were momentum-shifting. Whether it was opening scoring bursts, late-game daggers, or selfless off-ball movement to create opportunities for teammates, he played a complete game every time he stepped on court. With a 70% clip from one-point range and leadership that never wavered, Demsar earns Round 6 MVP honours as SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE surged into first place on the 3x3.EXE Premier Japan ladder.
Top 8 FINAL STANDINGS
Links
| FIBA 3x3 Event Page | FIBA 3x3 Event Link |
| YouTube Link | Youtube Link - Court A |
| YouTube Link | Youtube Link - Court B |
| YouTube Link | Youtube Link - Day 2 (Finals) |
| 3x3.EXE Standings | 3x3.EXE Standings |
| 3x3.EXE Schedule | 3x3.EXE Schedule |
Written by Andrew Cannings
