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

Round 6 Recap: SANJO BEATERS.EXE Survive the Chaos to Claim Second Straight Title

With only three rounds remaining in the 2025 season, Round 6 of the 3x3.EXE Premier Japan Women’s Series delivered yet another thrilling chapter, this time from Saitama. All nine teams were in action across three pools, with only four advancing to the knockout rounds. And with ladder positioning and playoff momentum on the line, every possession took on added meaning. Whether it was teams trying to rebound from earlier rounds or contenders solidifying their status, the intensity was unmistakable from the opening tip.

What unfolded was a day filled with standout performances, revenge rematches, and game-winning plays under pressure. FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE returned to form in Pool A, SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE pushed the top seed to the limit in Pool B, and UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE proved their resilience to top Pool C. But in the end, it was SANJO BEATERS.EXE who once again claimed the crown, navigating two gripping knockout games to secure back-to-back titles and further cement their place as one of the league’s elite.

POOL A

  • FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE (2) - 360 EXE POINTS | 71% Winning% | 23.4 PPG
  • TOKYO VERDY.EXE (4) - 320 EXE POINTS | 58% Winning% | 19.3 PPG
  • TAITO OWLS.EXE (7) - 265 EXE POINTS | 20% Winning% | 16.2 PPG

MOMENT THAT MATTERED

FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE Find Their Fire with Scorching Second-Half Surge

After a quiet outing in Round 5, FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE came into Saitama with purpose. Looking to reassert their dominance, they faced off against a gritty TAITO OWLS.EXE squad in the decisive final game of Pool A. From the outset, the matchup was a showcase of speed and physicality, with both teams trading baskets in a fast-paced opening. With four minutes gone, FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE held a narrow 9–7 advantage.

Then came the spark. Fuyuko Takahashi ignited a dramatic scoring surge with a powerful drive and a tough and-one finish at the rim. That single moment turned into a turning point, both in tempo and momentum. What followed was a blur of intensity as FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE ramped up the pressure and began to run downhill.

Takahashi would go on to score 8 of the team’s final 12 points, including a flawless 5-for-5 showing from the free-throw line. Her assertiveness in attacking the basket, combined with poise at the stripe, dismantled TAITO OWLS.EXE’s defensive structure in mere minutes. The TAITO OWLS.EXE, who had matched pace early, struggled to respond as FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE’s spacing and movement created open lanes and relentless pressure.

In the span of just two minutes, FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE outscored TAITO OWLS.EXE 12–6 to close out the contest, marking not only the fastest finish of the day but also a statement performance. With Takahashi leading the charge, FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE turned a tight battle into a dominant statement, booking their ticket to the semi-finals in style.

POOL A SCORES

  • Game 1 - TOKYO VERDY.EXE (21) Def TAITO OWLS.EXE (10)
  • Game 2 - FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE (22) Def TOKYO VERDY.EXE (10)
  • Game 3 - FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE (21) Def TAITO OWLS.EXE (14)

POOL A WINNER

FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE

NOTABLE SCORERS

  • Fuyuko Takahashi (FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE) - 10.7 PPG | 51% FG%
  • Rua Tsubouchi (TOKYO VERDY.EXE) - 5.5 PPG | 77% - 1PT FG%
  • Nozomi Suga (TAITO OWLS.EXE) - 4.5  PPG | 33% FG%


POOL B

  • SANJO BEATERS.EXE (2) - 360 EXE POINTS | 64% Winning% | 23.3 PPG
  • SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE (5) - 270 EXE POINTS | 36% Winning% | 17.2 PPG
  • ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE (5) - 270 EXE POINTS | 36% Winning% | 16.1 PPG

MOMENT THAT MATTERED

Kamiya’s Cold-Blooded Finish Sends SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE to the Semis

With a place in the semi-finals up for grabs, SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE and SANJO BEATERS.EXE faced off in a contest that quickly evolved into a tale of momentum swings. After building steady pressure through sharp ball movement and off-ball cuts, SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE launched a 5–0 run powered by Rika Kurihara and Megumi Yamazawa, extending their lead to 19–12 with just over three minutes left on the clock. But while SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE seemed poised to cruise to victory, SANJO BEATERS.EXE had no intention of folding.

The response from SANJO BEATERS.EXE was immediate and fierce. In a high-energy surge, Sakura Hisai, Midori Kanazawa, and Akari Takeuchi combined to orchestrate a 90-second rally that reignited their hopes. Pressuring the ball, crashing the glass, and running the floor, SANJO BEATERS.EXE outscored SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE 7–1 during this stretch, with SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE’s only points coming off a steady layup from Kurihara amid the chaos.

With the scoreboard now locked at 20–19 and all the momentum on SANJO BEATERS.EXE’s side, the pressure couldn’t have been higher. But SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE responded not with panic, but poise. As the ball swung to the top of the arc, Mizuki Kamiya found herself wide open. With no hesitation and the game hanging in the balance, she calmly stepped into a deep two-point shot.

The swish silenced the rally. Kamiya’s clutch basket gave SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE a hard-earned 22–19 victory and sealed the top spot in Pool B. For a team that looked briefly rattled, it was a moment of resolve that pushed SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE into the next stage, and reminded everyone of their ability to close when it matters most.

POOL B SCORES

  • Game 1 - SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE (11) Def ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE (8)
  • Game 2 - SANJO BEATERS.EXE (21) Def ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE (19)
  • Game 3 - SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE (22) Def SANJO BEATERS.EXE (19)

POOL B WINNER

SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE

NOTABLE SCORERS

  • Sakura Hisai (SANJO BEATERS.EXE) – 6.0 PPG | 67% - 2PT FG%
  •  Rika Kurihara (SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE) – 7.0 | 39% FG%
  •  Ikeda Tomomi (ECHAKE-NA NOTO.EXE) - 7.5 PPG | 42% - 1PT FG%

POOL C

  • UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE (1) - 390 EXE POINTS | 81% Winning% | 23.3 PPG
  • ST-KASUMI.EXE (7) - 265 EXE POINTS | 50% Winning% | 18.5 PPG
  • TONO VALKYRIES.EXE (9) - 245 EXE POINTS | 0% Winning% | 14.0 PPG

MOMENT THAT MATTERED

UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE Turn Up the Heat to Shut Down ST-KASUMI.EXE

Following a challenging performance in Round 5, UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE entered Round 6 with a point to prove. Standing in their way were an improving ST-KASUMI.EXE unit, who had grown more cohesive with each appearance this season. From the opening tip, ST-KASUMI.EXE brought the energy, spreading the floor and finding success from long range. Early two-point shots from Ohashi Kanako, Kana Fukumoto, and Hiyori Kurakake helped ST-KASUMI.EXE take a confident 7–5 lead midway through the game.

But that momentum didn’t last. After four minutes of uneven play, UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE began to lock in defensively. Their rotations tightened, their rebounding improved, and they began forcing contested looks that took ST-KASUMI.EXE out of rhythm. That defensive intensity laid the foundation for what would become a game-defining run.

Kisa Yagi delivered the spark. With UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE needing a lift, Yagi buried a deep two to flip the energy in the arena. Moments later, she weaved through traffic to finish a tough layup, giving her side the lead and firing up the bench. The momentum had fully shifted, and UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE capitalised, reeling off an 8–0 run over four minutes to turn a two-point deficit into a commanding 13–7 advantage with just two minutes remaining.

ST-KASUMI.EXE had no answers down the stretch. The confidence and tempo that had defined their early game faded under UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE’s sustained pressure. As the final buzzer sounded, UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE secured an 18–12 win and with it, the top position in Pool C, a strong bounce-back showing that reaffirmed their place among the top contenders of the women’s series.

POOL C SCORES

  • Game 1 - UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE (21) Def TONO VALKYRIES.EXE (9)
  • Game 2 - UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE (18) Def ST-KASUMI.EXE (12)
  • Game 3 - ST-KASUMI.EXE (21) Def TONO VALKYRIES.EXE (6)

POOL C WINNER

UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE

NOTABLE SCORERS

  • Ohashi Kanako (ST-KASUMI.EXE) - 5.5 PPG | 53% - 1PT FG%
  • Yuka Fujisaki (TONO VALKYRIES.EXE) - 5.5 PPG | 35% FG%
  • Kiri Endo (UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE) - 6.3 PPG | 50 FG%

Semi Final 1

SANJO BEATERS.EXE vs FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE

Kanazawa and Takase Lead SANJO BEATERS.EXE to the Final in Tight Battle

In one of the most anticipated matchups of Round 6, SANJO BEATERS.EXE and FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE faced off in a semi-final with major ladder implications. Entering the contest tied for second place on the 3x3.EXE Premier Japan Women’s ladder, both teams knew this game would offer not just a path to the final, but also a chance to seize outright second place with two rounds to go. It was the fourth meeting of the season between the two sides, with SANJO BEATERS.EXE holding a 2–1 edge in the head-to-head.

SANJO BEATERS.EXE wasted no time asserting themselves. Midori Kanazawa opened the scoring with a slick spin move in the paint, quickly following it with another driving layup and a crisp assist that helped SANJO BEATERS.EXE build a 4–1 lead. FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE found a response through Fuyuko Takahashi, whose determined drives kept her team in the game early, scoring their first points and setting the tone for a standout individual performance.

As the game progressed, the narrative began to form around a head-to-head duel. Kanazawa and Yunoka Takase were creating problems for FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE with their movement and finishing, while Takahashi continued to shoulder the offensive load for her team. Takahashi scored FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE’s first eight points, answering nearly every Sanjo basket to keep things close.

Saya Isai momentarily lifted the pressure off Takahashi by scoring from inside, but SANJO BEATERS.EXE were quick to respond. Sakura Hisai and Takase both converted in back-to-back possessions, pushing SANJO BEATERS.EXE to a 12–9 lead as the game crossed the halfway mark. The execution on both ends was high, and every basket began to carry added weight.

Out of a timeout, Takahashi reignited FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE with a blow-by drive, but Hisai once again answered with two tough finishes of her own to maintain SANJO BEATERS.EXE’s edge. With just under three minutes to play, Takahashi delivered a pinpoint pass in the pick-and-roll to find Isai for an easy layup, and immediately followed it up with a steal and another assist to Isai, bringing the score to within two.

Yet SANJO BEATERS.EXE continued to find answers. Another determined drive from Hisai gave her side just enough breathing room at 15–12. Takase then cleaned up her own offensive rebound to make it 17–14, forcing FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE to call a timeout as time ticked away.

The final minute was packed with tension. Kanazawa connected with Takase for a critical basket to stretch the lead to 18–14, but Takahashi again rose to the occasion, hitting the game’s first two-pointer to cut the deficit to just two with 30 seconds left. FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE had one last surge, firing off multiple attempts in the dying moments.

But fate wasn’t on their side. Three chances went awry in the final stretch, and although Takahashi’s final shot found the net, it came just after the buzzer. SANJO BEATERS.EXE held firm to claim a thrilling 18–16 victory and secure their place in the final — powered by a composed, well-rounded team effort and the clutch shot-making that’s come to define their campaign.

SANJO BEATERS.EXE (18) Def FLOWLISH GUNMA.EXE (16)

Semi Final 2

UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE vs SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE

UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE Survive Late Surge from SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE

The second semi-final of Round 6 brought together two of the league's most well-rounded squads, current ladder leaders UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE and the surging SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE, who had impressed throughout pool play. It was their third meeting of the season, with UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE holding a 2–0 series edge. But notably, SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE remained one of the few teams yet to allow UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE to reach the 21-point mark, setting the stage for another tightly contested and physical battle.

Both sides came out swinging. Kiri Endo sparked UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE early, either scoring or facilitating on the team’s first four possessions. At the other end, SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE responded with a balanced start as Megumi Yamazawa chipped in three quick points and Mizuki Kamiya buried a two-pointer to keep pace. Just three minutes in, the scoreboard read 8–7 in favour of UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE, and the game was already living up to expectations.

As intensity gave way to fatigue, the scoring tempo slowed. Both teams began to grind possessions, relying more on structured pick-and-roll sets. SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE clawed back to level the score at 10–10 by the midpoint, as UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE began to rely on short passes and timing to break through the increasingly disciplined defence.

Out of the timeout, UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE found some rhythm again, with Endo and Kisa Yagi scoring on back-to-back plays to edge ahead. Rika Kurihara then set up Yamazawa beautifully on a roll to bring SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE within one. But UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE kept finding answers, as Endo pulled up for a smooth mid-range jumper, only for Kamiya to return fire with a jumper of her own, keeping the game within one as the clock dipped under three minutes.

The breakthrough came from Shinobu Yoshitake, who followed her own miss with a putback, pushing the lead to 15–13. On the next possession, a slick dish from Yagi found Yoshitake again under the hoop, and she finished through contact to convert the and-one, stretching UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE’s advantage to 16–12. Moments later, Yoshitake added another layup to push the lead to 17–12 with just 90 seconds remaining.

But SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE refused to fade. Yamazawa attacked the basket with urgency, followed by an off-balance two-pointer from Kurihara that cut the deficit to just three. Then, a defensive miscue by UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE handed SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE another lifeline, and a foul sent Yamazawa to the line with a chance to close the gap. She nailed both free throws, bringing the score to 18–17 with just 12 seconds left.

Needing to extend the game, SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE were forced to foul strategically, but not being in the penalty worked against them. Eventually, Yoshitake was sent to the line, and she calmly converted to make it 19–17. With time nearly gone, SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE launched a desperate final shot, but it missed the mark, allowing UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE to escape with a nail-biting win and book a rematch against SANJO BEATERS.EXE in the final.

UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE (19) Def SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE (17)

Round 3 Grand Final

UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE vs SANJO BEATERS.EXE

Back-to-Back Glory: SANJO BEATERS.EXE Clinch Round 6 with Late Game Heroics

In a rematch of the Round 5 final just one week earlier, SANJO BEATERS.EXE and UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE met once again to determine the Round 6 champion. With both teams navigating tough routes to the final, SANJO BEATERS.EXE grinding through tight pool games and UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE surviving a physical semi-final against SHINSHU SAKU REGION.EXE, the stage was set for another tense, high-level battle. And with Kiri Endo and Midori Kanazawa once again leading their respective teams, this promised to be a fitting sequel.

Defences dominated early. Neither side could find clean looks in the opening possessions, until Kisa Yagi muscled her way through two defenders to put UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE on the board. Kanazawa answered shortly after with a two-pointer for SANJO BEATERS.EXE, and once the lid came off the basket, both teams began to find their rhythm. Endo and Shinobu Yoshitake began slicing into the paint with success, helping UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE edge ahead in the early going.

Back-to-back baskets from Yoshitake and Yagi gave UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE control of the tempo, but SANJO BEATERS.EXE refused to let the game slip. Yunoka Takase delivered a reverse layup and later converted an and-one play to keep her team close. On the next possession, Endo cut backdoor and was found beautifully by Yoshitake for another highlight-worthy bucket, but SANJO BEATERS.EXE were not done.

Akari Takeuchi dropped in a deep two to tie the game, before Takase and Kanazawa scored consecutive layups to give SANJO BEATERS.EXE an 11–9 lead at the midpoint. The action slowed briefly after the timeout, until a turnover gifted Yoshitake a wide-open layup. However, Takeuchi responded instantly with a step-back two, the largest lead of the game for SANJO BEATERS.EXE at three points.

UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE clawed back once again. A strong drive and finish from Yoshitake trimmed the margin to two with just under three minutes to play. But SANJO BEATERS.EXE had answers. Takeuchi fired a slick no-look pass to Takase for another layup, holding off the charge. Then, with two minutes left, Endo curled off a screen and drilled a deep two to bring the score to 16–15.

With tension rising, Kanazawa knocked down a pair of free throws to restore a three-point cushion for SANJO BEATERS.EXE. But UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE still had more to give. Yagi spun into the lane and hit a tough fadeaway, and Yoshitake followed up with a wide-open layup to make it 16–15, with just 30 seconds remaining.

SANJO BEATERS.EXE needed a stop, and they got it. Pressured on the next possession, UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE ran a set to perfection, but the final lob pass sailed just a bit too high. SANJO BEATERS.EXE pounced, forcing the turnover and regaining possession with 17 seconds left. UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE had no option but to foul, sending Hisai to the line. With the game on the line, she calmly knocked down both shots, sealing an 18–15 win and back-to-back championships for SANJO BEATERS.EXE.

SANJO BEATERS.EXE (18) Def UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE (15)

🏆 MVP Yunoka Takase – (SANJO BEATERS.EXE)

5.5 PPG | 91% - 1Pt FG% | 87% FG%

In a day defined by tight matchups and defensive intensity, Yunoka Takase stood out with an extraordinary display of efficiency and composure. Averaging 5.5 points per game while shooting an eye-popping 91% from inside the arc and 87% overall from the field, Takase was a consistent force for SANJO BEATERS.EXE. Whether it was finishing through contact, crashing the glass, or capitalising on broken plays, she delivered every time her team needed a lift, especially in critical moments of the semi-final and final.

Takase’s ability to perform under pressure was instrumental in SANJO BEATERS.EXE’s run to back-to-back titles. In the final, she helped steady the team when UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE threatened to take control, finishing tough looks in the paint and staying active on both ends of the floor. Her combination of timing, toughness, and touch made her the clear standout of Round 6 and earned her MVP honours in one of the most competitive rounds of the season so far.

Final Standings

Links

FIBA 3x3 Event PageFIBA 3x3 Event Link
YouTube LinkYoutube Link - Women's
3x3.EXE Standings3x3.EXE Standings
3x3.EXE Schedule3x3.EXE Schedule

Written by Andrew Cannings