Welcome to 3x3.EXE Premier Japan — the world’s largest professional 3x3 basketball league.
With 36 men’s teams competing across Japan and over 70 teams participating globally across five countries, 3x3.EXE PREMIER continues to lead the way in fast-paced, high-intensity basketball.
Now that Day 1 is in the books, with ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE claiming the opening round title, attention turns to a sunny Day 2, as the action shifts outdoors to WATERRAS in the heart of Tokyo.
This is your recap of Round 1, Day 2.
Pool A
Pivotal Moment
IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE outrun SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE to win the pool
The final game in Pool A featured a decisive clash between IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE and SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE, with both teams entering the matchup having already defeated EDEN.EXE. With SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE boasting 7-footer Stephen Lane Hurt — who recorded 10 points, a pair of assists, and several blocks in their earlier match — he was expected to be a major factor in the paint once again.
But IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE embraced the challenge, countering size with blistering pace and precision ball movement.
They made an immediate statement, scoring within just three seconds of their first possession, as Adachi Hayato delivered a perfect assist to a cutting Yuki Nakazaki. That set the tone for what was to come.
Their offence clicked into high gear. Nakazaki, Adachi, and Daisuke SATO each drained two-pointers on consecutive possessions, using speed to attack gaps in the defence and stretch the floor. Within two minutes, the scoreboard read 11–2 — and that cushion would prove decisive. IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE maintained control and closed out the game 21–12 to top the pool and secure a spot in the semi-finals.
Pool A Results
- SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE (21) Def EDEN.EXE (12)
- IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE (15) Def EDEN.EXE (8)
- IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE (21) Def SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE (12)
Pool A Winner: IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE
Pool A Notable Scorers:
- Stephen Lane Hurt (SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE) – 9 PPG | 75% FG%
- Sato Daisuke (IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE) – 7 PPG | 47% FG%
- Tsukasa Nishimura (EDEN.EXE) – 3.5 PPG | 60% FG%
Pool B
Pivotal Moment
ASUKAYAMA CHERRYBLOSSOMS.EXE hold off UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE in a gritty, weather-affected win
The second game in Pool B featured ASUKAYAMA CHERRYBLOSSOMS.EXE, looking to improve on their 2024 campaign, taking on UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE, one of the newcomers to 3x3.EXE Premier Japan in 2025.
UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE came out firing, with Ognjen Petrovic scoring the first three points of the game, followed by a smooth pick-and-roll between Shota Abe and Bogdan Filipovic. They raced out to a 5–1 lead, taking early advantage of an ASUKAYAMA CHERRYBLOSSOMS.EXE side forced to play with just three players.
Led by Masato Yano, the CHERRYBLOSSOMS.EXE slowly clawed their way back. Both teams battled through intense defensive stretches and extremely difficult shooting conditions due to near-cyclonic winds. Neither side could connect from outside the key, and with just 20 seconds remaining, the game was locked at 14–12.
With the ball in his hands, Yano came off a screen and drove straight down the middle, tightly guarded by Filipovic. His layup rattled in — giving ASUKAYAMA CHERRYBLOSSOMS.EXE a vital three-point lead. They held on in the final seconds to secure a hard-fought 17–14 win, denying UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE a breakthrough victory in their opening round.
Pool B Results
- ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE 18 def. UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE 13
- ASUKAYAMA CHERRYBLOSSOMS.EXE 17 def. UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE 14
- ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE 20 def. ASUKAYAMA CHERRYBLOSSOMS.EXE 11
Pool B Winner: ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE
Pool B Notable Scorers
- Masato Yano (ASUKAYAMA CHERRYBLOSSOMS.EXE) – 7 PPG | 50% – 1PT FG
- Yukimoto Wakabayashi (ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE) – 6.8 PPG | 38% – 2PT FG
- Ognjen Petrovic (UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE) – 5.5 PPG | 50% – 1PT FG
Pool C
Pivotal Moment
EPIC.EXE stuns UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE in gritty, wind-affected showdown
Fresh off their FIBA 3x3 World Tour campaign, UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE entered Day 2 with high expectations, led by former SIMON.EXE standout Souleymane Coulibaly. But standing in their way was EPIC.EXE (Hyogo Prefecture), featuring their powerful interior presence Julio Claver De Assis Afonso — setting up one of the toughest matchups of the round.
Like every team at WATERRAS, both sides struggled with swirling wind that made perimeter shooting a major challenge. The two teams combined for just 4-of-18 shooting from two-point range (22%), forcing a heavy reliance on physical drives, pick-and-rolls, and isolation plays to get to the rim.
With the score at 14–13 and just 20 seconds remaining, De Assis Afonso secured a massive rebound over UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE big man Hugo Schotter, then calmly brought the ball to the left wing. A well-executed screen from Atsushi Isshiki gave him space to attack with his dominant hand. After three strong dribbles, he finished through two defenders at the rim, pushing EPIC.EXE ahead by three with just eight seconds left.
A tight closeout on the next possession forced Coulibaly into a contested two-point attempt — and the shot missed its mark. EPIC.EXE held firm to seal a hard-earned 15–13 victory and secure their first signature win of the 2025 season.
Pool C Results
- EPIC.EXE 15 def. UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE 13
- UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE 21 def. HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE 11
- EPIC.EXE 20 def. HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE 8
Pool C Winner: EPIC.EXE
Pool C Notable Scorers
- Takuya Kano (HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE) – 5.5 PPG | 63% – 1PT FG
- Souleymane Coulibaly (UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE) – 5.5 PPG | 58% – 1PT FG
- Julio Claver De Assis Afonso (EPIC.EXE) – 6.0 PPG | 60% FG
Pool D
Pivotal Moment
MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE seals top spot with a buzzer-beater against TOKYO VERDY.EXE
The final pool game of Day 2 delivered a classic stylistic clash — the physical, hard-nosed play of MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE, powered by their two new Serbian additions, versus the traditional speed and tactical finesse of TOKYO VERDY.EXE. With both teams eyeing the top spot in Pool D, tension was high — and so were the foul counts, as many whistles were blown in the opening three minutes as points were scored.
From the outset, this matchup had the hallmarks of a full 10-minute war.
With one minute remaining, Hugo Bando found himself wide open on the right wing and confidently buried a clutch two-pointer, pushing MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE ahead 16–14. But TOKYO VERDY.EXE responded immediately. Riku Oguchi knifed through the paint for a tightly contested layup, then received a crisp assist from Mieda Cocoro on the next possession to tie the game at 16–16 with 30 seconds to play.
Then came the game-winner.
With 10 seconds left, Miloš Ćojbašić gathered a long rebound and swung the ball across the court to Bando on the left wing. With the floor spread, Bando attacked 1-on-1. Forced into a tough mid-range step-back from just outside the key, he released a fading jumper over tight defence — and watched it drop cleanly through the net as the buzzer sounded.
MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE secured a dramatic 17–16 victory and finished atop Pool D.
Pool D Results
- TOKYO VERDY.EXE 21 def. ADDELM ELEMENTS.EXE 11
- MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE 21 def. ADDELM ELEMENTS.EXE 10
- MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE 17 def. TOKYO VERDY.EXE 16
Pool D Winner: MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE
Pool D Notable Scorers
- Riku Oguchi (TOKYO VERDY.EXE) – 10.5 PPG | 50% – 2PT FG
- Miloš Ćojbašić (MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE) – 7.0 PPG | 72% FG
- Keito Sakurai (ADDELM ELEMENTS.EXE) – 5.0 PPG | 75% FG
Semi Final 1 Recap
ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE overcome adversity and eliminate IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE to reach the final
The first semi-final of Day 2 in Round 1 of the 2025 3x3.EXE PREMIER JAPAN brought together IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE, winners of Pool A, and a short-handed but dangerous ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE, who were reduced to just three players following an early injury to Tsugumi Ohashi in their match against ASUKAYAMA CHERRYBLOSSOMS.EXE.
Despite being undermanned, ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE refused to back down.
IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE came out strong, executing crisp sets that saw Adachi Hayato and Ryuki Sono score quick buckets at the rim, building a 3–0 lead in the first minute. But ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE answered in emphatic fashion — their big man Gjio Bain threw down a powerful one-handed dunk and followed it with a personal 3-point scoring run. It wasn’t until the two-and-a-half-minute mark that another OTAKI player got on the board.
A strong drive and follow-up putback by Yuki Nakazaki helped IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE retake control at 7–5, as they began to neutralise Bain’s size advantage and clog the paint defensively. But as had been the story of the day at WATERRAS, both teams locked in defensively over the next few minutes, forcing turnovers and tough, wind-affected shots.
One of the more bizarre highlights came when a tricky pass from Hayato deflected off Bain’s shoulder and banked straight in — tying the game at 9–9 heading into the final five minutes.
After a brief timeout (and a pause to secure venue signage from the intensifying wind), Haruka Kataoka hit a vital two-pointer, followed by a costly illegal screen from Nakazaki and a tough finish by Yukimoto Wakabayashi, swinging momentum squarely in OTAKI’s favour.
With one minute to play and the score sitting at 15–14 for ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE, the game’s defining moment arrived. Sono drove hard to the rim but was denied by Bain with a statement block. Yukimoto secured the loose ball on the wing and — left wide open — calmly drained a two-pointer that deflated IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE.
From there, ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE closed the game on a 6–1 run, completing a resilient performance and punching their ticket to the final.
Final Score:
ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE (21) Def IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE (15)
Semi-Final 2 Recap
MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE dominates EPIC.EXE to book a spot in the Round 1 final
The second semi-final on Day 2 featured an intriguing matchup between EPIC.EXE, winners of Pool C, and MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE, top of Pool D — two teams that favoured a physical, interior-focused style of play. The headline battle was between the teams’ leading scorers: Julio Claver De Assis Afonso for EPIC.EXE and Miloš Ćojbašić for MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE.
With De Assis Afonso starting the game on the bench, MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE immediately looked to exploit the mismatch. Ćojbašić opened the scoring from the post, followed by a steal and easy finish from Riku Watanabe, and a wide-open two-pointer from Shugo Bando to cap off an early 4–1 lead. EPIC.EXE, meanwhile, struggled to capitalise on space, often over-passing in the paint instead of attacking the open lane.
As the game progressed, both teams began using their fouls tactically — frequently wrapping up the opposing bigs before they could get into a scoring position. It became a strategic battle of attrition.
De Assis Afonso responded with a big-time two-pointer just under six minutes to go, then added a putback on the next possession to keep EPIC.EXE in the hunt. But the momentum swung sharply when Bando hit a fall-away jumper over a defender, followed by back-to-back power finishes in the paint by Ratko Arsović, pushing the lead to 13–6 and putting MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE firmly in control.
Despite the deficit, Tatsuki Kishikawa provided a short burst of life for EPIC.EXE, cutting through the lane for a pair of clean finishes. But their physical defence had taken a toll — EPIC.EXE reached the 7-foul limit, sending MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE to the line for consecutive trips to the stripe.
With the margin drifting out of reach, the finishing blow came when Arsović grabbed a rebound off a missed De Assis Afonso attempt and kicked it out to a wide-open Bando, who knocked down the final two-pointer to seal the win.
MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE cruised to a dominant 21–9 victory, setting up a Round 1 final showdown with ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE for maximum points in the 2025 season opener.
Final Score:
MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE 21 – 9 EPIC.EXE
Final Recap
MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE powers past ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE to claim Round 1 glory
The final of 3x3.EXE PREMIER JAPAN on Day 2 of Round 1 featured two teams who took very different paths to the championship match. MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE entered with momentum, having dismantled EPIC.EXE in the semi-final and building a reputation as a serious early-season contender. On the other side, ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE showed immense heart and grit, advancing through the day with just three players after Tsugumi Ohashi went down in their first match.
As expected, the final delivered another bruising matchup inside — this time featuring Miloš Ćojbašić against Gjio Bain, two of the strongest bigs on Day 2. The action began immediately. On one of the first possessions, the two big men got tangled up near the key, with Bain hitting the floor and Ćojbašić taking advantage, scoring the first points of the final.
But Bain wasted no time responding. A few plays later, he set a punishing back screen, rolled hard, and caught a pinpoint pass from Haruka Kataoka, throwing down a thunderous one-handed dunk to keep ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE within reach.
Shugo Bando re-ignited MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE's offence with a crossover at the top, slicing through traffic for a powerful finish. Almost immediately after, Ćojbašić drained a two-pointer, pushing the lead to 7–2. With the gap widening, ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE began to show signs of fatigue — rushing possessions and drifting away from the style of play that had carried them to the final.
Just before the 6:30 mark, Bain broke a scoring drought with a soft sky hook in the paint. But another deep two from Ratko Arsović extended MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE’s lead to 11–3, and the momentum never swung back.
The toll of a fourth game under tough outdoor conditions began to show. Both teams struggled to find rhythm, missing several opportunities — until Bando was fouled on a drive. With OTAKI over the foul limit, Bando completed the old-fashioned three-point play, stretching the lead to 15–6.
From there, it was all MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE.
Bando drilled back-to-back two-pointers, finding space as ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE’s defence ran out of legs. A final strong drive from Arsović closed it out, securing a dominant 21–6 win and crowning MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE as Round 1 champions — taking home maximum points from Day 2.
Final Score:
MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE (21) Def ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE (9)
🏆 MVP – Shugo Bando (MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE) – 6 PPG (32% - 2PT FG%)
Shugo Bando was the spark behind MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE’s dominant Day 2 campaign, delivering clutch performances when it mattered most. Averaging 6.0 PPG on 58% FG and 32% from beyond the arc, Bando finished equal-first in total two-point field goals for the day and capped his run with an explosive 11-point outing in the final. His scoring touch, energy, and composure under pressure were key to MINAKAMI’s Round 1 title.
Final Standings
Written by Andrew Cannings
