FILIPINO cagers are set to see action in the Japan B. League All-Star Game next year.
B. League Chairman Shinji Shimada recently bared the league’s plans for All-Star festivities in Okinawa from Jan. 14 and 15, 2022 that includes the “B. League Asia-Rising Star Game.”
“So many players are coming from the Philippines this year,” Shimada announced last Monday. “They will play some of the B. League’s young and promising players in this All-Star Game.”
Foremost among those likely to suit up are Kiefer Ravena of the Shiga Lakestars, Thirdy Ravena of the San-En NeoPhoenix, Bobby Ray Parks of the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins, Kobe Paras of the Niigata Albirex BB, and Dwight Ramos of the Toyama Grouses.
Other Asian imports proving their worth for their teams are Korean shooter Yang Jae-min of the Shinshu Brave Warriors, Chinese big man Wang Weijia of the Akita Northern Happinets, and Indonesian wingman Brandon Jawato of Utsunomiya Brex.
The Asia Rising Stars Game will be on Jan. 14 at the Okinawa Arena.
The B. Black team will be made up of players from the Chiba Jets, Kawasaki Brave Thunders, Osaka Evessa, SunRockers Shibuya, Alvark Tokyo, Shimane Susanoo Magic, Shiga Lakestars, Yokohama B-Corsairs, Niigata Albirex BB, Hiroshima Dragonflies, and Gunma Crane Thunders.
B. White will have players from Utsunomiya Brex, Ryukyu Golden Kings, SeaHorses Mikawa, Toyama Grouses, Nagoya Diamond Dolphins, Akita Northern Happinets, Shinshu Brave Warriors, Kyoto Hannaryz, Levanga Hokkaido, San-En NeoPhoenix, and Ibaraki Robots.
Filipinos playing in the second division are Juan Gomez de Liaño of Tokyo Z and Kemark Carino of Aomiri. Chinese-Taipei’s Lin Chihwei (Fukuoka) and China’s Liu Jin (Nishinomiya) are also in B2, while Matthew Aquino of Shinshu is a local player.