B2 Fukuoka: Dominates with Outside and Inside Advantage, Closing the Final Round with a Victory
Rising Zephyr Fukuoka secured a decisive 85-50 win over Veltex Shizuoka in the final game of the B.LEAGUE 2025-26 season. Leveraging high-precision 3-pointers and interior dominance, the team concluded the season on a high note before a large crowd, also reaching their attendance goal.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 27, 2026 at 05:01
- 🔍 Collected: April 26, 2026 at 20:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 26, 2026 at 20:49 (17 min after Collected)
On Sunday, April 26, 2026, the Risona Group B.LEAGUE 2025-26 season match between Rising Zephyr Fukuoka and Veltex Shizuoka ended in a victory for Fukuoka with a score of 85-50.
[Match Results]
[Fukuoka] 85-50 [Shizuoka]
1Q: 27-18
2Q: 20-13
3Q: 12-7
4Q: 26-12
[Game Commentary]
In the final round of the season, Fukuoka entered Game 2 with determination, turning the previous day's frustration into power. Fukuoka took the lead early with #34 Aguilar scoring under the basket, followed by back-to-back 3-pointers from #30 Woodbury and #32 Kano, creating a momentum-filled start. Furthermore, #8 Aoki also hit from the outside, contributing to the team's high percentage of successful 3-pointers. With intense defense, they prevented Shizuoka from scoring for about the first three and a half minutes of the game. Although Shizuoka attempted to fight back with 3-pointers from #30 Simon and #6 Uemura, Fukuoka, dominating the rebounds, maintained control and ended the first 10 minutes with a 9-point lead.
In the second quarter, while both sides initially traded blows, Woodbury showcased his presence under the basket. Additionally, #20 Nakatani and Aguilar added points in the paint, quickly widening Fukuoka's lead. Special designated player #15 Shiratani entered the court to great cheers, aggressively driving through the defense to score and following up with a jump shot, exciting the audience. Fukuoka dominated both offense and defense, heading into halftime with a 16-point lead.
Fukuoka started the second half with the same momentum as the first, scoring through #7 Nishikawa and Nakatani under the basket. Their high-intensity defense prevented Shizuoka from taking comfortable shots. Aguilar’s block further shifted the flow in Fukuoka's favor. Nakatani continued to pile up points with quick drives and steady cooperation with Aguilar and Woodbury. Maintaining their rebound superiority, Fukuoka limited Shizuoka to just 7 points in this period, significantly expanding their lead.
The momentum did not stop in the final quarter. Woodbury opened the scoring with a 3-pointer, followed by Aoki, who also hit from long range, further increasing the gap. Even in the absence of Burrell, Fukuoka dominated the interior, excelling in rebounds and scoring under the basket. Shizuoka attempted to counter from the outside but lacked accuracy, while Fukuoka steadily accumulated points. Towards the end, #12 Kanchiku sank a 3-pointer, and Shiratani capped it off with a spectacular dunk after a steal, bringing the crowd's excitement to its peak. Fukuoka managed the game without ever relinquishing the lead, closing the season finale with a victory.
[Comments]
Head Coach Masato Fukushima:
"I think it was good that we could play such a good game at the very end. I feel that if we could have delivered this level of performance in every match, the season results might have been even better.
Amidst that, we had over 13,000 visitors over the two days. I am truly grateful that so many fans supported us even when the team was in a difficult situation, allowing us to achieve our goal of 4,000 average visitors. Thanks to the efforts of our front-office staff, we were able to play in a very good atmosphere. The players fought until the end, and I think it was a game that leads to the next step.
Regarding the game content, it was a match where we could manifest much of what we wanted to do. Even with limited interior options, I think we fought with concentration, and I felt the players' determination was reflected in the end.
Also, regarding Shiratani, I felt his high potential once again during his playing time. Due to national team activities, he hadn't fully participated in team practices, but the fact that he showed such a performance is highly commendable. He is one of the players whose future growth I look forward to. I hope that by the time he gains more experience and plays in Japan again, Fukuoka will be standing on the Premier stage. It would be very pleasing if there is a future where he is involved with the team again.
Throughout the season, we had many injuries, which put a heavy burden on the medical staff. The players also faced difficult situations with changes in roles and increased burdens. Even so, I am grateful that they fought through the year. Although we didn't make it to the playoffs, I believe what we've built up was shown in today's game. Especially on offense, what we've worked on as a team is taking shape, and I feel our direction was not wrong. There are still challenges in defense, but we need to further improve our precision for the future.
Finally, to everyone who supported us throughout the year..."