Photo credit: East Asia Super League (EASL) | facebook.com/eastasiasuperleague
Japanese B.League team, Chiba Jets Funabashi (3-0), got back at hosts TNT Tropang GIGA (0-2), with a 75-66 victory in their rematch during the 2023-24 EASL Season 2 on All Saints' Day, November 1, at the City of Sta. Rosa Multipurpose Complex in Santa Rosa, Laguna.
Jets import John Mooney led all scorers with a double-double of 30 points on 12-of-19 shooting, 16 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and a block in 29 minutes of play. Import DJ Stephens had his own double-double performance of 15 points, 10 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 blocks while star guard Yuki Togashi added 14 points (4/11 3pts), to go along with 1 rebound, 5 assists and a steal in 32 minutes.
Quincy Miller, former Converge FiberXers import, led the Tropang Giga in a losing effort with 22 points (7/16FG, 1/5 3pts, 7/9ft) to go along with 13 rebounds, 1 assist and a steal. Jaydee Tungcab finished with 10 points (2/5 3pts), 3 rebounds, and 2 assists, while Calvin Oftana and Jayson Castro added 8 points apiece.
TNT shot 36.4% from the field (24/66fg), including 7-of-28 shooting from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Chiba had 30 out of 74 field goals and made 10 out of 36 attempts from three-point range. Tropang Giga went 11 out of 16 from the free-throw line, while the Jets made 5 out of 7 free throws. TNT committed 21 turnovers while Chiba only had 12.
During the post-game interview, coach Jojo Lastimosa informed reporters that their import, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, had been hospitalized due to gastroenteritis. Rondae was present in the arena to support the team, but his availability for the opening game of the PBA's season 48 on November 5 remains uncertain. TNT is on the lookout for a potential replacement import.
The Scores:
CHIBA JETS 75 - Mooney 30, Stephens 15, Togashi 14, Ogawa 7, Hara 5, Okura 4, Brown 0, Kanechika 0, Kaishu 0, Arao 0.
TNT 66 - Miller 22, Tungcab 10, Oftana 8, Castro 8, K. Williams 7, Khobuntin 3, Cruz 3, Ponferrada 3, Reyes 2, Montalbo 0, Ganuelas-Rosser 0, Flores DNP.
Quarters: 23-14, 50-32, 64-56, 75-66. [GAME STATS] | [HIGHLIGHTS]
