This year, we have a number of Filipino players who will appear in the Japan B.League playoffs. Here they are.
With two weeks left in the Japan B.League’s regular season, the playoff cast has been pretty much completed. While homecourt advantages are still up in the air, top teams have long separated themselves from weaker counterparts as the regular season wraps up.
Unlike previous years, Filipino fans have much more to anticipate. For the 2023-2024, a total of five Filipino players are set to appear in the B.League playoffs; a noticeable improvement compared to only Bobby Ray Parks Jr., and an underutilized Kai Sotto representing the country in the B.League postseason.
Curious about the Filipino hoopers in the 2024 B.League playoffs? We’ve got you covered.
Thirdy Ravena
The 2023-2024 season serves as Thirdy Ravena’s Japan B.League playoffs debut with San-En NeoPhoenix. Following a string of mediocre seasons, Thirdy and San-En turned things around for their 2023-2024 campaign to secure an elusive playoff berth with a 44-12 slate as of writing.
Besides the playoff berth, Thirdy’s NeoPhoenix also won the Central Conference championship this season and holds the third-best record throughout Division 1, a substantial improvement compared to past seasons, which included a 10-win campaign in Thirdy’s sophomore year with the club.
For his part, the younger Ravena is averaging career-highs of 12.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 52.1 percent field goal percentage per game. For the season, Thirdy is also San-En’s third-best scorer, as well as their fourth-best rebounder.
Bobby Ray Parks Jr.
Among other Filipino imports, Bobby Ray Parks Jr. has the most B.League playoffs experience, with the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins consistently entering the postseason since Parks’ B.League debut in 2021.
And with back-to-back wins against the Shimane Susanoo Magic recently, Parks and the Diamond Dolphins clinched their 2024 playoffs berth, ensuring their third consecutive postseason appearance.
The question now is whether Nagoya can make it out of the quarterfinals or not. In their last two appearances, Parks and the Diamond Dolphins were swept by the Kawasaki Brave Thunders in 2022 and defending champs Ryukyu Golden Kings in 2023.
Currently, Nagoya sits at 37-19 with three games left in the 2023-2024 B.League season, and will now look to secure homecourt advantage heading into the postseason.
Parks, meanwhile, has continued to be a reliable off-the-bench spark plug for the Diamond Dolphins, with averages of 8.9 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. The third-year Diamond Dolphin is also averaging a career-high 39.9 percent from the three-point range built on an also career-high 67 triples made.
Kiefer Ravena
Like Thirdy, Kiefer Ravena will also be making his B. League playoffs debut with the Shiga Lakestars. But while Thirdy and San-En are aiming for a B.League championship, Kiefer’s first playoff run is centered on a Division 1 comeback.
To recall, the Lakestars were relegated to Division 2, or the B.2 League this season after a 14-46 record in their 2022-2023 campaign.
For this season, the Lakestars enter the B.2 League playoffs with a 44-16 record, the second-best in their division. At the very least, a finals berth will ensure Kiefer and the Lakestars’ promotion back into Division 1. And Kiefer, a combo guard, will undoubtedly be a contributor in the Lakestars’ upcoming playoff run. For the 2023-2024 season, the third-year Lakestar tallied 12.4 points, 5.5 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game.
In particular, the elder Ravena was the fourth leading scorer on the Lakestars, while he was fifth among top B.2 League playmakers with his 5.5 assists per game.
Roosevelt Adams
Only in his second B.League year, Roosevelt Adams will also make his B.League playoffs debut with the Yamagata Wyverns. Like Kiefer Ravena’s Shiga Lakestars, Adams and the Wyverns will be competing in the B.2 League.
In 41 games played with Yamagata, Adams averaged 8.2 points and five rebounds, to go along with a career-high 47.9 field goal percentage, and a respectable 35 percent three-point shooting.
In particular, the former lottery pick was productive last March, notching three 20-point games within the month. Most crucial was his career-high 22 points, which kept the Wyverns’ playoff hopes alive at the time.
For their part, Yamagata eventually finished their B.2 League campaign with a 31-29 record, fifth-best among the playoff-bound B.2 League teams.
Greg Slaughter
Despite seeing limited action, Greg Slaughter is part of the playoff-bound Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka in the B.2 League. However, given Slaughter’s status, it’s unlikely that he will be on the floor during the club’s playoff run.
For the 2023-2024 season, Slaughter only averaged 2.7 points and 1.9 rebounds in 30 games played for the Fukuoka-based club. Notably, the former Ginebra big has not played since March 24, over a month before B.2 League finished its 2023-2024 season.
Rizing Zephyr meanwhile, finished their season with a 36-24 record, good for third-best among the 14-team field. Despite their slim chances, the club should be looking at another attempt to be promoted to the B.League’s Division 1.
Banner Image from Japan B.League on Instagram
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