【RECAP】3×3.EXE PREMIER JAPAN 2025 ROUND.4

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Round 4 Day 2 – Aomori

Local Pride and Late-Game Drama Steal the Show in Aomori

Round 4 Day 2 of the 3×3.EXE Premier Japan Men’s Series arrived in Hachinohe, Aomori, bringing with it a packed crowd and high-stakes matchups as teams battled for critical EXE Points. With the season heading toward the midpoint, every possession began to carry more weight. From top-tier contenders like SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE to hometown heroes HACHINOHE DIME.EXE, the action did not disappoint.

From buzzer-beaters to overtime thrillers, the day was filled with drama and defining moments. Teams such as FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE played spoiler, while players like Chihiro Sawagashira turned in MVP-worthy performances under pressure. As the intensity ramps up heading into the next rounds, Day 2 in Hachinohe proved once again why 3×3 basketball is one of the fastest and fiercest formats in the sport.

POOL A

ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE – 195 EXE Points | 60% Winning % | 17.5 PPG
TOKYO DIME.EXE – 180 EXE POINTS | 63% Winning% | 19.0 PPG
NINJA AIRS.EXE – 180 EXE Points | 63% Winning % | 17.6 PPG

POOL A MOMENT THAT MATTERED

Kashiwao Catches Fire, but Bain’s Dunk Ends NINJA AIRS.EXE’s Run

Pool A was always going to be tight, with ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE, TOKYO DIME.EXE, and NINJA AIRS.EXE all showing promise through the opening rounds of the season. Coming into the final pool game between NINJA AIRS.EXE and ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE, all three teams were still alive but with the threat of a three-way tie looming, it wasn’t just about who won, but how the numbers fell.

NINJA AIRS.EXE looked ready to take destiny into their own hands, riding the hot hand of Kosuke Kashiwao, who scored the first 12 points for his team in an incredible solo stretch, giving NINJA AIRS.EXE a 14-7 lead just three and a half minutes in. But ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE didn’t flinch. Through smart team basketball, the size of Gjio Bain, and steady contributions from Kazuto Matsuyama and Haruka Kataoka, they clawed back into the contest and tied it at 15 apiece with under five minutes to play.

The permutations were wild: with TOKYO DIME.EXE sitting on 39 total points and a 1–1 record, NINJA AIRS.EXE needed to win and score at least 21 to have a shot at the semis. But if ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE hit 19 or 20 and still lost, they would advance due to their total points. The tension peaked when Yukimoto Wakabayashi dropped in a layup, pushing ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE to 18, nearly sealing their spot.

Then came the moment that changed everything. A costly perimeter turnover from NINJA AIRS.EXE left the paint exposed. Wakabayashi pounced, scooped up the loose ball, and found an unmarked Bain under the rim. Rising high, he delivered the exclamation point. A thunderous jam that sent ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE into the semifinals. Despite a late 6–1 run by NINJA AIRS.EXE, the math was done and the door had closed.

POOL A RESULTS

Game 1 – TOKYO DIME.EXE (20) Def NINJA AIRS.EXE (18)
Game 2 – ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE (21) Def TOKYO DIME.EXE (19)
Game 3 – NINJA AIRS.EXE (22) Def ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE (20)

POOL A WINNER:

ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE

POOL A NOTABLE SCORERS:

Kosuke Kashiwao (NINJA AIRS.EXE) – 10.5 PPG | 35% FG%
Wataru Kuroda (TOKYO DIME.EXE) – 9.5 PPG | 76% FG%
Yukimoto Wakabayashi (ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE) – 7.0 PPG | 69% – 1PT FG%

POOL B

HACHINOHE DIME.EXE – 250 EXE Points | 83% Winning % | 20.2 PPG
ADDLEM ELEMENTS.EXE – 140 EXE Points | 17% Winning % | 12.5 PPG
HUI ZEROCKETS.EXE – 135 EXE Points | 0% Winning % | 12.7 PPG

POOL B MOMENT THAT MATTERED

Maduabum Delivers Late as HACHINOHE DIME.EXE Edge Home in Aomori

Needing just one more win to book their place in the semi-finals, HACHINOHE DIME.EXE stepped onto the court with the home crowd behind them and confidence high after an opening win. But HIU ZEROCKETS.EXE, winless to this point, came out swinging , bolstered by the return of veteran Nikola Pavlović and fired up to break their drought. Uroš Kanić kept the scoreboard ticking with a versatile mix of inside and outside play, while Chu Maduabum threw down a thunderous two-handed dunk on his first touch to energize the local fans.

As the game reached its peak intensity, HIU ZEROCKETS.EXE held a narrow 17–15 lead before a crucial swing shifted momentum. A fortunate long rebound landed in Maduabum’s hands, who calmly kicked it back out to Chihiro Sawagashira and the sharpshooter delivered, knocking down a clutch two-pointer to level the game.

Then, with just 12 seconds on the clock, Sawagashira returned the favour. He found Maduabum wide open under the hoop with a perfectly placed lob. Maduabum made no mistake, laying it in to give HACHINOHE DIME.EXE the late lead and sealing an electric comeback in front of their home supporters. In a game of grit and timing, the local heroes delivered when it mattered most

POOL B RESULTS

Game 1 – HACHINOHE DIME.EXE (18) Def ADDELM ELEMENTS.EXE (13)
Game 2 – HACHINOHE DIME.EXE (18) Def HIU ZEROCKETS.EXE (17)
Game 3 – ADDELM ELEMENTS.EXE (21) Def HUI ZEROCKETS.EXE (19)

POOL B WINNER:

HACHINOHE DIME.EXE

POOL B NOTABLE SCORERS:

Chihiro Sawagashira (HACHINOHE DIME.EXE) – 6.8 PPG | 71% – 1 PT%
Eisuke Kurogi (ADDELM ELEMENTS.EXE) – 8.5 PPG | 75% – 1 PT%
Uroš Kanić (HUI ZEROCKETS.EXE) – 10.5 PPG | 44% FG%

POOL C

FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE – 135 EXE Points | 0% Winning % | 13.2 PPG
TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE – 160 EXE POINTS | 43% Winning% | 18.0 PPG
BEEFMAN.EXE – 190 EXE Points | 67% Winning % | 17.2 PPG

POOL C MOMENT THAT MATTERED

FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE Break the Drought with Gritty Defensive Win

FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE entered Round 4 hungry to turn their season around and wasted no time setting the tone. They came out firing from deep, hitting three straight two-point shots to rack up their first six points and put TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE on notice. TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE, however, stayed composed, relying on the steady hands of Soichiro Fujitaka and the physical inside presence of Michael Phillips to keep pace.

The game evolved into a gritty defensive showdown, with both teams trading stops and buckets. With just over two and a half minutes remaining, the score was deadlocked at 12–12, and every possession began to carry more weight.

That’s when the moment that mattered arrived. With FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE holding a narrow 2-point lead, Yosuke Tajiri swung the ball to Yuto Kimura on the wing. Kimura pump-faked, drawing his defender into the air, then drove hard to the paint. A calm jump stop and clever pivot set up a left-handed hook that bounced on the rim and dropped. Sealing the game for FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE and securing their first win of the 2025 3×3.EXE Premier season.

POOL C RESULTS

Game 1 – FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE (18) Def TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE (14)
Game 2 – TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE (21) Def BEEFMAN.EXE (9)
Game 3 – BEEFMAN.EXE (21) Def FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE (18)

POOL C WINNER:

FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE

POOL C NOTABLE SCORERS:

Yosuke Tajiri (FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE) – 6.7 PPG | 50% FG%
Michael Phillips (TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE) – 5.5 PPG | 64% FG%
Tatsuhito Noro (BEEFMAN.EXE ) – 7.5 PPG | 66% FG%

POOL D

SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE – 210 EXE POINTS | 73% Winning% | 19.5 PPG
EPIC.EXE– 240 EXE Points | 83% Winning % | 17.9 PPG
YAIZU CITY UNITED.EXE – 145 EXE POINTS | 33% Winning% | 13.7 PPG

POOL D MOMENT THAT MATTERED

One Play, Four Points: SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE Stun EPIC in Closing Minutes

Pool D kicked off with a heavyweight clash between two top 10 sides looking to climb further up the standings. EPIC.EXE, fresh off a Round 3 victory, and SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE, hungry after a semi-final exit last round, knew this matchup had major EXE Point implications. The opening minutes reflected the urgency, with Tatsuki Kishikawa and Julio De Assis Afonso asserting themselves for EPIC.EXE, while Stephen Hurt’s inside presence gave SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE a narrow 6–4 edge.

As the game wore on, both teams dug in physically, with neither giving an inch. A tough drive by Kishikawa through contact gave EPIC.EXE a slim 13–12 lead with just under two minutes remaining. But the foul count was rising, and both teams were in the bonus, meaning any contact now could be game-changing.

That shift came moments later when Hurt drew a foul down low and calmly sank both free throws to flip the lead. Then came the defining moment. As Yves Niyokwizera set a handoff screen for Tomoyuki Kato, contact on the screen pulled Niyokwizera to the ground just as Kato rose and drilled a deep two. The result: a 2-point shot, two free throws for the off-ball foul, and possession. An incredibly rare four-point swing in 3×3 basketball.

That single sequence triggered a game-breaking 7–0 run, giving SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE the spark they needed to put away a hard-fought contest and stay firmly in the hunt for a top 4 finish.

POOL D RESULTS

Game 1 – SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE (21) Def EPIC.EXE (17)
Game 2 – EPIC.EXE (21) Def YAIZU CITY UNITED.EXE (14)
Game 3 – SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE (21) Def YAIZU CITY UNITED.EXE (13)

POOL D WINNER:

SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE

POOL D NOTABLE SCORERS:

Julio Claver De Assis Afonso (EPIC.EXE) – 9.5PPG | 65% FG%
Ryo Sugimoto (YAIZU CITY UNITED.EXE) – 5.0 PPG | 50% FG%
Stephen Hurt (SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE) – 7.8 PPG | 72% – 1 PT%

SEMI FINAL 1

ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE vs HACHINOHE DIME.EXE

Maduabum and Sawagashira Lead the Charge as HACHINOHE DIME.EXE Dominate Down the Stretch

With both teams eager to cement their place in the top tier of the 3×3.EXE Premier standings after reaching the quarter-finals in Round 3, the semi-final showdown between ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE and HACHINOHE DIME.EXE promised to be a physical and strategic battle. HACHINOHE DIME.EXE entered the matchup having edged their way through pool play with an average winning margin of just 3.0 points, while ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE scraped through a tense three-way tie in Pool A, advancing on total points scored.

The opening moments of the game lived up to the intensity on paper, with ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE drawing first blood as Gjio Bain connected with Kazuto Matsuyama on a smooth pick-and-roll to open the scoring. Down the other end, HACHINOHE DIME.EXE’s Chu Maduabum immediately got to work battling Bain in the paint, but it was Chihiro Sawagashira who made the first major impact with a hustle play, stealing the ball on defense and converting it into an open layup.

Both teams were guilty of early turnovers as they settled into the pace of the game, but the game plan was clear, attack the rim. HACHINOHE DIME.EXE saw all of their players contribute from inside the paint, while Matsuyama took the offensive load early for ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE. Yukimoto Wakabayashi’s back-to-back deep twos gave ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE a short-lived 6–5 lead, before Sawagashira answered with one of his own to keep things level.

As the midpoint approached, the game turned into a true shootout. Wakabayashi continued to punish defenders from behind the arc, while Matsuyama’s lightning-quick drives kept ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE within reach. But HACHINOHE DIME.EXE’s balanced scoring and constant pressure inside meant the game was tied at 12-all when both teams entered the second half of the contest.

The turning point came immediately after the timeout. Maduabum knocked down a free throw before Sawagashira scored a layup to regain the lead. Then came the blitz. Taishi Kakuta made a crucial defensive stop and found Sawagashira for a corner two. Although Haruka Kataoka managed to reply with a layup, Sawagashira sliced through the defense again for another easy score. In just 30 seconds, HACHINOHE DIME.EXE had unleashed a 5–1 run to take control of the game.

As the clock wound down, ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE struggled to generate clean looks, and HACHINOHE DIME.EXE closed the door with a final sequence that summed up their grit. Sawagashira’s floater bounced off the rim, but Maduabum was there for the offensive board and quick put-back. With that basket, the semifinal was sealed. HACHINOHE DIME.EXE eliminated ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE and punched their ticket to the final of Round 4 in front of their home crowd in Aomori.

SCORE

HACHINOHE DIME.EXE (21) Def ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE (14)

SEMI FINAL 2

FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE vs SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE

Kato’s OT Brilliance Sends SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE to the Final

After finally breaking through for their first win of the 2025 season earlier in the day, FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE carried a fearless mentality into the second semi-final against perennial title contenders SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE. Despite having suffered a heavy defeat to SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE back in Round 2 (21–7), the Hokkaido squad looked determined to flip the script.

From the very first possession, the tone was set. Mao Fukuda drilled a deep two to give FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE the lead and send a message that they weren’t intimidated. Defensively, they brought energy and effort, making it difficult for SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE to find their rhythm. Stephen Hurt finally broke through nearly two minutes in with a powerful drive to the rim, but it was clear both teams were locked into a physical, grind-it-out style.

The opening minutes resembled more of a chess match than a shootout. Both teams traded tough buckets, with Tomoyuki Kato and Yosuke Tajiri hitting big shots for their respective sides. Rin Taguchi joined the action from distance, while Hurt and Yves Niyokwizera tried to establish interior dominance. By the halfway mark, the game was tied at 7–7, setting up a tense finish.

Coming out of the timeout, Yuto Kimura found daylight and slashed to the basket to put FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE ahead, only for Niyokwizera to respond instantly. Tajiri connected again from beyond the arc, while SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE leaned on their size. But FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE surged again, with Kimura facilitating and Fukuda knocking down a wide-open two to complete a 6–2 run, pushing them ahead 15–11 with just two minutes remaining.

A SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE timeout momentarily settled the flow, but Kimura’s layup extended the lead to five. Then, like only the greats do, Hurt responded with a clutch two-pointer, shrinking the gap and reigniting hope. A couple of hurried possessions from Hokkaido opened the door again. Hurt didn’t miss, tying the game with another dagger from deep.

With the clock winding down and FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE on the ropes, a critical shot clock violation handed SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE one last possession. As the defense collapsed on Hurt, Kato dropped the ball to Niyokwizera, who coolly rose up for a mid-range jumper. The shot found the bottom of the net. 17–17. Overtime.

On the first possession of OT, Kato hit his defender with a slick hesitation dribble and finished with ease to give SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE the lead. On the other end, FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE went for the knockout, but Kato denied them with a towering one-handed block. The next trip down, a beautiful dish from Niyokwizera found Kato wide open up top who let it fly. Nothing but net. SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE closed the game on an 8–0 run to break FUZ hearts and punch their ticket to the final.

SCORE

SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE (20) Def FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE (17)

Grand FINAL

HACHINOHE DIME.EXE VS SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE

Sawagashira Shines as HACHINOHE DIME.EXE Win Thriller on Home Soil

Despite both teams sitting near the top of the standings heading into Round 4, this was the first meeting between HACHINOHE DIME.EXE and SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE in the 2025 season. On paper, it was a mouth-watering match-up: the league’s fourth-best offence facing the sixth, with two dominant interior presences—Chu Maduabum and Stephen Hurt—anchoring their respective squads. Both teams also ranked top 5 in 1-point field goal percentage, suggesting an efficient, hard-fought contest ahead.

Fresh off his overtime heroics in the semifinal, Tomoyuki Kato wasted no time making an impact. On his very first touch, he buried a deep two to open the scoring, then followed it up with another two just seconds later off a screen from Hurt. With all the early momentum leaning toward SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE, the pressure was on the hometown favourites.

Chihiro Sawagashira finally got HACHINOHE DIME.EXE on the board with a strong drive, but Kato wasn’t done yet, sinking his third two-pointer in just over a minute. That flurry forced Sawagashira to respond in kind, launching a tough step-back two over Hurt’s extended arm. But SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE kept applying the pressure, with Hurt bullying his way to the rim and Shibata Masakatsu connecting from outside to push the lead to 11–5.

With the game threatening to slip away early, Taishi Kakuta nailed a transition two that kept things from getting out of hand. A quick timeout was called by HACHINOHE DIME.EXE to reset defensively and halt the hot shooting. Out of the break, Maduabum got on the board with a layup, and soon after, SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE found themselves in foul trouble—sending their opponents to the line on every defensive misstep just 3 minutes into the game.

With the physicality ramping up, Sawagashira began to impose his will. He scored two straight layups, then pulled up from the wing to knock down a heavily contested two, putting together a solo 4–0 run and pulling HACHINOHE DIME.EXE back within one. By the midpoint timeout, the game had completely tightened, with SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE clinging to a narrow 14–13 advantage.

The grind continued, with Hurt scoring inside and Sawagashira replying from the line. The teams traded punches—Hurt again finding success in the post, matched immediately by a powerful finish from Maduabum. With 90 seconds to play and the score at 18 all, every possession began to carry weight.

A costly turnover from SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE handed HACHINOHE DIME.EXE a golden opportunity, and they seized it. Ryoma Endo cut sharply to the basket, received a slick feed from Maduabum, and converted, giving his team their first lead of the game with under a minute remaining. The home crowd erupted—but Hurt silenced them momentarily with another clutch finish to tie it at 18.

Then came the defining moment. Sawagashira, with a hand in his face and the game on the line, buried a cold-blooded two-pointer under heavy pressure. SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE couldn’t answer, and with the final possession, Maduabum sealed his man, took a pass from Sawagashira, and calmly laid it in. Final score: 21–18, with HACHINOHE DIME.EXE capturing a thrilling home-court victory to close out Round 4.

SCORE

HACHINOHE DIME.EXE (21) Def SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE (18)

MVP – Chihiro Sawagashira (HACHINOHE DIME.EXE)

6.8 PPG | 71% – 1Pt FG% | 38% FG%

Chihiro Sawagashira stepped up when it mattered most in Round 4 Day 2, delivering clutch plays to secure the title in front of the Hachinohe home crowd. His ability to hit difficult floaters, finish inside, and knock down momentum-shifting two-pointers was the difference in multiple games. Whether it was sparking a comeback or sealing a victory, Sawagashira’s poise under pressure stood out. His consistency and timing made him the clear MVP of the day.

FINAL STANDINGS