【RECAP】3×3.EXE PREMIER JAPAN 2025 ROUND.8 – SENNAN

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Round 8 Day 2 – Osaka

Mukai Leads TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE Past SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE to Claim Group 3 Crown

The final round of the 2025 3×3.EXE Premier season in Osaka brought Group 2 action to centre stage, where twelve teams battled not only for a title but also for their postseason destinies. With playoff seeding on the line and only a handful of EXE Points separating qualification from elimination, the tension across all four pools was palpable. From teams already locked into the top seven to those clinging to hopes of survival, every possession carried extra weight.

For SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE, the mission was clear, consolidate a place inside the top tier of the standings and avoid the dangers of the double-elimination round. For ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE, it was do-or-die, with a Group 2 championship their only path into the playoffs. Alongside dramatic pool clashes and semi-final drama, the Osaka final became the ultimate test of resilience, depth, and playoff readiness as the league set the stage for its return to the spotlight in Osaka later this month for the 3×3.EXE Playoffs.

POOL A

• ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE (19) – 370 EXE POINTS | 44% Winning% | 17.3 PPG
• SIMON.EXE (16) – 410 EXE POINTS | 42% Winning% | 17.8 PPG
• 3STORM HIROSHIMA.EXE (25) – 335 EXE POINTS | 29% Winning% | 14.0 PPG

POOL A MOMENT THAT MATTERED

Heartbreak for SIMON.EXE as ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE Keep Playoff Dream Alive in Osaka

Pool A opened with a decisive clash between ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE and SIMON.EXE, two sides hovering around the playoff cut line. The stakes were clear: SIMON.EXE held the advantage in the standings and would advance to Osaka with a pool victory, while ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE needed nothing less than a Group 3 title to keep their season alive.

The early exchanges were tightly contested, with both teams trading baskets to a 7–6 scoreline after three minutes. Shogo Washimoto began to tilt the momentum, first with a driving finish that gave ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE a two-point cushion, then following it up with a confident shot from beyond the arc to stretch the lead further.

Every time SIMON.EXE found a way to respond, ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE answered immediately. Washimoto once again delivered midway through the game, connecting from the top of the key to create a 15–9 advantage that silenced any hopes of a SIMON.EXE surge.

From there, the gap never closed. Although SIMON.EXE trimmed the margin to four on a couple of occasions, ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE always had the reply, closing out a commanding 21–14 win. The result sealed heartbreak for SIMON.EXE, who, despite competing in the 2025 Super Premier, finished 16th in the 3×3.EXE Premier standings and missed the playoffs by just ten EXE Points, one spot shy of qualification.

POOL A RESULTS

• Game 1 – SIMON.EXE (18) Def 3STORM HIROSHIMA.EXE (16)
• Game 2 – ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE (21) Def SIMON.EXE (14)
• Game 3 – 3STORM HIROSHIMA.EXE (21) Def ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE (18)

POOL A WINNER:

ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE

POOL A NOTABLE SCORERS:

• Mike Harry (SIMON.EXE) – 6.5 PPG | 87% – 1PT FG%
• Uda Ryuhei (ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE) – 6.5 PPG | 66% – 1PT FG%
• Riku Kaneko (3STORM HIROSHIMA.EXE) – 6.5 PPG | 60% – 1PT FG%

POOL B

• SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE (30) – 325 EXE POINTS | 14% Winning% | 15.1 PPG
• TARUI RAZORBACKS.EXE (22) – 340 EXE POINTS | 43% Winning% | 16.1 PPG
• SAITAMA HEARTS.EXE (30) – 325 EXE POINTS | 14% Winning% | 11.9 PPG

POOL B MOMENT THAT MATTERED

Sano and Takeda Spark SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE to Dramatic First Semi-Final Appearance

With all three teams in Pool B already eliminated from playoff contention, the stakes in Osaka shifted from qualification to pride. That spirit was clear in the final pool matchup between SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE and TARUI RAZORBACKS.EXE, as both sides fought to close out their 2025 campaigns with a statement performance.

Defence dictated the early stages, with neither team giving much away. Every basket was earned through contact or hustle, and after seven hard-fought minutes TARUI RAZORBACKS.EXE held a narrow 8–6 advantage. Their control looked set to grow when they pieced together back-to-back scores in the following minute, stretching the margin to 11–7 with only sixty seconds left on the clock.

That’s when the game turned. Takashi Sano, who had been searching for rhythm all contest, caught the ball on the right wing and banked in a deep two-pointer to breathe life back into SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE. Moments later, from the very same spot, Sano repeated the feat, drilling another banked two that electrified the crowd and tied the game in the final thirty seconds.

With momentum on their side, the WILDBEARS looked for one final play. After TARUI RAZORBACKS.EXE failed to convert on the ensuing possession, Ryoma Takeda seized the moment, blowing past his defender and finishing at the rim with less than three seconds remaining. The clutch basket gave SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE a thrilling 12–11 win and secured their first semi-final appearance of the season.

POOL B RESULTS

• Game 1 – SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE (21) Def SAITAMA HEARTS.EXE (14)
• Game 2 – SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE (12) Def TARUI RAZORBACKS.EXE (11)
• Game 3 – TARUI RAZORBACKS.EXE (17) Def SAITAMA HEARTS.EXE (14)

POOL B WINNER:

SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE

POOL B NOTABLE SCORERS:

• Yuya Hosoda (SAITAMA HEARTS.EXE) – 6 PPG | 50% – 1PT FG%
• Takashi Sano (SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE) – 8.7 PPG | 38% – 2PT FG%
• Vaughn McCall Ⅱ (TARUI RAZORBACKS.EXE) – 5.5 PPG | 47% – 1PT FG%

POOL C

• SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE (5) – 475 EXE POINTS | 67% Winning% | 19.3 PPG
• ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE (9) – 445 EXE POINTS | 57% Winning% | 17.3 PPG
• BRIDGELINE MP3.EXE (35) – 315 EXE POINTS | 0% Winning% | 11.4 PPG

POOL C MOMENT THAT MATTERED

SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE Dominate Pool C, Leaving ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE Waiting on Playoff Fate

Pool C carried heavy playoff implications. SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE entered Round 8 already assured of a top-seven finish, while ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE needed to progress beyond the pool stage to have any chance of joining them in that upper tier. The stakes were clear: a win for ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE kept the door open, while defeat would leave them relying on results elsewhere.

Early on, it was SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE who set the tone with a blistering 11–4 start inside the first five minutes. Their balance of size and speed created mismatches across the floor, though ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE refused to fold. Gradually, they worked their way back, with Gjio Bain knocking down a free throw to trim the deficit to just four points.

That was as close as the comeback would come. Stephen Hurt answered emphatically with a powerful dunk, before Tomoyuki Kato muscled through traffic for a strong layup that pushed the margin back to six. From there, SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE rediscovered their rhythm, adding a free throw from Hurt and an off-balance floater by Yohei Takasaki to re-establish an 18–10 cushion in less than a minute of play.

The surge proved decisive. SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE closed the contest on an 8–3 run, sealing a comfortable win and underlining their playoff credentials. For ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE, the defeat meant their destiny shifted out of their hands, forced to watch the rest of the day unfold in Osaka to see where they would ultimately land in the 3×3.EXE Premier playoff standings.

POOL C RESULTS

• Game 1 – SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE (21) Def ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE (13)
• Game 2 – SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE (21) Def BRIDGELINE MP3.EXE (7)
• Game 3 – ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE (22) Def BRIDGELINE MP3.EXE (12)

POOL C WINNER:

SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE

POOL C NOTABLE SCORERS:

• Antuan Person (BRIDGELINE MP3.EXE) – 5.0 PPG | 73% – 1PT FG%
• Gjio Bain (ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE) – 9.5 PPG | 73% FG%
•  Stephen Hurt (SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE) – 7.8 PPG | 69% FG%

POOL D

• TOKYO VERDY.EXE (5) – 475 EXE POINTS | 62% Winning% | 18.5 PPG
• NINJA AIRS.EXE (25) – 335 EXE POINTS | 29% Winning% | 15.9 PPG
• FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE (27) – 330 EXE POINTS | 7% Winning% | 13.6 PPG

POOL D MOMENT THAT MATTERED

NINJA AIRS.EXE Seal Pool D Upset as TOKYO VERDY.EXE Hold On to Seventh in Playoff Race

For Pool D, the storyline centred on TOKYO VERDY.EXE and whether they could secure enough EXE Points to hold on to a top-seven finish heading into the Osaka playoffs. With FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE and NINJA AIRS.EXE already eliminated, the only danger for VERDY was running into a side with nothing to lose and everything to prove. That danger materialised immediately, as NINJA AIRS.EXE came in brimming with confidence after edging their opener in a 20–19 thriller.

The clash lived up to its billing as a tense, back-and-forth affair. Neither side managed to establish more than a two-point cushion, and every possession carried weight. Entering the final minute, it was Riku Oguchi who drove hard to the rim, finishing a layup that nudged TOKYO VERDY.EXE in front, 16–5.

Moments later, Oguchi had the chance to ice the contest at the free-throw line. With 15 seconds remaining, he stepped up for two shots that could have sealed the game, but both attempts rimmed out in the sweltering Sennan Osaka heat. NINJA AIRS.EXE pounced on the opportunity, with Kosuke Kashiwao converting a layup seconds later to tie the scores at 16–16 and force overtime.

The extra period swung quickly. Issei Ohno broke through first, scoring the opening basket of overtime to give NINJA AIRS.EXE the edge. On the following possession, Kashiwao found just enough space on the perimeter and launched a deep attempt that rattled off the rim four times before dropping through the net. The dramatic finish gave NINJA AIRS.EXE a 19–16 upset victory and a spot in the semi-finals.

For TOKYO VERDY.EXE, the loss was a setback, but not a disaster. Their consistency over the season ensured they retained seventh place on the standings, avoiding the double-elimination round and keeping their playoff path intact heading into Osaka.

POOL D RESULTS

• Game 1 – NINJA AIRS.EXE (20) Def FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE (19)
• Game 2 – NINJA AIRS.EXE (19) Def TOKYO VERDY.EXE (16)
• Game 3 – TOKYO VERDY.EXE (21) Def FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE (13)

POOL D WINNER:

NINJA AIRS.EXE

POOL D NOTABLE SCORERS:

• Yosuke Tajiri (FUZ HOKKAIDO.EXE) – 6.5 PPG | 84% – 1PT FG%
•  Issei Ohno (NINJA AIRS.EXE) – 7.7 PPG | 55% FG%
• Riku Oguchi (TOKYO VERDY.EXE) – 7.0 PPG | 64% – 1PT FG%

SEMI FINAL 1

ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE vs SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE

ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE Survive Wild Finish to Edge SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE in Osaka Semi-Final

For SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE, the semi-final was all about pride, but they refused to step onto the floor as pushovers. ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE, meanwhile, were staring down an all-or-nothing scenario. A loss would end their season, while victory would keep their playoff hopes alive. That urgency was clear from the start as Shin Soma converted on the opening possession, but SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE struck back quickly through Ryoma Takeda to ignite a fiery opening stretch.

What followed was a stunning surge from the WILDBEARS. Takashi Sano splashed a wide-open two, Takeda scored inside again, and Sano drilled another deep shot from the opposite wing. Four straight scoring possessions gave SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE a 6–1 advantage just a minute into the contest, leaving ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE momentarily on the back foot.

But ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE never panicked. They tightened their ball movement and executed with patience, beginning a run of their own. Chuji Shimoda slipped free for a layup, Shogo Washimoto connected from beyond the arc, and Ryuhei Uda knocked down a heavily contested two-pointer to tie the score at 6–6 after only two and a half minutes. Suddenly, momentum was swinging the other way.

The surge didn’t stop there. Washimoto drilled another two from the wing to give ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE their first lead, and Uda followed with a step-back bomb to extend the gap to 10–6. SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE found a response through Jikuri Kensei inside, but Shimoda and Uda continued to dictate at both ends. Shimoda turned steals into easy transition baskets, while Uda’s efficiency around the rim kept the margin steady at five, with ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE holding a 14–9 edge midway through.

Even so, the WILDBEARS weren’t going away. Sano knocked down a much-needed jumper, and Takeda muscled through contact to score again. A behind-the-back assist from Washimoto to Shimoda restored order for ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE, but Sano responded with a perfectly timed three-pointer to cut the deficit to 17–13 with just over three minutes left. Both teams then traded from deep, with Uda and Takeda exchanging long-range blows as the game hurtled toward a tense conclusion.

The closing moments had the Osaka crowd on edge. SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE called a timeout, regrouped, and came out firing, Sano scoring inside before Takeda hit a huge two to bring the game back within a possession. Another banked two from Sano levelled the scores at 19–19, setting the stage for a dramatic finish. But ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE had one last push. Driving hard to the hoop, Washimoto forced the defence to collapse, and though the initial attempt missed, Soma was perfectly placed to grab the rebound and score the put-back. The clutch play secured a 21–19 win, sending ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE into the final and keeping their playoff dream alive.

SCORE

ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE (21) Def SAITAMA WILDBEARS.EXE (20)

SEMI FINAL 2

SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE vs NINJA AIRS.EXE

Hurt, Kato, and Takasaki Lead SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE to 21–7 Semi-Final Win

With their playoff hopes already extinguished, NINJA AIRS.EXE entered the second semi-final playing purely for pride. SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE, meanwhile, were still shaping their final position in the standings, and with top-five form all season, they were determined to close Round 8 on a strong note.

The game began with both sides firing from deep. Kosuke Kashiwao opened the scoring for NINJA AIRS.EXE, but Ryota Iwata immediately answered with a triple of his own to set the tone. From there, SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE’s defensive pressure took control. After their first basket, NINJA AIRS.EXE struggled to find daylight against the aggressive rotations and physical presence inside.

SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE turned that defence into offence, and it was Stephen Hurt who made the biggest impact early, rattling off four straight points in the paint. Tomoyuki Kato and Iwata both connected from long range to cap a dominant surge that pushed SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE into a 10–2 lead inside two minutes. Issei Ohno briefly halted the drought with a two-pointer, but Kato answered instantly from deep, underlining SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE’s grip on the contest.

The scoring balance was on full display. Yohei Takasaki joined the action with a two of his own, meaning all four SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE players had hit the scoreboard as the advantage stretched to 14–4. Ohno did his best to keep NINJA AIRS.EXE afloat with baskets around the rim, but every time he scored, SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE responded immediately, Hurt inside, Kato from outside, sending the teams into the halfway mark with SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE firmly ahead, 16–6.

After the timeout, Ohno once again led by example with a determined layup, but Takasaki buried another outside shot to keep the momentum squarely with SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE. Kato then found himself wide open on the wing, draining yet another two-pointer that pushed the margin into double digits.

The final blow came moments later. Hurt battled on the offensive glass, grabbing a rebound and powering home the finish to close the game at 21–7. It was a commanding display from SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE, who cruised into the Osaka final with their defence, balance, and shot-making all firing in unison.

SCORE

SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE (21) Def NINJA AIRS.EXE (7)

Grand FINAL

ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE vs SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE

SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE Cruise Into Playoffs as ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE Fall Short of Qualification

The Group 2 final in Osaka carried very different stakes for the two teams involved. For ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE, it was win or go home, their only chance of reaching the 3×3.EXE Premier Playoffs. SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE, already assured of a top-seven finish, were playing for seeding and the chance to climb into sixth place.

The biggest question entering the matchup was how ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE could contain Stephen Hurt, whose size and presence inside had been a problem for opponents all season. That question was answered immediately. After Tomoyuki Kato blew by his defender to score on the opening possession, Hurt took over, netting three baskets on SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE’s next four trips down the floor. Meanwhile, ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE struggled to find rhythm, with Hurt swatting away attempts in the paint and fatigue from their semi-final clearly taking a toll.

It took nearly ninety seconds before Ryuhei Uda finally broke through for ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE, exploiting a smaller defender for their first points of the game. SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE replied instantly through Yohei Takasaki, pushing the score to 5–1. Hurt then went on a tear, adding six more baskets in the paint,ranging from post moves and put-backs to a free throw, as he single-handedly carried SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE to an 11–2 lead at the midpoint timeout.

When Hurt took a brief rest, Uda again found space to attack, driving for a layup to add another score for ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE. But Hurt’s return was decisive. Acting as facilitator, he kicked the ball out to Kato for a shot at the top of the arc, before reasserting himself with another layup inside. A long two-pointer from Iwata followed, and suddenly SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE were up 16–2 with under four minutes left.

ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE did manage a late flurry as Uda scored again and Shogo Washimoto connected on a contested two-pointer. Chuji Shimoda and Uda then hit back-to-back shots from outside, lifting their total to nine points and giving the Osaka crowd something to cheer. Yet each time they mounted a spark, SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE answered with authority. Hurt added an and-one play and Kato knocked down a mid-range jumper to bring the game within a single possession of being sealed.

In fitting fashion, it was Hurt who had the final word. First overpowering his way inside for another layup, he then drew a foul on the closing possession and calmly sank the free throw to end the contest. The 21–9 victory cemented SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE as the sixth seed for the 3×3.EXE Playoffs. For ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE, the defeat marked the end of their campaign, finishing in 18th place and just outside the playoff cut.

SCORE

SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE (21) Def ZIGEXN UPDATERS.EXE (9)

MVP – Ryota Iwata (SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE)

3.5 PPG | 43% – 2Pt FG% | 42% FG%

While Stephen Hurt’s size and dominance in the paint set the tone in the Osaka final, it was Ryota Iwata’s all-around impact that earned him MVP honours for Round 8. Iwata’s ability to stretch the floor with his shooting, space the defence, and apply pressure on both ends ensured SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE always had balance to complement their interior strength. His timely scoring and composure in key moments helped unlock the team’s offensive rhythm throughout the day.

Iwata finished the round averaging 3.5 points per game on efficient shooting splits of 43% from two-point range and 42% overall from the field. Beyond the numbers, his leadership and shot selection gave SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE a steadying influence that will be vital heading into the 3×3.EXE Playoffs. With Iwata firing alongside Hurt, Kato, and Takasaki, SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE head to Osaka in September looking every bit a contender.

Results

Links

FIBA 3×3 Event Page	FIBA 3×3 Event Link
YouTube Link	Youtube Link – Men’s
3×3.EXE Standings	3×3.EXE Standings
3×3.EXE Schedule	3×3.EXE Schedule