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

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Round 8 Group 1 – Hachinohe

UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE Rise in Hachinohe, Securing Key Win Before Osaka Playoffs

The final stop of the 3×3.EXE Premier Japan regular season brought Group 1 action to Hachinohe, where the stakes could not have been higher. With playoff seeding and qualification scenarios hanging in the balance, twelve teams battled across four pools in search of one last chance to secure momentum ahead of Osaka. Every possession felt like it mattered, as margins for error grew thinner and playoff hopes hung by a thread.

The hometown faithful packed into Hachinohe Flat to support HACHINOHE DIME.EXE, who were among the contenders looking to consolidate a top-four finish. They were joined by heavyweights like MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE and UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE, both pushing to secure automatic entry into the second phase of the playoffs, alongside challengers desperate to avoid the dangerous double elimination round. The result was a day defined by intensity, narrow margins, and defining plays, capped by UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE’s powerful run to the Round 8 crown.

POOL A

• UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE (8) – 460 EXE POINTS | 68% Winning% | 19.0 PPG
• BEEFMAN.EXE (9) – 445 EXE POINTS | 68% Winning% | 17.5 PPG
• ADDELM ELEMENTS.EXE (33) – 320 EXE POINTS | 14% Winning% | 12.6 PPG

POOL A MOMENT THAT MATTERED

Coulibaly’s Late Finish Secures Top 7 Spot for UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE

The opening game of the day set the tone for what was at stake in Hachinohe, with both UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE and BEEFMAN.EXE battling not only for pool supremacy but also for a top-seven finish that would spare them from the double elimination round in the Osaka playoffs. The intensity was evident from the start, with each possession fought as though the season depended on it, because, in many ways, it did.

BEEFMAN.EXE looked poised to take control late, as Haruki Tobori muscled his way to the rim for a strong finish that gave his side a two-point cushion with just over two minutes left. But that basket would prove to be their last. The final stretch turned into a defensive grind, with UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE tightening the screws and forcing BEEFMAN.EXE into contested looks.

With the game hanging in the balance, Souleymane Coulibaly provided the spark. Driving hard through contact, he converted a determined layup that not only gave UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE the lead but also shifted momentum firmly in their favour. From there, the hosts of Pool A controlled the clock and denied their opponents a chance to respond.

The 16–14 victory sealed the pool for UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE, guaranteeing their place inside the all-important top seven. For BEEFMAN.EXE, the loss meant an anxious wait on other results to determine whether their playoff path would be direct or through the double elimination gauntlet.

POOL A RESULTS

• Game 1 – UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE (16) Def BEEFMAN.EXE (14)
• Game 2 – BEEFMAN.EXE (19) Def ADDELM ELEMENTS.EXE (15)
• Game 3 – UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE (22) Def ADDELM ELEMENTS.EXE (7)

POOL A WINNER:

UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE

POOL A NOTABLE SCORERS:

• Souleymane Coulibaly (UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE) – 5.5 PPG | 35% FG%
• Haruki Tobori (BEEFMAN.EXE) – 7.5 PPG | 38% – 2PT FG%
• Aoi Sugiyama (ADDELM ELEMENTS.EXE) – 7.0 PPG | 56% – 1PT FG%

POOL B

• SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE (12) – 420 EXE POINTS | 63% Winning% | 19.7 PPG
• HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE (14) – 415 EXE POINTS | 50% Winning% | 16.6 PPG
• MEGURO SIXERS.EXE (22) – 340 EXE POINTS | 36% Winning% | 15.2 PPG

POOL B MOMENT THAT MATTERED

Clutch Execution Carries SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE Past HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE

Every possession carried weight when SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE and HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE met in a direct seeding battle. With both teams sitting close in the standings, a win here would not only secure a semi-final berth but also provide a crucial edge heading into the Osaka playoffs. The game unfolded with playoff-like intensity, each side probing for an advantage while keeping a wary eye on the bigger picture.

Late in the contest, HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE clawed back into striking distance. Hirotaka Fujisawa pulled his side within a single point with less than 20 seconds left, giving the Rhinos a final glimmer of hope. But SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE showed composure under pressure, using the full shot clock on their final possession and leaving their opponents with just four seconds to find a miracle.

Forced into a desperate attempt, HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE launched a heavily contested jumper from deep. The shot clanged off target, and the WILDCATS locked down the win through disciplined execution and relentless defence.

For SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE, the victory carried more than just a path into the semi-finals. It also strengthened their seeding for the 3×3.EXE Playoffs, ensuring they would carry momentum and positioning into Osaka, while HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE were left to reflect on how slim the margins are at this stage of the season.

POOL B RESULTS

• Game 1 – SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE (15) Def HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE (14)
• Game 2 – SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE (17) Def MEGURO SIXERS.EXE (14)
• Game 3 – HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE (15) Def MEGURO SIXERS.EXE (8)

POOL B WINNER:

SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE

POOL B NOTABLE SCORERS:

• Takumi Shimokawa (SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE) – 5.7 PPG | 43% FG%
• Jovaan Tusevljak (HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE) – 5.0 PPG | 50% FG%
• Ryusei Narita (MEGURO SIXERS.EXE) – 4.5 PPG | 50% – 2PT FG%

POOL C

• HACHINOHE DIME.EXE (3) – 550 EXE POINTS | 81% Winning% | 19.6 PPG
• LEOVISTA.EXE (22) – 340 EXE POINTS | 36% Winning% | 16.6 PPG
• EDEN.EXE (27) – 330 EXE POINTS | 21% Winning% | 14.1 PPG

POOL C MOMENT THAT MATTERED

Kakuta’s Late Basket Lifts HACHINOHE DIME.EXE Over EDEN.EXE at Home

The atmosphere lifted when the hometown favourites, HACHINOHE DIME.EXE, stepped onto the court for their first game of the day against EDEN.EXE. Both teams were still adjusting to the outdoor conditions at Hachinohe Flat, and what followed was the third consecutive one-possession thriller of the round. From the outset, EDEN.EXE dictated the tempo, moving the ball crisply and keeping their hosts on edge.

Abib Dieng was central to that effort, using his size and mobility to create mismatches. With under a minute to play, he delivered what looked to be the decisive blow — powering EDEN.EXE into a one-point lead with just 35 seconds remaining. It felt like the upset might be on the cards, as EDEN.EXE had carried momentum for most of the contest.

But HACHINOHE DIME.EXE weren’t about to let their home crowd down. With time running out, Taishi Kakuta sized up his defender, recognised the mismatch, and bullied his way to the rim. His physical finish through an undersized opponent gave HACHINOHE DIME.EXE a one-point advantage with only nine seconds left.

EDEN.EXE had one final possession, but the pressure of the moment and the energy of the home crowd proved too much. HACHINOHE DIME.EXE held on for a dramatic first win in Pool C, a result that underlined both their resilience and the fine margins defining this stage of the season.

POOL C RESULTS

• Game 1 – HACHINOHE DIME.EXE (17) Def EDEN.EXE (16)
• Game 2 – LEOVISTA.EXE (21) Def EDEN.EXE (15)
• Game 3 – HACHINOHE DIME.EXE (21) Def LEOVISTA.EXE (6)

POOL C WINNER:

HACHINOHE DIME.EXE

POOL C NOTABLE SCORERS:

• Chu Maduabum (HACHINOHE DIME.EXE) – 7.5 PPG | 78% – 1PT FG%
• Keishi Oikawa (LEOVISTA.EXE) – 5.0 PPG | 58% FG%
• Tsukasa Nishimura (EDEN.EXE) – 6.5 PPG | 55% – 1PT FG%

POOL D

• MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE (4) – 540 EXE POINTS | 83% Winning% | 19.7 PPG
• IKEBUKURO DROPS.EXE (17) – 405 EXE POINTS | 56% Winning% | 17.6 PPG
• SENDAI AIRJOKER.EXE (20) – 360 EXE POINTS | 44% Winning% | 17.3 PPG

POOL D MOMENT THAT MATTERED

Ćojbašić and Bando Lead MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE Over IKEBUKURO DROPS.EXE

The final pool clash of the day pitted MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE, a team already circling a top-four finish, against IKEBUKURO DROPS.EXE, who were desperate to cement a place inside the top 15. The stakes were clear, and MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE wasted no time showing their intent.

From the opening tip, Miloš Ćojbašić and Shugo Bando set the tone. The duo combined to score on each of MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE’s first five possessions, overwhelming the DROPS before they had time to settle into the game. By the time three and a half minutes had elapsed, the scoreboard read 10–4, and the contest already had a decisive tilt.

IKEBUKURO DROPS.EXE attempted to steady themselves, finding brief rhythm through ball movement and the shot-making of Spencer Jennings, but the early hole proved too steep. MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE’s defensive rotations tightened, and their balanced scoring kept the pressure firmly on their opponents.

The result was never in doubt after the blistering start. MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE coasted to a 21–13 victory, topping the pool and officially locking in a top-four finish in the standings. For IKEBUKURO DROPS.EXE, the defeat meant their postseason hopes would rest on other results, leaving them anxiously waiting to see if their season would extend to Osaka.

POOL D RESULTS

• Game 1 – MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE (21) Def IKEBUKURO DROPS.EXE (13)
• Game 2 – MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE (21) Def SENDAI AIRJOKER.EXE (11)
• Game 3 – IKEBUKURO DROPS.EXE (21) Def SENDAI AIRJOKER.EXE (12)

POOL D WINNER:

MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE

POOL D NOTABLE SCORERS:

• Miloš Ćojbašić (MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE) – 8.0 PPG | 77% – 1PT FG%
• Taroburaitochukuoma Saito (IKEBUKURO DROPS.EXE) – 6.0 PPG | 47% FG%
• Hiroto Watanabe (SENDAI AIRJOKER.EXE) – 6.0 PPG | 84% – 1PT FG%

SEMI FINAL 1

UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE vs SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE

Biwer and Coulibaly Spark UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE in Semi-Final Victory

With both sides still jostling for playoff positioning, the stakes in this semi-final were enormous. Victory would all but guarantee a place inside the top seven of the standings, sparing the winner from the dangerous double elimination round in Osaka. Both UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE and SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE had already survived hard-fought pool contests, and the tension carried into this clash, which quickly became a battle of defensive resilience and physicality.

The opening minutes were slow and deliberate, with neither side finding rhythm. SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE broke through first, using a crisp pick-and-roll between Takumi Shimokawa and Hotaka Kato to open the scoring. Shinji Naruse then found daylight on the wing to connect from deep, and Shimokawa followed with a strong post move to give the WILDCATS a slender edge.

UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE needed nearly two minutes to open their account. Souleymane Coulibaly drove hard to the wing before finding Yudai Ara wide open for their first basket. Slowly, the BREX began to settle, with Griffin Biwer and Coulibaly converting tough finishes at the rim. Still, Naruse’s second two-pointer and an inside bucket from Hiroto Takeda kept SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE ahead 8–7 midway through the contest.

Coming out of the timeout, the tide shifted. Biwer absorbed contact to finish inside, before Yuki Nakanishi buried a timely two to swing momentum to UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE. Ara then stepped up with another long-range strike, capping a quick surge that suddenly pushed the BREX ahead 12–8.

From there, UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE broke the game open. Biwer and Coulibaly each converted And-1 plays in back-to-back possessions, showcasing their power in the paint. Nakanishi then crashed the glass for a put-back that extended the lead to nine, completing a stunning 10–0 run that silenced the WILDCATS.

With under a minute to play, Naruse momentarily reignited SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE with a deep two, followed by a put-back from Shimokawa. But the scoring drought had already taken its toll. UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE controlled the tempo in the closing seconds and closed out a commanding 17–11 victory.

The win not only advanced UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE to the Round 8 final but also delivered a vital boost to their playoff positioning. For SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE, the loss was a reminder of how quickly momentum can swing at this level, as four scoreless minutes sealed their fate.

SCORE

UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE (17) Def SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE (11)

SEMI FINAL 2

HACHIOHE DIME.EXE vs MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE

Strong Finish Sends HACHINOHE DIME.EXE Past MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE for Top 3 Spot

The second semi-final carried an extra layer of intrigue, with both teams already guaranteed top-four finishes in the standings but knowing that the winner would claim outright third place heading into Osaka. With MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE and HACHINOHE DIME.EXE also set to meet again in playoff pool play, this clash doubled as both a battle for pride and a preview of what’s to come.

The game opened with the physicality expected from two of the league’s strongest sides. Miloš Ćojbašić went to work in the paint for MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE, matched by Chu Maduabum’s presence on the other end for HACHINOHE DIME.EXE. The first points of the contest, however, came from Chihiro Sawagashira, who found space on the wing to knock down a two, before Yasuki Miyakoshi’s hustle on the offensive glass extended Hachinohe’s early momentum.

MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE settled with Ćojbašić exploiting a mismatch inside, but the DIME kept pressing. Sawagashira, one of the league’s most reliable long-range shooters, struck again from deep, while Taishi Kakuta cleaned up the boards for a put-back that pushed the lead out to 7–3. Feeding off the energy of the home crowd, Maduabum then drilled a two-pointer of his own to extend the margin further.

Keito Shimbo provided resistance with a crafty floater, and Ćojbašić converted out of a pick-and-roll to give MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE back-to-back scores. Riku Watanabe added a driving finish before Ćojbašić connected from deep to close the gap, but HACHINOHE DIME.EXE had the answers. Kakuta and Maduabum punished the paint again, ensuring their side remained in control with an 11–8 lead at the halfway mark.

Out of the timeout, Maduabum’s confidence surged. He knocked down another two, then set up Kakuta for an easy inside finish as the margin ballooned back to six. Watanabe tried to rally Minakami with a determined drive, but consecutive free throws from Kakuta restored the cushion to 16–9 with under three minutes to play.

MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE attempted to claw back, as Shugo Bando scored in traffic and added free throws to trim the margin to four. Yet just as the contest threatened to tighten, HACHINOHE DIME.EXE responded decisively. Maduabum and Kakuta combined for back-to-back baskets from deep and inside, pushing the lead to the brink.

With the game all but decided, Maduabum was fouled on the following possession. The big man calmly sank the free throw to seal a 21–12 victory, completing a commanding performance in front of the home crowd.

The result not only booked HACHINOHE DIME.EXE a spot in the Round 8 final but also guaranteed them third place in the overall standings. For MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE, the loss relegated them to fourth, but with both teams already locked into strong playoff positions, this semi-final offered a tantalising glimpse of a rivalry that could define the weeks ahead in Osaka.

SCORE

HACHINOHE DIME.EXE (21) Def MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE (12)

Grand FINAL

UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE vs HACHINOHE DIME.EXE

UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE Overpower HACHINOHE DIME.EXE to Close Out Regular Season

The Round 8 final in Hachinohe carried weight beyond the day’s silverware. Both teams had already booked their place in Osaka, but UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE entered with the chance to finish inside the top seven and avoid the double elimination round in the playoffs. HACHINOHE DIME.EXE, playing in front of their home crowd, were determined to close the regular season with a statement. The stage was set for a fierce battle, and it showed immediately with five fouls called before the first basket had even dropped.

It was Griffin Biwer who finally broke the deadlock for UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE, finishing through contact, before Souleymane Coulibaly added another score on the following possession. Chihiro Sawagashira responded to open the account for HACHINOHE DIME.EXE, and Yasuki Miyakoshi drilled a two-pointer to spark rhythm for the hosts. Biwer answered with a put-back to level proceedings, but Chu Maduabum then electrified the crowd with a thunderous dunk in the paint, reminding everyone of Hachinohe’s inside presence.

The momentum swung quickly back to UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE. Biwer cleaned up the glass again, before Yudai Ara buried a deep two to push his side ahead. Yuki Nakanishi chipped in with back-to-back baskets, and Biwer strung together three straight scores in a burst that stretched the margin, only partly countered by Taishi Kakuta and Maduabum inside. At the midpoint, UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE had seized an 11–6 advantage.

Out of the timeout, Hachinohe’s early foul trouble began to bite. Ara calmly sank two free throws, then dished to Nakanishi for another basket to extend the lead to eight. Ara continued his surge with back-to-back buckets, powering UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE to a 15–7 cushion.

Still, the hosts weren’t finished. Sawagashira knocked down a two and Maduabum scored off the offensive glass to lift HACHINOHE DIME.EXE’s hopes. But UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE always had the response. Nakanishi strung together consecutive finishes to push the score to 18–9, before adding another layup to bring the BREX within touching distance of victory.

HACHINOHE DIME.EXE briefly rallied, with Kakuta hitting from deep and Maduabum converting from the free throw line, narrowing the margin to six with under two minutes remaining. The home crowd roared for a comeback, but the deficit proved too steep.

After both sides traded free throws, UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE needed just one more basket. As he had done all game, Ara turned the corner off the dribble, attacked his defender, and finished with a composed layup at the rim. It sealed a 21–14 victory, silencing the home crowd and delivering UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE not only the Round 8 crown but also, almost certainly, a secured spot inside the top seven of the 3×3.EXE Premier Japan standings.

SCORE

UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE (21) Def HACHINOHE DIME.EXE (14)

MVP – Souleymane Coulibaly (UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE)

5.5 PPG | 35% FG% | 39% – 2PT FG%

Across Round 8, Souleymane Coulibaly embodied the grit and physical presence that defines UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE’s identity. Averaging 5.5 points per game, he consistently found ways to impact the scoreboard, using his size to carve out space and finish through contact. His efficiency may not have been elite, shooting 35% from the field and 39% from beyond the arc, but the timing of his baskets proved crucial in Utsunomiya’s run.

In the semi-final, Coulibaly’s aggressive play in the paint shifted momentum during a key second-half surge. In the final, his defensive presence and ability to draw attention opened lanes for teammates like Yudai Ara and Griffin Biwer, allowing Utsunomiya to establish control. It was a reminder that value is not always measured purely in shooting percentages; Coulibaly’s intensity and toughness anchored UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE when it mattered most, earning him MVP honours in Hachinohe.

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

Written by Andrew Cannings