ODDS and EVENS | East Asia Super League: Utsunomiya's 2025-26 Title Highlights Dynamism of the B.League

For the third consecutive year, a B.League team has been crowned East Asia Super League champion. It's an impressive feat, and it underscores the overall strength of the Japan men's pro basketball league, which was launched in 2016.

The Utsunomiya Brex extended the B.League's supremacy in the 12-club regional competition by beating Taiwan's Taoyuan Pauian Pilots 90-81 in the 2025-26 EASL Finals championship game on Sunday, March 22, in Macau.

In March 2024, the Chiba Jets captured the EASL title, beginning the B.League streak. Then, in March 2025, the Hiroshima Dragonflies won their first East Asia Super League title.

In Macau, reigning B.League champion Utsunomiya routed the New Taipei Kings 85-64 in the quarterfinals on March 18. Veteran big man Grant Jerrett had game-high totals in scoring (27 points on 11-for-16 shooting) and rebounding (12). Brex teammates DJ Newbill (20 points, six assists) and Kosuke Takeuchi (11 rebounds) also made major contributions.

By defeating the Taiwanese squad, Brex coach Zico Coronel's squad secured an all-B.League showdown in the semifinals. In that game, on March 20, the Brex defeated the Ryukyu Golden Kings 103-96.

Newbill and Jerrett had 29 points apiece to spark the victors, while veteran shooting guard Makoto Hiejima chipped in with 14 points and eight assists at Studio City Event Center. Two-time B.League MVP Newbill also dished out nine assists.

Hot Shooting Carries the Brex to Insurmountable Lead in Title Match

Two days later, Hiejima and backcourt mate Shinji Takashima ignited the Brex offense. It was a dazzling display of their shooting ability and Utsunomiya's unselfish play on offense.

Here's what happened: The 2025-26 East Asia Super League champions raced out to a 15-0 lead to open the championship game. Takashima sank three 3-point shots and Hiejima made a pair of 3s during that tone-setting scoring run.

The Brex knocked down 10 3s in the opening quarter and took a 39-13 advantage into the second quarter.

Utsunomiya, which led from start to finish, built a 51-32 cushion by halftime.

The Brex's overall strengths ― ball movement and good shooting on offense, rebounding and defensive energy ― secured the victory.

To their credit, the Pilots never backed down, never gave up. The Taiwanese team pulled within 81-75 in the fourth quarter, but were unable to snatch the lead.

In the end, the Brex's sensational start proved too much to overcome.

"It was great that we started out the game well," Coronel told a news conference. "We kept fighting and we were able to get the win."

Newbill paced the winning squad with 21 points in the title match, followed by Hiejima, who had 19 points, including 5 of 6 on 3-point attempts. Takashima added 18 points on 6-for-11 shooting from beyond the arc in 25 impactful minutes. Gavin Edwards finished with eight points and 10 rebounds.

Hiejima Fired Up by Team's Title-Winning Feat

After being awarded the 2025-26 EASL MVP trophy, a reminder of his dominant role on the Brex, Hiejima spoke about the satisfaction that came from reaching the top in this competition.

"It was great," Hiejima was quoted as saying by the Macau Post Daily. "We would like to continue to fight and keep representing Asia. Even though there was a lot of pressure, we were able to prove that we still lead Asia. We would like to continue to do that from now on."

From a personal perspective, Hiejima enjoyed the experience of competing in the EASL while also juggling the challenges of the long 60-game B.League season.

"Playing in the EASL against players and teams with different cultures and playing styles than in Japan has given me many moments where I've truly enjoyed the game," the 35-year-old Hiejima said, according to Japanese website basketball-zine.com. "Physically, it's tough, but for young players, it's a positive experience because the increased number of games provides more opportunities to grow."

The nine-team B.League All-Star is averaging 11.3 points and 4.6 assists in the 2025-26 season. (Statistics from EASL games are not included in B.League totals.)

Utsunomiya leads the B.League's Eastern Conference with a 33-11 record.

B.League Continues to Raise Its Profile

Also Sunday, Ryukyu rebounded from its semifinal defeat to Utsunomiya with a 77-76 win over B.League rival Alvark Tokyo in the third-place match.

With three of the top four finishers in the EASL Finals representing Japan, it was further evidence of the quality of competition in the B.League.

B.League chairman Shinji Shimada commented on this notable achievement.

In a statement, he said it "serves as a testament to the high level of competition within the B.League."

Shimada added, "We take great pride in the outstanding performances displayed by B.League clubs in this tournament, and we will continue to fully support their global endeavors."

The Expanding Landscape of the EASL

Since 2023, the size of the East Asia Super League has increased from eight teams to 10 and then 12.

The spirited competition also showcases top teams from South Korea, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Macau.

Looking to the future, perhaps as early as the 2026-27 campaign, the EASL plans to add additional teams to the mix.

"Our expansion will be coming, we'll be announcing it," EASL CEO Henry Kerrins said in Macau on March 19, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported. "It'll benefit a lot of fans to see high-quality games on a regular basis and add to the basketball scene in Asia. That's definitely in the works."

*Sendai 89ers swingman Jarrett Culver in action against the visiting Akita Northern Happinets on March 15. (©EASL)*

Keep an Eye on Sendai's Culver

Although the Sendai 89ers have yet to qualify for the to participate in the East Asia Super League, the current squad features a player who is excelling in his first season in Japan.

Shooting guard Jarrett Culver is averaging a B.League-best 26.3 points per game.

In the team's most recent game, on March 15, Culver scored a season-high 52 points against the Akita Northern Happinets in Sendai's 87-76 home triumph.

The Texas Tech alumni, a former NBA player, made 15 of 29 shots from the floor, including five 3s, and canned 17 of 19 free throws.

Culver's 52-point performance matched the B.League first-division record set by former Brex star Ryan Rossiter in December 2018. Rossiter now plays for the Alvark.

In addition to his 52-point outburst, Culver also produced two 40-point outings this season.

The 89ers (27-17) are in the playoff hunt, hoping to grab a wild-card berth.

Author: Ed Odeven

Follow Ed's [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and he can be found on X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.