JAPAN SPORTS NOTEBOOK | B.League Unveils Best Five Team and Other Awards

The 2024-25 B.League Award show was held on Friday, honoring players and teams for their achievements during the season.

At the annual event in Tokyo, the top accolade went to Utsunomiya Brex veteran guard DJ Newbill, who was named season MVP for the second straight year. The Penn State alum also received the B.League Finals MVP accolade after helping lead the Brex past the Ryukyu Golden Kings in the championship series on Tuesday, May 27.

Newbill averaged 21.7 points and 6.0 assists, leading all players in both categories, in the three-game series. During the regular season, he averaged 17.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.1 assists. He was eighth in scoring and second in assists in the 24-team league.

Above all, Newbill's confidence, productivity and on-court leadership were instrumental in the Brex's overall success. Utsunomiya had a league-best 48-12 record and Newbill was the team's best player this past season.

*B.League MVP DJ Newbill receives the MVP award for the second year in a row. (©SANKEI)*

At the banquet, Newbill paid tribute to his late mentor Kevin Braswell, the team's head coach who passed away on February 24. He thanked Braswell for his positive influence on his career.

"I'd like to dedicate the MVP award to him," Braswell told the audience, Sankei Sports reported.

Additional Comments from MVP Newbill

"I want give a shout-out to my former coach, Coach KB," Newbill said on the stage. "[And] I think this season he really lit a fire under me and challenged me to take my game to new heights, and even with this season being as difficult as it was, losing him, I think everything that he's taught me from Day 1 and taught us from Day 1 ... our team just kept the determination each and every day in practice and each and every game."

Newbill, who turned 33 on May 22, two days before the B.League Finals started, headlines the Best Five Team for the second year in a row. Players are selected for their overall excellence throughout the season.

Hiejima Joins Newbill on Best Five Team

Also named to the Best Five Team was Brex shooting guard Makoto Hiejima, who was selected for the fourth time and for the second straight year. Hiejima averaged 13.2 points and 4.2 assists in 58 games. He was at his best in the fourth quarter in Game 3 of the B.League Finals, when he scored 14 of his 17 points to ignite the Brex comeback.

Hiejima was also recognized for being the top 3-point shooter in the B.League. He led all players with 44.3% shooting accuracy (133 of 300) from beyond the arc.

"I've acquired the ability to finish off shots when the opponent is more cautious," Hiejima said, reflecting on his success as an outside shooter in 2024-25. "I think this award shows my growth."

Ryukyu forward Vic Law (16.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists) was named to the Best Five Team for the first time.

San-en NeoPhoenix swingman David Nwaba (17.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists) and NeoPhoenix point guard Ryusei Sasaki (who led the B.League in assists with 6.5 per game and scored 11.5 ppg) were also both first-time honorees.

Other B.League Awards

NeoPhoenix guard Sota Oura, who averaged 9.8 points and 4.6 assists off the bench in 59 games (zero starts) received the Best Sixth Man accolade.

Chibs Jets guard/forward Shuta Hara received the Best Defender Award for the second time. He also won it in the 2022-23 campaign.

Golden Kings shooting guard Masahiro Waki was chosen as the Rookie of the Year. The Kumamoto native contributed 7.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 60 games (49 starts) for Ryukyu.

Braswell and Brex acting head coach Zico Coronel were named co-winners of the Head Coach of the Year Award. Appropriately, the league recognized the coaching leadership of both men and the challenge that Coronel faced. Hired as Braswell's assistant, the New Zealander stepped in to guide the team after Braswell had a heart attack in January and died a few weeks later.

B.League Second Team honors went to guards Yuki Togashi (Chiba Jets) and Seiya Ando (Shimane Susanoo Magic) and frontcourt standouts Ryan Rossiter (Alvark Tokyo), Yante Maten (NeoPhoenix) and Brock Motum (Shiga Lakes).

Kashima Antlers forward Leo Ceara scores in the ninth minute against Gamba Osaka on May 31 in Suita, Osaka Prefecture. (KYODO)

Soccer

Antlers Proving to Be the J.League's Premier Club

Entering June, the fifth month of the 2025 J.League season, the Kashima Antlers appear to be well on their way to claiming their ninth league title.

There's, of course, a slew of matches still to be played. But the Antlers (13 wins, one draw, five defeats) have excelled since the start of the season in February and sit atop the table with 40 points.

Sitting in second and third place, respectively, are Kashiwa Reysol (34 points for 19 matches) and Sanfrecce Hiroshima (32 points for 18 matches). On Wednesday, June 4, Hiroshima will play its 19th game, facing host Avispa Fukuoka, to equal the total to date of Kashima and Kashiwa.

The Antlers earned their latest victory ― a 1-0 away decision over Gamba Osaka ― on Saturday, May 31. Brazilian Leo Ceara scored the lone goal in the ninth minute at Panasonic Stadium Suita. It was Kashima's fourth win in four matches, a stretch in which manager Toru Oniki's club allowed zero goals three times and a single tally on two occasions.

Oniki acknowledged his team set the tone for the win with its first-half effort.

"The players worked hard and the supporters supported us," the veteran manager told reporters after the match. "I think that was the only thing that mattered in the first half."

With 29 goals scored and only 15 allowed so far, the Antlers have strong overall productivity on offense and defense. And they look like the clear-cut favorite to win another title.

ODDS and EVENS | J.League Season is Providing Compelling Competition

*Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hits a solo home run in the first inning against the New York Yankees on May 30 at Dodger Stadium. (Jason Parkhurst/IMAGN IMAGES/via REUTERS)*

Baseball

Dodgers Outplay Yankees in High-Profile Series Opener

The reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees 8-5 on Friday, May 30 at Dodger Stadium. Designated hitter Shohei Ohtani belted a pair of solo home runs for the hosts in the opener of a three-game series.

Ohtani homered off Yankees starter Max Fried in the first inning. He added a bases-empty blast off Fried in the sixth.

The pride of Iwate Prefecture leads MLB in home runs (22) in the 2025 season.

Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto is slated to start the series finale on Sunday. Yamamoto (6-3) is among MLB's ERA leaders (1.97, fifth-lowest average through May 30).

*Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga plays catch on May 30 in Chicago. (KYODO)*

In other MLB news, Chicago Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga is making progress in his recovery from a left hamstring strain, according to manager Craig Counsell.

Imanaga has not pitched in a game since sustaining the injury on May 4. He was placed on the 15-day injured list on May 23.

On Wednesday, May 28, Imanaga had an on-field test for his physical recovery. It included fielding practice and running along with a 28-pitch bullpen session, The Associated Press reported.

What was Counsell's assessment of Imanaga's workout?

"So all in all, a very good workday," Counsell was quoted as saying by The Associated Press. "Kind of repeat that this weekend, assuming everything turns up well tomorrow, and then go from there."

For Imanaga, a trip to the Cubs spring training complex in Mesa, Arizona, would be the next step in making preparations for his return to the starting rotation.

Stanford's Sasaki Appears in All 52 Games as a Freshman

Highly touted Japanese baseball prospect Rintaro Sasaki played in all 52 of the Stanford University baseball team's games during the 2025 season.

The Cardinal (27-25) lost their final game to Virginia Tech in the first round of the Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Championship on May 20.

Sasaki finished his freshman season with a .269 batting average with seven homers and 41 RBIs. He also had a team-high 25 walks.

Table Tennis

Japan Ends Decades-Long Drought in Men's Doubles

For the first time since 1961, Japan claimed the men's doubles title at the World Table Tennis Championships on Sunday, May 25. Hiroto Shinozuka and Shunsuke Togami teamed up for a 6-11, 11-5, 7-11, 11-6, 11-6 victory over Taiwan's Cheng Jui Kao and Yun Ju Lin in Lusail, Qatar.

Shinozuka and Togami were the No 2 seeds. Their Taiwanese opponents were seeded sixth.

After winning the title, Togami, 23, was euphoric.

"I'm so happy," Togami said, according to Kyodo News. "We dropped the first game because of my errors, but a fired-up Hiroto Shinozuka was alongside me."

In Beijing, Nobuya Hoshino and Koji Kimura triumphed at the 1961 World Table Tennis Championships.

A Voice of Inspiration

"I hope more Indonesian children play baseball. [And] I want people around the world to know how wonderful this sport can be."

―Former NPB pitching star Kimiyasu Kudo, who won five Japan Series titles as the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks manager (during his tenure from 2015-21), on his baseball aspirations for Indonesia. Kudo, 62, participated in a baseball clinic, featuring junior high and high school students, in Jakarta on May 17, NHK reported.

Author: Ed Odeven

Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.