
Chiba Jets forward Yuta Watanabe drives to the basket in a B.League game against the Utsunomiya Brex on October 15, 2025, in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture. (©B.LEAGUE)
Entering the third weekend of the 2025-26 B.League season, the Chiba Jets are the lone unbeaten team among 26 clubs.
The Jets earned their fifth victory in as many games with a gritty 81-78 road triumph over the reigning champion Utsunomiya Brex on Wednesday, October 15.
Call it a statement win for Jets head coach Trevor Gleeson's squad.
But there's little time to celebrate during another busy week in the 60-game season. The Jets return to action at LaLa arena TOKYO-BAY against the Nagasaki Velca on Saturday and Sunday, October 18 and 19.
Like Utsunomiya, Nagasaki is one of the B.League's top teams early in the season. Along with the Brex, the Velca, the Sunrockers Shibuya and the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins are tied for the league's second-best record (4-1) through Wednesday.
In last season's playoffs, the Brex eliminated the Jets in a tough semifinal series. Both teams are perennial title contenders, which gave Wednesday's game a playoff-like atmosphere.

A lively crowd of 6,029 at Nikkan Arena Tochigi attended the clash of Eastern Conference rivals, seeing Jets big man John Mooney put his team in front 81-75 on a free throw with 8 seconds remaining. It was Mooney's 17th and final point of the game.
Utsunomiya's Isaac Fotu sank a 3-pointer on the final play of the game to account for the final score. Makoto Hiejima passed the ball to Fotu for the last shot.
Moments earlier, the Jets led 70-62 at the end of the third quarter, and were held to 11 points in the final stanza. They stayed poised, holding off the Brex's comeback attempt and never gave up the lead in the fourth quarter.
An Important Victory for the Chiba Jets
In professional sports, coaches and players talk about the magnitude of certain games rising above a so-called typical game. Facing a reigning champion or a longtime fierce rival, or in the case of the Chiba Jets taking on a team with both labels, elevates the players' competitive fire.
Since the launch of the B.League in 2016, the Jets, who grabbed the title in the 2020-21 campaign, have never had a losing season. And the same is true for the Brex, winners of three titles.

Keep that in mind when you read former NBA player Yuta Watanabe's comments about the importance of Wednesday's win for the Jets.
"First, regarding the game itself, I think it was truly a high-level match befitting two undefeated teams," the veteran forward told reporters in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture. "Playing away here in Utsunomiya is always an incredibly tough game, but I believe we were able to stick to our basketball throughout [the game].
"Even when the opponent tried something, we responded calmly. I think we played good basketball for the full 40 minutes today."
Although the Jets didn't have a visually breathtaking game on offense (they shot 37.7%, making 26 of 69 shots from the floor), they showcased their strengths. Chiba finished with five double-digit scorers, with Mooney notching a double-double (17 points along with 12 rebounds and five assists). Watanabe poured in 16 points, and floor leader Yuki Togashi had 13 points and five assists. Newcomer Nassir Little, a first-round draft pick of the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers in 2019, chipped in with 10 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal. Shuta Hara added 10 points.

Hustle and Muscle: A Winning Combination
In this high-profile early season game, Chiba outrebounded Utsunomiya 47-38. A quartet of Jets grabbed five or more rebounds (led by Mooney and Little). In addition, DJ Hogg pulled down seven boards and Watanabe hauled in five.
That persistent effort paid off for Coach Gleeson's team. The Jets had an 18-14 edge in offensive rebounds, and they also outscored the hosts 21-11 on second-chance points.
Remembering their exit from the playoffs in May 2025, Watanabe acknowledged he and his teammates were fired up for Wednesday's showdown. But he also said it's important to focus on the big picture.
"Of course, today was just one regular season game," Watanabe said. "We need to keep stacking [up] wins going forward. I hope we can face Utsunomiya again in the [playoffs] and get that revenge there. So, first and foremost, we have to value every single game in the regular season."

A Coach's Perspective
Gleeson, now in his second season leading the Chiba Jets, brings world-renowned coaching credentials to the court whenever his club is competing. After all, he guided the Perth Wildcats to five Australian NBL titles during his sensational stint running the team (2013-21).
The 57-year-old Australian bench boss speaks with an authoritative voice based on his experiences as a prolific winner.
So what were his impressions of the Jets' overall effort against the Brex in their fifth game of the 2025-26 season?
"The Brex are a championship team. So I knew they would definitely come back," Gleeson told reporters, referring to Utsunomiya's 14–point lead late in the third quarter that was reduced to two points in the final period.
"But I'm really glad that our players showed Jets' pride by fighting tenaciously as a team until the very end and ultimately securing the victory."
As the game progressed, Gleeson pointed out, his team corrected what wasn't working, especially on defense.
"We expected it to be a tough, physical game," Gleeson declared, "but we made a lot of mistakes early on and gave up some 3-pointers during rotations."
He added, "We adjusted that well at halftime, and especially in the third quarter, the ball started moving well on offense as well as defense, which I think led to a good result."
For the Chiba Jets, good results have been the defining trait of their season so far. They swept the Fighting Eagles Nagoya on October 4 and 5, winning 82-79 and 102-76 on the road. Then, on October 11 and 12, the Jets beat the visiting Sendai 89ers 99-78 and 80-67.
RELATED:
- ODDS and EVENS | Chiba Jets Embrace Trust and Unselfish Play as Their Core Values
- Yuta Watanabe Becoming a Vocal Leader for the Chiba Jets
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.