Tamayo off to career start as Ryukyu thumps Saga; Edu, Sotto other Pinoys set for debut

BY Reynald I. Magallon
Oct 6, 2023 09:15 AM

At a glance

  • Carl Tamayo’s second season in the Japan B.League was off to a career fashion.

Carl Tamayo’s second season in the Japan B.League was off to a career fashion.

 

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Carl Tamayo is off to a splendid start in second year in B. League (B. League photo)

 

The former University of the Philippines standout shone with a scoring career-high as the defending champions Ryukyu Golden Kings opened the 2023-’24 season with an 80-63 win over the Saga Ballooners on Thursday, Oct. 5.

Tamayo was on target from deep, shooting a perfect 4-of-4 clip to finish with 15 points that also went with five rebounds, two assists and two blocks in over 30 minutes of play.

The biggest of those triples, however, came in the final frame when the newly promoted Ballooners team cut the lead to single digits, 61-53, before Tamayo doused the run and restored order with a booming trey.

Averaging just 2.5 points through 16 games during his rookie year, Tamayo is seen as one of the team’s potent weapons for its title defense – something that the 22-year-old forward hopes to take advantage of.

Tamayo was one of the team’s double-digit scorers in the rout which was led by Victor Law who put up a double-double of 17 points and 14 rebounds.

Ryuichi Kishimoto had 14 points, while Yoshiyuki Matsuwaki and three-time PBA Best Import Allen Durham chipped in13 and 12 markers, respectively.

The Golden Kings gun for a 2-0 start to their title defense when they take on the Ballooners anew on Saturday, Oct. 7.

Gilas Pilipinas big men AJ Edu and Kai Sotto are also set for their respective debuts on the same day. Edu’s Toyama Grouses battle Osaka Evessa while Sotto’s Hiroshima Dragonflies begin its campaign against Fighting Eagles Nagoya.

Matthew Wright’s Kyoto Hannaryz lock horns against Yokohama B-Corsairs as Dwight Ramos’ Levanga Hokkaido take on Akita Northern Happinets. Ray Parks also begins his third season in the league when the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins tangle with Sunrockers Shibuya as Thirdy Ravena also sees action for San-En NeoPhoenix in their own season opener against Kawasaki Brave Thunders.

RJ Abarrientos also opens his B.League journey along with second-year player Matthew Aquino when the Shinshu Brave Warriors face up against the Ibaraki Robots.