Bobby Ray Parks and the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins stood their ground and held off the Hirsohima Dragonflies, 82-76, at the resumption of action in the 2021-22 B.League Season Wednesday night at the Park Arena in Aichi, Japan.
Two charities from Yutaro Suda in the last 19 seconds kept the Diamond Dragons ahead by five points, 81-76.
Suda put the Diamond Dragons out of trouble after the Dragonflies came close for the last time behind a 7-2 burst capped by Ryo Terashima’s layup with 20 seconds left.
The Diamond Dolphins made a move to get out of range, 73-69, as soon as Parks, a former guard playing for the TNT Tropang Giga in the Philippine Basketball Association, unloaded two freebies with 3:38 left.
Coty Clarke and Suda topscored with 14 points apiece for the Diamond Dolphins, while Parks made seven points, three rebounds and two assists in 17 minutes of game time.
Nagoya is now tied in fourth with the Dragonflies and the Shinsu Brave Warriors on identical 7-5 win-loss cards in the West Division.
The Brave Warriors, who have yet to field in new Filipino import Matthew Aquino, turned back Thirdy Ravena’s San-En NeoPhoenix, 92-79.
Josh Hawkinson knocked in 28 points for the Brave Warriors, while Shota Tsuyama and Ravena made 14 and 10 points, respectively, for SanEn.
The three squads have overtaken the Shiga Lakestars (6-6).
The Shimane Susanoo Magics prevailed over the Lakestars, 102-94, with Reid Travis topscoring for 25 points.
The Magics are now in second spot (9-3), behind solo leader Ryukyu (10-2).
Ovi Soko shot 20 points, while Filipino cager Kiefer Ravena scored 14 for the Lakestars.