Lee Hyun-jung, who lifted the championship trophy in Australia's National Basketball League (NBL) last year, is now challenging for the top spot in Japan's professional basketball B.League. But the road ahead is not easy. Having suffered a Game 1 defeat, Lee and the Nagasaki Velca now face a must-win Game 2 to keep their championship hopes alive.
Lee's team, the Nagasaki Velca, will face the Ryukyu Golden Kings in Game 2 of the 2025-2026 Japan Professional Basketball B.League Finals on Tuesday at Yokohama Arena in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.
Nagasaki narrowly fell 69-71 in Game 1. Trailing in a best-of-three short finals series, Nagasaki finds itself with its back against the wall. Whether the team can win Game 2 and push the series to a decisive Game 3 will be the watershed moment for the championship.
Lee, the South Korean national team shooter, lived up to his reputation. He played 38 minutes and 25 seconds in Game 1, posting 16 points, six rebounds and one assist. Notably, he made all four of his free throws, maintaining a 100% free-throw success rate in the championship. However, his three-point shooting percentage, usually a strength, stayed at 25% (2/8), a somewhat disappointing mark. Lee's precise outside shooting support will be essential for a Game 2 turnaround.
Nagasaki and Ryukyu split two head-to-head matchups in March before this finals series, each taking one win. The key to the series lies in controlling the paint. The two teams, both of which entered the finals with perfect championship records, have built their wins by dominating rebounds in all four championship games.
Indeed, the cause of Nagasaki's Game 1 loss was rebounding. In Game 1, Nagasaki managed only 33 rebounds, completely ceding the paint to Ryukyu, which recorded 50. Which team comes out on top in the battle under the basket in Game 2 will be the biggest variable in determining the championship trophy.
Nagasaki is aiming for its first-ever B.League title in this finals series. Ryukyu, which has reached the finals for five consecutive years, is challenging for its second championship. The fateful Game 2 will tip off Tuesday at 1:05 p.m., and depending on the result, Game 3 to determine the final champion is scheduled for Thursday at 7:05 p.m.
