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All 36 Teams, One Massive Day: Round 3 Tips Off in Hachinohe
After a chaotic and thrilling Day 1 that saw 36 teams battle through 12 pools, Day 2 of Round 3 in HACHINOHE shifted into knockout mode and with it came a whole new level of intensity. With just 16 teams remaining, every game became a must-win, and every possession carried weight. From the opening round of 16 to a gripping final that came down to the last shot, Day 2 delivered everything fans have come to expect from 3x3.EXE Premier Japan and more. Whether it was clutch shot-making, last-minute heroics, or first-time finalists rising to the occasion, the final day of Round 3 was packed with defining moments that will shape the rest of the 2025 season.
Round of 16 Storylines
SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE (140 EXE Pts) VS ASUKAYAMA CHERRYBLOSSOMS.EXE (110 EXE Pts)
A balanced scoring effort and timely outside shooting powered SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE through, as they used an 8–3 run after the media timeout to control the game and advance.
SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE (20) def ASUKAYAMA CHERRYBLOSSOMS.EXE (13)
HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE(125 EXE Pts) VS SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE (130 EXE Pts)HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE pushed the pace and nearly pulled off an upset, but a clutch deep dagger from Ryota Iwata in the final minute sealed the win for SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE.
SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE (21) def HOKUSO RHINOS.EXE (18)
SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE (160 EXE Pts) VS TOKYO DIME.EXE (120 EXE Pts)
In a dominant display, Ryo Ozawa erupted with 9 points in a blistering 13–2 run, capped bySHINAGAWA CITY.EXE hitting six straight two-pointers without a single miss.
SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE (21) def TOKYO DIME.EXE (9)
HACHINOHE DIME.EXE (180 EXE Pts) VS UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE ( 95 EXE Pts)
A tough three-point play from Chihiro Sawagashira flipped the momentum as UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE went ice-cold late, allowing HACHINOHE DIME.EXE to take over and move on.
HACHINOHE DIME.EXE (21) def UENOHARA SUNRISE.EXE (12)
EPIC.EXE – (120 EXE Pts) VS TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE (100 EXE Pts)
Tatsuki Kishikawa showed off his full offensive toolkit, scoring 10 of EPIC.EXE’s final 12 points, while their team defence locked down OKAYAMA in the closing minutes.
EPIC.EXE (22) def TRYHOOP OKAYAMA.EXE (15)
ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE (125 EXE Pts) VS BEEFMAN.EXE (130 EXE Pts)
With BEEFMAN.EXE fading late, Gijo Bain dominated both ends—scoring, screening, and blocking—leading OTAKI.EXE on a decisive 10–3 closing run.
ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE (21) def BEEFMAN.EXE (11)
MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE (200 EXE Pts) VS IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE (120 EXE Pts)
MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE rebounded from a brief cold stretch and fired off seven two-pointers, proving their perimeter game is just as dangerous as their interior presence.
MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE (21) def IRISPARTNERS AICHI.EXE (11)
ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE (200 EXE Pts) VS SIMON.EXE – (95 EXE Pts)
Cheick Keita powered SIMON.EXE into contention, but Jevonnie Scott came through in crunch time once again to push ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE through to the quarterfinals.
ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE (21) def SIMON.EXE (17)
Quarter Final Moments that mattered
Quarter Final 1 SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE vs SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE
Hustle, Heart, and Hurt - SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE Outlast SHINAGAWA in Instant Classic Finish
With a semi-final berth on the line, SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE and SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE delivered the kind of quarterfinal clash that lived up to every bit of the hype. Two seasoned squads, both with strong Round 3 form, came out swinging with their best weapons. SHONAN’s inside dominance was clear from the first possession as Stephen Hurt powered in a bucket down low. But Hiroto Takeda answered right back, smooth as ever, drilling a deep two to keep SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE’s scoring machine rolling. Seconds later, Ryota Iwata matched him from beyond the arc. Just 30 seconds in, it was clear: this game was going to fly.
By the four-minute mark, the scoreboard read 12–12, and neither team looked ready to slow down. The pace stayed relentless. Every time one side grabbed a two-point edge, the other erased it just as fast. Iwata and Takeda kept trading long-range blows. Hurt and Ito battled in the paint. It wasn’t just scoring, it was precision, execution, and heart.
With SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE up 20–18, it looked like they might edge away. But then Shinji Naruse popped free on the wing. One dribble, one smooth release, bang. The shot was pure, tying the game at 20-all and putting both teams into sudden death. One possession. One shot. One season-shifting moment.
That moment came when the ball found its way into the hands of Tomoyuki Kato. He attacked from the wing, pulled up from the free throw line, and released. The shot bounced long off the iron, but straight into the waiting hands of Stephen Hurt. Surrounded by three defenders and with everything on the line, he powered through contact for the game-winning putback. It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t clean. But it was decisive. SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE were the first team into the semi-finals, and it came on the shoulders of a big man doing big-man things.
SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE (21) Def SHINAGAWA CC WILDCATS.EXE (20)
Quarter Final 2 SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE vs HACHINOHE DIME.EXE
Ozawa Leads, Saito Strikes as SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE Advance
Quarterfinal two brought a clash between the tournament’s deepest roster and its most energised home team. SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE, riding the hot hand of national team sharpshooter Ryo Ozawa, faced off against HACHINOHE DIME.EXE and their fearless leader Chihiro Sawagashira, who had already proven he could carry a scoring load on his own.
Just like in their dominant Round of 16 performance, SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE started fast. Five seconds in, Ozawa curled off a screen and drilled a two without blinking. But HACHINOHE knew the threat and answered immediately, drawing a foul on Sawagashira the very next play. From there, it became clear, this was going to be a shooter's duel.
Ozawa stayed hot with another two, but Chu Maduabum joined the long-range barrage, responding from deep himself. The teams traded scores in a back-and-forth battle where neither could stretch the lead beyond two. With four minutes gone and HACHINOHE within one after a strong inside finish from Maduabum, the pressure mounted. All eyes were on Ozawa, but that focus left one man open.
Ryoma Saito slipped unnoticed into the corner, caught the ball in rhythm, and let it fly. The shot dropped clean, giving SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE a 14–11 lead, the biggest margin of the game. It didn’t just stretch the score. It shifted the energy.
HACHINOHE did their best to hang in. A backdoor cut from Sawagashira led to another slick connection with Maduabum, but the damage was done. With the defence forced to stretch, Ozawa re-emerged, burying yet another jumper to keep the advantage out of reach. SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE moved into the semifinals, silencing the home crowd and proving their depth isn’t just on paper, it shows up when it matters most.
SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE (21) Def HACHINOHE DIME.EXE (15)
Quarter Final 3 EPIC.EXE vs ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE
De Assis Afonso’s Magic Pass Pushes EPIC.EXE to the Semis
The third quarterfinal may not have had the same star-studded shine on paper, but EPIC.EXE vs ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE told a different story once the ball was checked in. It was a clash between two Day 1 overachievers, each looking to take another step toward cementing their place as true contenders. With Tatsuki Kishikawa’s scoring flair for EPIC.EXE and the partnership of Yukimoto Wakabayashi and Gjio Bain for ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE, this was always going to be a grind.
The game opened in a defensive deadlock, four straight empty possessions before Wakabayashi found space at the top and connected from deep. EPIC.EXE responded immediately through Julio Claver De Assis Afonso, who beat the shot clock with a cold-blooded two that kickstarted a short run and allowed EPIC to hold an early edge.
To their credit, ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE never let the gap widen. Sharing the scoring load and leaning into their screens and spacing, they clawed back into it. With just under three minutes left and the score at 16–14, Bain set a crushing screen to free Wakabayashi, who didn’t hesitate, knocking down a big-time two to bring the margin within one possession again.
But that would be OTAKI’s final bucket of the night.
What came next was the moment that broke the rhythm. De Assis Afonso crashed the boards for a massive offensive rebound, and in one motion, fired a no-look pass between two defenders that found Kishikawa slicing to the rim. Layup. 18–14. Timeout OTAKI.
But the damage was done. EPIC.EXE returned from the break still riding that momentum, and Kishikawa delivered the finishing blow with a clean midrange jumper to seal the win. It wasn’t just a clutch play, it was the kind of composure and timing that separates good teams from semi-finalists. And now, EPIC.EXE is one win away from a shot at top spot in Round 3.
EPIC.EXE (21) Def ESDGZ OTAKI.EXE (14)
Quarter Final 2 MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE vs ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE
Last Team Standing: ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE Remain Unbeaten After Thriller
The final quarterfinal was everything 3x3 basketball promises, physical, tactical, and full of star power. It was a battle of the unbeatens: MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE and ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE, two teams who had rolled through their competition so far in 2025. But on this court, only one would leave with their perfect record intact.
ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE wasted no time getting on the board, executing a clean set that freed up Dai Shinada for a top-of-the-arc two. But from there, the tempo shifted. Defence became the headline, with both teams digging in. MINAKAMI turned to their anchor, Miloš Ćojbašić, who muscled his way into the paint for their first score, and the tone was set, this wasn’t going to be a shootout. This was going to be earned.
As the minutes ticked away, every possession gained weight. Ćojbašić again stepped up with a power move inside to bring the game within one, 17–16, with just under three minutes to play. You could feel it building, one player was going to tip the balance. Would it be Ćojbašić or Bando for MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE? Or would ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE’s Jevonnie Scott or Ryochi Dewa rise to the occasion?
Scott answered the call.
Finding a mismatch in the post, Scott went to work. A couple of controlled dribbles, a shift in weight, and a confident finish gave ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE a key bucket. When Bando couldn’t convert on the other end, it felt like the door cracked open. And Scott kicked it down. On the next possession, he stepped into a rhythm two from beyond the arc…pure. It was the dagger that all but ended it, pushing ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE to the semifinals and ensuring they stand alone as the last unbeaten team in 3x3.EXE Premier Japan 2025.
ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE (21) Def MINAKAMI TOWN.EXE (18)
Semi Final 1
Ozawa Ices Semi-Final in OT as SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE Advances
The first semi-final of Round 3 delivered a heavyweight clash between two familiar foes. In a rematch of the Round 2 Day 3 Final, SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE were looking to avenge their earlier defeat at the hands of SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE, a game decided by late heroics from Jan Demšar. With Demšar sitting out this time, it was an open invitation for SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE to rewrite the script. But to do so, they’d have to contain Ryo Ozawa, the league’s most in-form shooter, averaging over 10 points per game.
SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE had clearly studied the tape. From the first whistle, they shadowed Ozawa closely, denying him clean touches and making every screen a battle. Their efforts paid off in the opening minute, as Ozawa failed to get a clean look. On the other end, both teams struggled to find rhythm early until an overcommitted SHINAGAWA rebound gave Tomoyuki Kato an open look, breaking the deadlock 45 seconds in. SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE took even longer to respond, with Ozawa finally turning a corner and using a burst of speed to get to the rim for his first score.
With both teams now on the board, the pace lifted. Kato and Dušan Samardžić traded two-pointers in a high-energy exchange, and even Stephen Hurt, normally a post threat, stepped outside to drain one of his only deep balls of the tournament, giving SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE a 7–4 lead. SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE’s physical defence and interior presence continued to give them the edge, and despite efforts from Ryoma Saito and Tomoya Ochiai, the scoreboard showed a 14–8 advantage to SHONAN with three minutes to play.
But SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE had been in this situation before, and they weren’t done yet. A classic high screen from Ochiai freed Ozawa, who launched an off-balance two while falling away. Splash. On the next play, Ozawa turned facilitator, working the pick-and-roll with Samardžić, who found Ochiai for an easy layup. The gap narrowed, and SHONAN’s control began to slip.
Yves Niyokwizera briefly restored breathing room for SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE, but missed free throws from Stephen Hurt and then a split trip at the line from Niyokwizera left the door open. Ozawa, relentless as ever, fought through heavy traffic to get three looks on the next possession, burying the third and pulling the score to within two. With SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE scrambling, Iwata’s rushed shot rimmed out and Ochiai collected the rebound, drawing a foul in the process. He stepped to the line and calmly hit both to tie the game at 16–16.
The final 30 seconds were chaos. A strong Hurt screen set up a short-range score to give SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE the lead once more, only for Ozawa to drill a two from the wing and flip the scoreboard 18–17 in SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE’s favour. Hurt answered immediately, bullying his way inside to tie the game again with just 10 seconds left. As the seconds ticked down, the ball found Ozawa in the corner. He rose, released—and hit front iron. Overtime.
Samardžić struck first in OT, blowing by his defender for a layup. On the next play, Saito came off a screen looking for a game-winner, but the SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE defence smothered him. Ozawa cleaned up the rebound, kicked it ahead, and watched as Samardžić attacked once again, drawing all the defenders. With SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE collapsed inside, the ball zipped out to Ozawa at the arc. Wide open. No hesitation. Game over.
With that two-pointer, SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE locked in their second consecutive finals appearance and handed SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE yet another heartbreaker—this time in overtime.
SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE (21) Def SHONAN SEASIDE.EXE (18)
Semi Final 2
EPIC.EXE Ends ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE’s Perfect Run in Semi-Final Stunner
The second semi-final of Round 3 brought a classic narrative clash, unbeaten juggernauts ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE taking on the tournament’s rising underdogs, EPIC.EXE. While all eyes were on whether ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE could continue their perfect run, EPIC.EXE had other plans, bringing energy, resilience, and just enough chaos to flip the script.
It didn’t take long for EPIC.EXE to make their presence felt. On the first possession, Julio Claver De Assis Afonso lobbed a perfect pass to Atsushi Isshiki for a quick score. ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE answered immediately, with Ryochi Dewa finding Makoto Fujine for a clean finish inside. De Assis Afonso then showed flashes of brilliance, first hitting a one-footed jumper, then following it with a powerful two-handed flush to keep EPIC on the front foot.
While ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE worked the interior with Jevonnie Scott and Fujine, it was Dai Shinada who broke the paint-only rhythm with the first two-pointer of the game, putting ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE ahead 6–3. Isshiki responded with a strong And-1, and the tempo rose quickly. For the next several minutes, both teams traded buckets, neither allowing the other to pull away.
The first real gap came when Shinada drained another deep two and EPIC.EXE failed to respond. On the next possession, Scott handed off to Fujine, who was fouled shooting from beyond the arc. Fujine converted both free throws, extending the lead to 13–9. A hard fall from Tatsuki Kishikawa earned EPIC some free throws of their own, but after a slick reverse finish from Shinada and a costly illegal screen, ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE looked in control at 17–14 with just three minutes to play.
EPIC.EXE called timeout, and it changed everything.
Out of the break, Scott cleaned up his own miss and spun in a highlight-reel finish that extended the lead again. But De Assis Afonso answered immediately with a quick layup, and Kishikawa followed with a huge two-pointer that reignited EPIC.EXE’s chances. With 90 seconds to go, the score tightened. Scott responded yet again, weaving through two defenders to put ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE ahead 19–17.
Then, the game turned. A misfired lob pass led to a scramble for the ball, during which Scott took an accidental hit to the face and dropped to the floor. With no whistle and play continuing, De Assis Afonso scored a layup as Scott was tended to, cutting the deficit to one. The final minute unfolded in desperation and heart. Kazuki Shigemoto tipped a rebound out to Kishikawa, who returned the pass instantly for the tying bucket. 19-all.
With Scott still sidelined, ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE struggled to find structure on their next possession. An off-target shot gave EPIC the ball back. Kishikawa launched from deep but missed. De Assis Afonso soared in for the rebound, missed the reverse, but corralled the board once more and finished, giving EPIC.EXE a 20–19 lead with just 15 seconds left.
Without their leader, ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE’s final play lacked cohesion. The ball fell to Dewa, who was forced into a deep heave under pressure. It fell short. With that, EPIC.EXE completed the upset and handed ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE their first loss of the season and booking a historic ticket to the final.
EPIC.EXE (20) Def ZETHREE ISHIKAWA.EXE (19)
Grand Final
Ozawa’s Buzzer-Beater Too Late as Kishikawa’s efforts rewarded. EPIC.EXE Win Instant Classic
The final of Round 3 was built for drama. SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE, returning for their second consecutive championship game, had been lethal all weekend with seamless ball movement and the elite scoring of Ryo Ozawa. Their opponent, EPIC.EXE, had played the role of underdog to perfection, riding the physical presence of Julio Claver De Assis Afonso and the dynamic shooting of Tatsuki Kishikawa to their first final of the 2025 3x3.EXE Premier Japan season. It was a matchup between a proven powerhouse and a team writing the newest chapter of their story.
From the start, it was clear no moment would come easy. Ozawa, guarded tightly from the jump, managed to draw a foul from beyond the arc on the first possession, an early warning of his threat level. He calmly knocked down the first free throw to open the scoring. De Assis Afonso responded on the very next trip, using his strength inside to equalise and set the tone for EPIC.EXE.
The opening minutes were a rapid-fire shootout. Atsushi Isshiki drilled a long two, but Ozawa answered instantly. With both teams trading baskets and not giving an inch, it was locked at 6–6 after four minutes. Another long ball from Isshiki and a Samardžić free throw nudged EPIC.EXE ahead 8–7. But then came the first true momentum shift.
Kishikawa banked in a midrange shot, De Assis Afonso added a layup, then hit from outside, all unanswered. That 4–0 burst gave EPIC.EXE a 12–7 lead and put pressure back on SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE. But if we’ve learned anything this season, it’s that no lead is safe in 3x3. Tomoya Ochiai muscled in a key basket, and then Ozawa, finally finding daylight, buried back-to-back twos to narrow the gap.
At 14–13 with just under three minutes to go, the game tilted back toward its final, frantic gear. De Assis Afonso forced his way to the rim again, and Kishikawa created one of the game’s biggest highlights, stepping back over two defenders and nailing a deep two that left fans stunned. Still, Ozawa wasn’t done. With defenders draped all over him, he hit another two and shared a quick smile with Kishikawa in mutual respect, a rare but fitting pause between duelling stars.
The scoreboard see-sawed again. A couple of clutch free throws from Kishikawa gave EPIC.EXE some breathing room, only for Ozawa to return fire with a perfectly timed pick-and-pop two that brought the crowd to its feet. Then, Kishikawa dialled up what might have been the deepest shot of the round, launching from beyond the arc and hitting nothing but net to push EPIC.EXE to the brink of glory.
Ozawa scored a quick layup and, after drawing a foul near the top, had a chance to tie the game with two free throws. He hit the first. The second, though, clipped the front of the rim and bounced short, rebounded by Isshiki in what might be the biggest board of his season. With 15 seconds remaining, SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE didn’t foul but needed a stop. De Assis Afonso was forced into a rushed shot at the shot. Missed.
One final chance. Ozawa got the ball. He rose, released, NOTHING BUT NET. The crowd roared… but the clock had already hit 0. The basket correctly waved off.
EPIC.EXE completed the upset. Final score: 20–19. A debut championship. A dream run. A game that reminded everyone why 3x3 is one of the most electrifying formats in basketball.
EPIC.EXE (20) Def SHINAGAWA CITY.EXE (19)
MVP
Tatsuki Kishikawa (EPIC.EXE) – 8.8 PPG | 54% FG%
Capping off a sensational weekend, Tatsuki Kishikawa was named MVP of Round 3 after a string of clutch performances and highlight-reel moments. Whether it was burying deep twos under pressure, stepping up when his team needed him most, or showing fearless shot-making down the stretch, Kishikawa was at the heart of EPIC.EXE’s title run. He finished the round as one of the league’s top five scorers, averaging 8.8 points per game on an efficient 41% from beyond the arc and 54% overall shooting from the field. A breakout campaign just became a statement.
Written by Andrew Cannings
