San-en NeoPhoenix traveled to Ibaraki on September 25, 2026, and walked away with a 90-82 win over the Ibaraki Robots. In a game that stayed close through three quarters, the NeoPhoenix pulled away in the final period thanks to sharper shot selection, a rebounding edge, and a defensive adjustment that took away Ibaraki's preferred pick-and-roll actions late in the game.

Match Overview

Ibaraki came out with intent, playing fast and using their home crowd to fuel an aggressive start. The Robots pushed the tempo, attacked the offensive glass, and generated early points in transition. San-en absorbed the initial pressure, settled into their half-court offense, and gradually leveled the contest by the end of the first quarter.

From there, the game became a tactical chess match. Ibaraki wanted pace and chaos; San-en wanted control and execution. The scoreboard reflected that tension, with both teams trading leads and neither able to create meaningful separation. The teams entered the halftime break nearly level, and the third quarter followed the same rhythm — until San-en found another gear.

Key Moments

• Fourth-quarter run: San-en opened the final period with a decisive scoring stretch that pushed the lead into double digits and forced Ibaraki to chase.
• Perimeter efficiency: The NeoPhoenix shot a strong percentage from beyond the arc in the second half, punishing Ibaraki's help defense.
• Free-throw conversion: San-en closed the game out cleanly at the line, denying Ibaraki any chance at a comeback.
• Rebounding: The NeoPhoenix controlled the defensive glass in the fourth, ending Ibaraki's second-chance opportunities.

Tactical Story

The defining adjustment came on the defensive end. San-en began switching more aggressively on Ibaraki's ball screens, refusing to give up easy downhill drives and forcing the Robots' ball-handlers into contested pull-up jumpers. Ibaraki's offense, which had flowed nicely through the first three quarters, stalled as a result. With the paint closed and the perimeter contested, the Robots' possessions became longer and less productive.

Offensively, San-en leaned on ball movement and extra passes. Their guards repeatedly drove into the lane and kicked out to shooters, generating open looks that Ibaraki's rotations could not reach in time. That combination of inside-out offense and disciplined late-game defense is exactly the formula that wins road games in the B1 League.

Standout Performers and Season Impact

San-en's guard play was the engine of the victory, with their primary ball-handlers controlling tempo, drawing fouls, and finding shooters in rhythm. The NeoPhoenix frontcourt contributed on the boards and finished efficiently around the rim, ensuring the team's perimeter success was not wasted.

Ibaraki, for their part, showed flashes of the fast, aggressive identity they want to play with. Their transition attack generated easy points, and their guards competed on both ends. The issue was execution against a set defense in the closing stretch — a common early-season problem that coaching staffs address through film work and late-game repetitions.

With the win, San-en NeoPhoenix add an important road result to their record and reinforce their credentials as a team capable of winning tight games. For Ibaraki Robots, the 82-90 loss is a frustrating but instructive night: plenty of positives, and a clear list of things to fix before the next tip-off.