Kobe Storks edged Nagasaki Velca 90-87 in a tense B1 League matchup on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 13:05, surviving a late flurry at Kobe Port Arena. The Storks led for much of the afternoon but needed composed free-throw shooting in the final minute to close out a game that remained in doubt until the final possession.

Match overview

Nagasaki started the brighter of the two sides, using sharp perimeter shooting to take a 24-21 lead after the first quarter. Kobe responded with a stronger second period, moving the ball inside-out and getting to the foul line to lead 46-44 at halftime. The game stayed tight through the third quarter, with neither team able to build a lead larger than seven points.

• First quarter: Nagasaki 24-21
• Second quarter: Kobe 25-20
• Third quarter: Nagasaki 22-20
• Fourth quarter: Kobe 24-21

Kobe’s late execution proved decisive. The Storks scored on four of their final five possessions and forced Nagasaki into a difficult contested three on the game’s last meaningful shot.

Key moments

With the score tied at 84-84 and just over two minutes remaining, Kobe’s half-court offense produced a well-designed pick-and-roll that ended in a layup plus a foul. The Storks then got a critical defensive stop, and their veteran guard knocked down two free throws to make it a five-point game. Nagasaki cut the lead to three with a deep three, but Kobe iced the game at the line and denied the Velca a clean look at a tying attempt.

Tactical story

Kobe’s offense was at its best when the ball touched the paint. The Storks generated open corner threes and offensive rebounds by drawing help defenders, and their patience in the fourth quarter contrasted with Nagasaki’s tendency to settle for early shot-clock threes. Defensively, Kobe switched aggressively on screens and forced Nagasaki’s primary ball-handlers into contested pull-ups. Nagasaki’s rebounding kept them in the game, but their half-court execution faltered in the final two minutes.

Standout players

Kobe guard Daiki Tanaka finished with 25 points and five assists, controlling the tempo down the stretch. Forward Jordan Hamilton added 20 points and eight rebounds, giving the Storks a reliable inside-outside threat. Nagasaki’s Jalen Ross led all scorers with 28 points, while Yuto Morita contributed 16 points and several important defensive plays, but the Velca could not convert their final possession.

Season impact

The win gives Kobe a valuable early-season result against a direct B1 League competitor and adds weight to their home record. Nagasaki leaves with a narrow defeat but will take encouragement from a road performance that went to the wire. The head-to-head advantage now sits with Kobe, which could matter when the standings are reviewed later in the campaign.