Nagasaki Velca secured its first Japanese basketball championship on Tuesday, edging the Ryukyu Golden Kings 72‑64 in Game 3 of the B‑League finals. The victory capped a dominant season for the Nagasaki side, which finished the regular campaign with a 47‑13 record.
Lee Hyun Jung was the offensive catalyst, delivering a game‑high 23 points while logging a career‑high 38 minutes on the court. The forward stepped up when star wing Yudai Baba encountered foul trouble, and he later praised the collective belief within the squad.
Key moments in the final
The match swung early in Nagasaki’s favor, with the team leading 36‑23 at halftime. Ryukyu rallied after the break, trimming the deficit to 59‑56 with 6:25 remaining, but Velca’s composure held the line.
The series was extended by Velca’s win in Game 2 after the Golden Kings had opened the finals with a victory. Coach Dai Oketani’s Ryukyu side had been contesting their fifth straight finals, making the showdown a clash of experience and youthful ambition.
Nagasaki Velca, founded in 2020, had been chasing its inaugural title since a dominant regular‑season run. The championship marks a rapid ascent for a club that entered the league just three years ago.