DUBAI (United Arab Emirates) - DJ Newbill showed nerves of steel in the endgame to lift Utsunomiya past Tabiat in double overtime, 94-93, to reach the BCL Asia 2025 Semi-Finals at the Coca-Cola Arena, Wednesday.
The seasoned combo guard finished with a game-high 29 points mainly behind a quintet of three-pointers, none bigger than his last one which he launched from deep to wipe out a 91-93 deficit with 17.4 seconds left.
Ivan Buva tried to save the FIBA WASL runners-up but his hook shot went in and out, and a botched attempt by Arman Zangeneh to clean it up all but sealed the deal for the 2024-25 B.League champions.
Newbill also collected 6 rebounds and 10 assists in an all-around effort to lead his side to the penultimate phase, where they will face the winner between the Meralco Bolts and the Ulaanbaatar Xac Broncos.
"DJ's come up big for us time and time again throughout this season," lauded head coach Zico Coronel of the 33-year-old, who actually struggled to shoot from the field with an 11-of-28 clip but still came up big.
"But one of the things I also appreciate is having a superstar player who's so coachable, such a good teammate. What culture we have, he really helps to enhance it. We're very fortunate in that regard," he added.
Makoto Hiejima came through with 18 points and 8 rebounds plus 4 assists as the seasoned marksman not only provided reliable shooting but also led by example in collecting missed shots and 50-50 balls.
Finn Delany made 15 points before fouling out with 23.1 seconds left in the first OT. Big man Isaac Fotu, meanwhile, was just a rebound shy of notching a double-double of his own as he tallied 11 points and 9 rebounds.
Behind their well-spread attack, Utsunomiya have also extended a streak for the country as the result marked the third consecutive time that a Japanese ball club has beaten a team from Iran in this competition.
The last time it happened was in the BCL Asia just last year held in the 'City of Gold' as well, which saw the Hiroshima Dragonflies take down Shahrdary Gorgan to bring home the bronze medal.
Tabiat were led by Buva with 27 points and 15 rebounds in the loss. Sina Vahedi made 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists but the star guard fouled out of the match with 32.3 seconds remaining in the game.
Also wasted by the heartbreaking defeat was the huge performance of Arman Zangeneh, who finished with a solid double-double of 15 points and 17 rebounds, and laced as much with 7 assists and a block.
Zangeneh himself was responsible in sending the game beyond 40 minutes, scoring through a foul on Hiejima from point-blank range to tie the game up at 76-all with 18.1 seconds remaining in regulation.
It was also him who delivered a crucial assist for Tabiat entering the game's final minute when he dished it out to Rasoul Mozafari in the corner for a triple that gave the Iran Basketball League outfit the lead, 93-91.
But then, Newbill happened, and that proved to be the beginning of the end for Coach Mehran Shahintab's wards as they couldn't come up with a response in the closing seconds, eventually bowing out of the meet.
FIBA