The Utsunomiya Brex win their third B.LEAGUE title, becoming the league’s most successful team. A Game 3 win over Ryukyu sealed the historic season.

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The Utsunomiya Brex have captured the 2024-25 B.LEAGUE championship, defeating the Ryukyu Golden Kings in a thrilling best-of-three Finals series. It’s the Brex’s third B.LEAGUE title, making them the league’s all-time winningest franchise and breaking their tie with Alvark Tokyo.

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Utsunomiya’s campaign was dominant from start to finish. The team entered the playoffs as the No. 1 overall seed with a 48-12 record, swept Mikawa in the first round, and edged past Chiba in a three-game semifinal to set up a Finals clash with Ryukyu — making its fourth consecutive Finals appearance.

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In front of three straight sold-out crowds at Yokohama Arena, Utsunomiya claimed Games 1 and 3 to seal the title. After a convincing 81-68 win in Game 1, the Brex suffered a late collapse in Game 2, falling 87-75 and setting the stage for a winner-take-all Game 3.

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Ryukyu came out firing, taking a 40-28 halftime lead. But Utsunomiya responded in the third, holding the Golden Kings to just 11 points and clawing back into the game. The Brex exploded for 29 points in the fourth, with DJ Newbill and Makoto Hiejima delivering in the clutch.

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Trailing 66-64 with just over a minute left, Newbill — a top contender for back-to-back league MVP honors — buried a pull-up three to give Utsunomiya its first lead since the opening quarter. After Ryukyu briefly retook the lead, Hiejima responded with a dagger three with 33 seconds left to make it 70-68. The Brex held on for a dramatic 73-71 victory.

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Newbill finished with 19 points, five assists and three rebounds to earn Finals MVP honors.

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Now crowned champions of Japan, Utsunomiya will return to EASL competition in 2025-26, joining Ryukyu — back for a third straight season — and Alvark Tokyo to represent the B.LEAGUE in the battle to become champions of Asia.