Takaki Kida Looks to Finish Strong with Akita as B.League Playoffs Loom

CHIBA, Japan — With six games remaining in the B.League regular season, including two crucial home fixtures, Altiri Chiba guard Takaki Kida says his focus remains simple: enjoy the game and finish strong alongside longtime teammate Yūdo. Speaking after Chiba’s recent road loss to Akita Northern Happinets, Kida emphasized that the essence of basketball — enjoying the competition — should guide the team through the final stretch.

“It’s basically synonymous with ‘enjoying basketball,’ isn’t it?” Kida said in Japanese, as reported by the team’s official channels. “I want to enjoy the time with Yūdo and finish with a win.”

The comment comes as Altiri Chiba sits in a tight playoff race in the B.League’s Eastern Conference. With six games left — two at home against Ibaraki Robots and Kawasaki Brave Thunders, and four on the road — every game carries heightened significance for seeding and home-court advantage in the postseason.

According to the official B.League standings verified through the league’s website, Altiri Chiba currently holds the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference with a 24-20 record, just half a game behind the 7th-seeded Sendai 89ers and one game ahead of the 9th-seeded Yokohama Excellence. The top six teams in each conference automatically qualify for the playoffs, while teams ranked 7th through 10th enter a play-in tournament for the final two spots.

Kida, a veteran guard in his eighth season with Chiba, has been a steady presence in the backcourt, averaging 8.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game this season, per the B.League’s official stats portal. His three-point shooting has improved to 36.8%, up from 32.1% last season, providing valuable spacing for Chiba’s offense alongside Yūdo, who averages 14.2 points and 5.1 assists.

The duo’s chemistry has been a hallmark of Chiba’s roster continuity. Yūdo, entering his sixth season with the club, has played alongside Kida in over 200 regular-season games since joining the team in 2019. Their familiarity allows for quick decision-making in pick-and-roll situations and effective communication on defensive rotations, according to game logs reviewed by Archysport.

“We’ve been through ups and downs together,” Kida added. “This isn’t just about stats — it’s about trusting each other when the game slows down.”

Altiri Chiba’s upcoming schedule presents a mix of winnable games and tough tests. The team hosts the Ibaraki Robots on April 5 and the Kawasaki Brave Thunders on April 12, both at Chiba Port Arena. Road games include matchups against the league-leading Utsunomiya Brex, the third-seeded San-en NeoPhoenix, and a rematch with Akita Northern Happinets on April 19.

The Akita rematch will be particularly meaningful. In their first meeting on March 22, Chiba fell 89-83 despite Kida scoring 14 points and dishing out 5 assists. Akita, currently 4th in the East with a 28-16 record, relies on the scoring of import guard Jordan Theodore and the interior presence of Japanese national team player Ryuto Yasuhara.

Chiba’s head coach, Kenichi Sako, has emphasized defensive discipline in recent practices. “We need to limit second-chance points and improve our transition defense,” Sako said in a press conference on March 28. “If we do that, we deliver ourselves a chance in every game.”

The B.League regular season concludes on April 26, with the playoffs beginning April 29. Teams are competing not only for playoff positioning but similarly for favorable matchups — avoiding the top-seeded Utsunomiya Brex in the first round remains a priority for several clubs in the East.

For Kida, the final games represent more than just a push for postseason berths. They’re an opportunity to savor the journey with a teammate who has shared countless practices, road trips, and locker-room moments over nearly half a decade.

“Basketball is tough,” Kida said. “But when you’re out there with guys you trust, enjoying the battle — that’s what makes it worth it.”

Altiri Chiba’s next game is against the Ibaraki Robots on April 5 at Chiba Port Arena, tip-off scheduled for 2:05 p.m. JST (05:05 UTC). Fans can follow live updates through the B.League’s official website and app.

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