Hawks Snatch Victory in Tokyo! Ortega's Late Three Seals 98-96 Thriller
Milan's Clutch Shooting Propels Them Past Samurai in Nail-Biter
By Alex Thompson
TOKYO – The Milan Hawks staged a dramatic comeback, fueled by clutch shooting and a relentless rebounding effort, to defeat the Tokyo Samurai 98-96 in a thrilling World Pro League encounter. The Hawks erased a late deficit, with Elara Ortega’s ice-cold three-pointer in the final minute proving to be the decisive blow.
The Samurai, spurred on by a raucous home crowd, looked poised to secure a crucial victory. Rhys Caldwell was sensational for Tokyo, pouring in a game-high 36 points. He carried the offensive load for much of the contest, hitting big shots to keep the Hawks at bay.
Milan, however, refused to fold. Elara Ortega was instrumental in the fourth-quarter surge, finishing with 19 points and three assists. She traded blows with Caldwell down the stretch, but her ability to hit from deep at critical moments made the difference. Leo Braun added 18 points and Gabriel Rossi controlled the boards with 10 rebounds and 4 assists, showcasing the Hawks’ balanced attack.
The game remained tight throughout, with neither team able to establish a significant lead. Tokyo’s ball movement was sharp, registering 20 assists against just 5 turnovers, but Milan’s superior rebounding (54-40 advantage) gave them crucial second-chance opportunities. Caldwell’s scoring prowess kept Tokyo ahead for large stretches, but the Hawks’ resilience, epitomized by Ortega’s late heroics, ultimately prevailed.
“We knew it was going to be a dogfight,” said Hawks coach Isabella Rossi after the game. “Tokyo is a tough team at home, but our players dug deep. Elara stepped up when we needed her most.”
Rhys Caldwell, despite the loss, remained optimistic. “We played hard, and we gave it everything,” he stated. “We’ll learn from this and come back stronger.”
Key Notes:
- Rhys Caldwell led all scorers with 36 points.
- Milan Hawks outrebounded the Tokyo Samurai 54-40.
- Elara Ortega hit the game-winning three-pointer in the final minute.
- Gabriel Rossi and Kwame Nkosi were dominant on the glass for the Hawks with 10 rebounds each.