Matthew Aquino's Shinshu Brave Warriors exit Emperor's Cup after loss to Ryukyu

Matthew Aquino and his Shinshu Brave Warriors have been knocked out of the  97th Emperor's Cup.

The Brave Warriors fell to the Ryukyu Golden Kings, 91-67, in their quarterfinal meeting at the Okinawa Arena on Wednesday as the foul-plagued Filipino cager hardly made his presence felt in the loss.

Aquino, who is suiting up as a Japanese local, started the game for Shinshu but only managed to rack up two points, three rebounds, and a steal before he fouled out after playing for 18 minutes and 45 seconds.

Josh Hawkinson provided the charge for the Brave Warriors with 17 markers, three dimes, and two boards

Former Meralco import Allen Durham carried the load for Ryukyu after pouring in 16 points, five rebounds, and four assists while Dwayne Evans chipped in 11 markers, three assists, and two boards in just 19 minutes of action.

Prior to the quarterfinal match, Shinshu edged the Seahorses Mikawa in the fourth round to set up a meeting with Ryukyu, which they were supposed to face last January 5 but the game was postponed due to COVID-19 protocols.

Ryukyu will slug it out with Chiba Jets in the semifinal phase while duking it out in the other bracket will be the Utsunomiya Brex and the Kawasaki Brave Thunders.

—JMB, GMA News