2025 PIT Championship Game

By Abigal Weiss

PORTSMOUTH, Va:– Jani-King was named the 2025 Portsmouth Invitational Champions for the second straight season in what has been the most anticipated match-up against K&D Rounds Landscaping for a final score of 98-92. New Mexico center Nelly Junior Joseph was crowned Championship MVP with 24 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and shot a whopping 11-13 from the field.

How it Happened

Jani-King set an early tone, knocking down two three pointers off quick hitters as both teams exchanged buckets in multiple possessions with high efficiency and fast tempo.

The Jani-King guards managed to feed Joseph in the post, assisting him on a 6-0 run alone in the first quarter.

K&D Rounds forced two turnovers from Jani-King which translated into a 4-0 run. Jaden Atkins added onto the K&D Rounds momentum showcasing his craft to the cup for a spin move finish. Jani-King responded with three consecutive three pointers from Steven Ashworth, Chris Youngblood, and Igor Milicic Jr.

Consecutive forced turnovers translating into fast break points put K&D Rounds at a five-point advantage in the second quarter. Jani-King responded with a memorable defensive possession featuring a pair of blocks from Gabe Madsen and Nelly Junior Joseph, which send the ball to the opposite end translating into a monstruous dunk from Thomas to shift the momentum in favor of Jani-King.

Jani-King took a 54-48 advantage heading into the second half.

K&R Rounds’ Zack Freemantle put his team on his back after eclipsing 12 points alone in the first half. He opened the third quarter knocking down a three at the top of the key. Chase Hunter sparked a scoring run with a midrange pull up down the lane, causing Jani King to alter their defensive scheme. Hunter and Freemantle put the K&D Rounds on an 11-0 run to take the first lead of the half. Johnathen Pierre contributed an and one in the paint to pull a five-point lead mid third quarter.

Momentum maintained for K&D Rounds while Jaden Akins put the defense in a blender, using his combo moved to a step back midrange pull to get himself active in the third. Jonas Adio contributed with two floaters in the paint to keep the K&D Rounds at an advantage.

In a tight knit fourth quarter, Sean Pedulla blew by Steven Ashworth for a finger roll finish at the rack. Steven Ashworth responded drawing contact from Pedulla in the next possession to work his way to the line, piecing Jani-King back within a two-possession differentiation. Mbeng closed the quarter on the receiving end of an alley-oop off a Nolan Hickman assist, to close the third quarter off trailing 74-72 to K&D Rounds.

With an 81-point tie in the fourth quarter, Ashworth and Mbeng knocked down back-to-back threes off the post kick out to bring Jani-King back in the lead by six.

With two minutes left in the game, Jani-King had a 91-86 advantage. Pedulla banked a mid- range off a snatch back to bring a one possession game. Ashworth drew a three-point foul at the 24 second shot clock buzzer to work his way to the line yet again, hitting all three free-throws. He shot a perfect 7-7 from the free-throw line, five of which were made in the final stretch of the fourth quarter. After continuous trips to the line down the wire, Jani-King’s insurmountable lead resulted in a 98-92 championship victory.

Inside the Numbers

Jani-King

Nelly Junior Joseph and Steven Ashworth led all players with 24 points apiece. Ashworth set a season high eight assists and shot a perfect 7 of 7 from free-throw line and five threes, while Joseph was one rebound shy of a double double shooting 84.6 percent from the field.

Chris Youngblood finished with 14 points and two steals. Gabe Madsen chipped in with ten points with four field goals made. Curtis Jones tallied eight points, three rebounds and three assists. Bez Mbeng and Igpr Milicic Jr. contributed seven points apiece as Mbeng led the team with five assists and grabbed six boards. Saint Thomas added four points, three assists and a block.

K&D Rounds

Zach Freemantle finished with 23 points shooting 11 of 14 from the field, six rebounds and a team high four steals. Sean Pedulla tied as the team’s second leading scorer, with 15 points, seven assists, and six rebounds. Jaden Akins matched with 15 points with a 50 percent field goal efficiency (7-14).

Johnathen Pierre finished with 13 points off 4 of 9 shooting and went a perfect 4-4 from the free- throw line. Hunter Chase was prominent on the defensive end with a team high in with seven rebounds and five steals combined with 12 points. Jonas Adio added 11 points and five boards.

Championship MVP

New Mexico center Nelly Junior Joseph was the recipient of the 2025 Portsmouth Invitational Championship MVP award after a stellar performance to lead Jani King to become reigning champions. Joseph was a standout performer throughout the P.I.T. as an offensive spark for the team. Through upholding a 3-0 record, Joseph was the team’s leading rebounder in all games, while leading in scoring throughout two out of three games played. Joseph was a standout through his ability to own the paint and clean the glass on both ends of the floor. The connection that he had with his guards inclined the offense to be run through him, due to his post playmaking abilities and completion of plays. Receiving the ball off alley-oops and lob passes was his bread and butter. He also demonstrated high IQ when it came to screen and roll play as he was instinctive about spacing, placement and positioning. He was able to differentiate scenarios knowing when to short roll, locate guards around the perimeter for a kick out, rescreen and slipping the screens. Alongside, he was effective in horns action, with the ability to face up around the perimeter where he racked up assists off the dribble handoff. He was also instinctive in back door reads when the ball was on the weakside within horns sets. Joseph demonstrated an arsenal within his finishing packages, utilizing the hook shot, drop step and fake spins. His ability to get up and down the floor fast tempo allowed him to be an effective scorer in transition. In regard to transition defense, Joseph was able to contain 1-5, stopping guards in transition in addition to being an active shot blocker.

Jani King Coaching Staff

P.I.T. coaches Mike Holland and Roland Ross collaborated with Toccara Ross as part of the NBA Coaching Development Program. This season’s coaching staff lead team Jani-King to championship victory after going undefeated in the P.I.T. with a 3-0 record. Iowa State alumni and former 15-year pro Toccara Ross made her P.I.T. debut with a group of eight NBA prospects from mid major and power four conferences. The collaborative coaching philosophies became the nucleus to the success of Jani-King, embodying the value of player led principles. Ross voiced the importance of trusting the expertise and input of her players. The coaching staff gave the keys to point guards Steven Ashworth and Bez Mbeng, and in instances allowed them to step in and formulate plays in designated scenarios. In live game, Ross coached all forty minutes, even in the instance of a 30+ point advantage in a game one victory against Mike Duman (111-79). The staff harped on the players ability to space the floor and keep the ball moving while having the guys be intentional about shot selections within the flow of the offense; eliminating any offensive buffers. The coaches. strategized towards maintaining a balanced attack, running sets to catered to the player’s personnel through horns variations, zipper action and double staggered plays. In the championship game, Ross wanted the team to early disrupt the K&D Rounds guards through enforcing the application of full court ball pressure, prohibiting the opponents from getting into a set offense. With high octane and excitement for her players execution, her praise of the teams’ offensive execution was short lived due to her fixation with the next defensive play and enforcement of getting a stop, which was a phrase often repeated from Ross, “get a stop”.