The bj-league's shortest player, Kohei Aoki, of the Tokyo Apache, was selected as the Circle K Sunkus Player of the Week, the league announced Tuesday.
Aoki, a swift, 167-cm guard, scored 17 and nine points, respectively, to help the Joe Bryant-coached Apache defeat the Niigata Albirex BB in consecutive games on Saturday and Sunday.
The 26-year-old Aoki also recorded seven rebounds and five steals in Tokyo's 78-69 win on Saturday.
In other league news, the Toyama Grouses released Shuji Takei on Monday. Takei totaled 22 points, eight rebounds and two steals in 13 games this season.