Japan Energy rallied behind 18 second-half points from center Noriko Hamaguchi on Sunday to defeat archrival Chanson 68-64 in the final of the women's national basketball championship tournament.
Hamaguchi led all scorers with 25 points in the final at Yoyogi national gymnasium annex in Tokyo as Japan Energy came back from a 38-29 deficit to avenge its loss to Chanson in last year's championship and win its 10th overall crown. Hamaguchi, who had been held to just seven points in the first half, dueled mightily with rival Mutsuko Nagata throughout the final but caught a break when the Chanson center ran into foul trouble with 10 minutes remaining in the game.
Nagata, who was more cautious after her fourth foul, still finished the game with a team-high 22 points and 11 rebounds.