Suntory set up a semifinal showcase with defending champion Kobe Steel in the National Company Rugby Union Championship after beating Kintetsu 45-20 on Monday at Tokyo's Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium.

In the day's other quarterfinal, NEC downed World 36-14 at Osaka's Hanazono Stadium. NEC will play against Toyota at Chichibunomiya while the Suntory-Kobe game will be staged at Hanazono, both on Jan. 14.

Kintetsu started the game well with center Kagehiro Iizumi's 2nd-minute try and went on to take a 10-5 lead early in the first half.

But Suntory, using Fijian center Alfred Uluinayau's powerful and speed well, soon tied the score when winger Tadahiro Nishio scored a try after receiving a pass from Uluinayau, who had broken away for some 50 meters on the right flank.

Scrum-half Yoji Nagatomo made his first conversion out of five on the day, helping Suntory take the upper hand.

The East Japan League champion scored three more tries -- from Nagatomo, Uluinayau and fullback Takashi Yoshida -- and two conversions to widen the lead to 31-10 shortly after the break.

Kintetsu cut the deficit with center Kazuya Kayamoto's 50th-minute try.

The Kansai League fourth-place finisher attacked hard to come close to scoring but failed to shake off Suntory's tackles and go across the line.

Suntory added two tries, from winger Junichi Hojo, his second of the day, and flanker Hayden Scown, by halfway through the second half for a 45-15 lead.

Suntory will look for revenge against Kobe, which destroyed the East Japan League team 73-17 in last year's first round-robin game.

Suntory head coach Masato Tsuchida said, "I'm looking forward to showing a change in the team that lost in a 70-point game. We'll give Kobe a good challenge."