SENDAI — The Sendai 89ers have racked up 16 victories in their first 20 games. It's an impressive start, but the team faces a string of contests against the Western Conference heavyweights in the weeks to come.
The challenge starts Saturday when the 89ers play a pair of road games against the Takamatsu Five Arrows (13-7), who reached the bj-league's title game as an expansion team last season.
The 89ers, winners of six straight games, have yet to face the Osaka Evessa, the Five Arrows or the Oita HeatDevils, all playoff teams in 2006-07, this season.