The Osaka Evessa booked a spot in the bj-league championship game for a third consecutive season, routing the upstart Rizing Fukuoka 100-73 in Saturday's first semifinal game at Ariake Colosseum.
Point guard Matt Lottich, one of the cornerstones of the two-time champions' success, had the hot hand early. He scored 21 first half-points and finished with a game-high 30 on 11-of-16 shooting, including five 3-pointers.
"I was trying to feed off my teammates," Lottich said later. "I had a lot of open looks" due to Fukuoka's zone defense.