Six games into their second season, the Ryukyu Golden Kings are one of the biggest success stories in the bj-league.
First-year head coach Dai Oketani, a former Oita HeatDevils coach, has done a strong job turning the team around after a 10-34 season as an expansion club. Oketani replaced Hernando Planells after the 2007-08 season.
Ryukyu (6-0) puts its new reputation as a playoff contender on the line on Saturday when it takes on the Takamatsu Five Arrows (5-1) in the first of a two-game set in Shikoku.