Everyone expected the Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix to reach the Final Four.
That's what happens when a team goes 41-11 in the regular season, and coach Kazuo Nakamura's squad is built to win a championship — right now.
Blessed with an alluring mix of athleticism and talent, youth and experienced veterans, the Phoenix have all the ingredients to win the team's first title on Sunday at Ariake Colosseum.