Pro basketball's growth in Japan is not occurring as rapidly as the J. League's ascent to prominence, but that doesn't mean that regional rivalries are not creating growing interest for basketball.
Case in point: The Shiga Lakestars vs. Kyoto Hannaryz, rivals since 2009, provide a heated contest whenever the teams suit up against one another.
The Kansai rivals entered Saturday's game with a combined two playoff games in their brief history, but added a new chapter to their fierce rivalry in Game 1 of the bj-league's Western Conference playoff series.