Eight teams remain in the hunt for the bj-league's sixth title, including the three-time champion Osaka Evessa and the Ryukyu Golden Kings and Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix, both of whom have one title apiece.
The Phoenix (40-6) enter the postseason as the defending champion and the Eastern Conference's undisputed top team until proven otherwise. Coach Kazuo Nakamura's club plays host to the Toyama Grouses (13-31) this weekend in the East's semifinal round.
The other series pits the Niigata Albirex BB (20-20) against the visiting Akita Northern Happinets (18-32).