Superior teamwork and execution carried the Ryukyu Golden Kings to the Western Conference title and the best regular-season record (39-13) among the bj-league's 19 teams.
No easy feat.
And now, after a 79-74 triumph over the Kyoto Hannaryz in the bj-league's Western Conference final on Saturday at Ariake Colosseum, they face their toughest challenge of the season: a rematch of last season's championship game against the two-time defending champion Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix on Sunday. Same location and a 5:10 p.m. tipoff.