One run changed everything.
The Ryukyu Golden Kings delivered the knockout blow in the third quarter of Sunday’s bj-league championship game against the Akita Northern Happinets. That carried head coach Tsutomu Isa’s team to a 103-89 victory and the franchise’s third title, which matches the league record set by the Osaka Evessa (2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08).
With ruthless efficiency, the Golden Kings turned a two-point lead into a 20-point margin, using a 20-4 spurt that lasted nearly half of the third quarter at Ariake Colosseum.