Ace scorer Davante Gardner secured the ball that was shot by Kawasaki's Ryusei Shinoyama, ran out of the paint area and threw it high — really high — into the air just before the buzzer sounded.
That was the dramatic moment when the Niigata Albirex BB defeated their division rival Brave Thunders 80-78 and, more importantly, clinched the B. League Central Division crown at Todoroki Arena on Saturday night.
The Albirex, who now have the third-best record in the league at 43-15, will be able to play at home in the first and second rounds of the playoffs. Niigata will host the Alvark Tokyo in the first round, which begins April 27.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.