On the talented Alvark Tokyo team, youngster Yudai Baba has been more like a sidekick who comes off the bench to provide the team with the spark it needs.
But in Saturday's B. League final, the 23-year-old rose to the occasion as one of the team's main players.
Baba put up a solid all-around performance for the Alvark with 12 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in the team's 71-67 victory over the Chiba Jets Funabashi.