One victory separated the second-place Yokohama B-Corsairs and third-place Toyama Grouses in the standings this season, and the evenly matched teams exhibited their competitive spirit on Friday night.

This was evident in the third quarter as the teams traded baskets and highlights with equal intensity.

It all boiled down to fourth-quarter execution, and Yokohama, especially its Big Three — Draelon Burns, Thomas Kennedy and Masayuki Kabaya — came through in the clutch in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, winning 86-75 at Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium.