The Toyota Motors Alvark Tokyo got off to a strong start in the inaugural National Basketball League as they prevailed both offensively and defensively in a 86-78 victory over the Link Tochigi Brex at Yoyogi National Gymnasium No. 2 on Saturday.
Sixth man Keijuro "KJ" Matsui scored a game-high 19 points and guard Yusuke Okada followed with 15 points for the Alvark, who won the 2011-12 JBL championship, the predecessor of the newly-established 12-club circuit.
"It's very exciting to start the new league and start the new season," Toyota coach Donald Beck said after the game, watched by a nearly full-house crowd of 2,491. "We had tremendous fan support today. We're very satisfied with that."