The Hitachi Sunrockers had to take a ferocious challenge from the Chiba Jets in their playoff opener. But they managed to survive it, coming through in the end.
Hitachi forward Aki Chambers shot 3-for-5 from behind the 3-point arc and scored a team-high 22 points to lift the Sunrockers to a 73-69 win in Game 1 of the NBL first-round playoff series at Ota City General Gymnasium on Friday night.
Sunrockers forward Joji Takeuchi was also a key player in the victory, chipping in with 15 points, seven rebounds and five blocks. Center Josh Heytvelt, the regular-season MVP, finished with 14 points and 16 rebounds for Hitachi, which posted the best record in the 13-team NBL (45-9).
The Jets played wholeheartedly from the beginning, and rebounded from a 13-point deficit in the second half, taking the lead on a Justin Burrell jumper with 1:23 left.
But Chambers hit a 3 from the corner to retrieve the lead for Hitachi with 1:06 to play and moments later Takeuchi sank a layup to make it 71-67. Chiba cut the deficit to two points on a pair of Fumio Nishimura free throws, but wasn't able to catch up with the Sunrockers.
"I just played as hard as I can, leaving my heart on the court," Chambers said after the game. "These games are win or go home, so (that's) how I'm playing."
For the Jets, who advanced to the postseason as a wild-card team, point guard Fumio Nishimura had a team-high 22 points and four steals, and forward Ryumo Ono hit three 3-pointers in a 13-point effort.
"This game was very even," Hitachi head coach Michael Olson said. "We came away with the win, that's what matters most, but Chiba played really good. We just came out with the win luckily."
