Masashi Joho had the hot hand in the first quarter. Draining shots left and right, he helped the Tokyo Apache take control of Sunday's game from the get-go.
The Apache extended their lead to 20 points in the third quarter and withstood a furious rally by the Saitama Broncos in the final stanza to earn an 85-81 victory at Ariake Colosseum.
"I thought in the first three quarters we played great," Apache coach Joe Bryant said. "I'm disappointed in the fourth-quarter (performance). When you make substitutions, the subs have to maintain the lead."