The Sendai 89ers-Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix series, featuring the top two clubs in the bj-league's seven-team Eastern Conference, won't be played this weekend in Sendai, the league announced on Monday morning.
In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Sendai on Friday afternoon, the 89ers players and staff are split up, with about half of the team returning to Miyagi Prefecture early Sunday morning, while others remain in Niigata Prefecture, where the team was to play the host Niigata Albirex BB last weekend.
All of the bj-league's games were called off Saturday and Sunday and this weekend's schedule was undecided at press time, though league sources say an announcement was expected late Monday evening or on Tuesday.
In addition, it remains unclear if or when Sendai can resume its season or will suspend operations.