The Toyota Motors Alvark didn't have much spark offensively, but still managed to finish with a W, thanks to their defensive efforts in a 67-56 win over the Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Dolphins in the quarterfinals of the All-Japan Championship on Sunday.
The Alvark will now go to the final four of the annual single-elimination tournament, which is dubbed the Emperor's Cup, next weekend against the Aisin SeaHorses. Last year, the Tokyo-based team lost in the semifinals.
"We had a real hard time getting the rhythm in the game," Toyota head coach Donald Beck said after the game at Yoyogi National Gymnasium. "Offensively, I wasn't happy about the first two quarters, but the way we played in quarter three and quarter four was very good."