Four teams remain in the Eastern Conference playoffs, which points the spotlight on the regular-season conference champion Toyama Grouses and Iwate Big Bulls. As the top two seeds, the Grouses and Big Bulls play host to the Niigata Albirex BB and Akita Northern Happinets, respectively, this weekend.
The Grouses (42-10 overall) and Big Bulls (40-12) both earned a bye into the conference semifinals.
Toyama has won 11 straight games and 15 of its last 16. In addition, the positive vibes of guard Masashi Joho earning the regular-season MVP award and Best Five Team accolades along with star forward Ira Brown's Best Five honor have given the eighth-year franchise additional recognition it had never received in past seasons.