After a lousy first quarter against the Kawasaki Brave Thunders on Saturday, Sunrockers Shibuya coach BT Toews challenged his players to elevate their game in the series finale.
Veteran forward Kenta Hirose revealed later that Toews' message focused on one thing: "intensity."
That intensity and lock-down defense in the second half were key factors in Shibuya's 84-71 triumph on Sunday over their Central Division nemesis at Aoyama Gakuin University Memorial Hall. In five of their previous meetings, Kawasaki had won every time this season.