IBM quarterback Yuki Masamoto outperformed former Michigan passer Devin Gardner to lead the BigBlue to a 27-19 victory over the Nojima Sagamihara Rise on Sunday at Fujitsu Stadium Kawasaki in the semifinals of the Pearl Bowl Tournament.
The defending champion BigBlue will take on the Obic Seagulls, who defeated the Lixil Deers 35-7 in the other semifinal at the same venue, in the final on June 19 at Tokyo Dome.
Masamoto, a backup quarterback to Kevin Craft, completed 10 of 18 passes for 135 yards and one touchdown while scoring another on a 6-yard rush to guide the BigBlue offense.