The defending B. League champion Alvark Tokyo opened their new season with a down-to-the-wire victory over the Sunrockers Shibuya on Saturday afternoon in Tachikawa.
Star center Alex Kirk led the way with 27 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, in Tokyo's 73-71 triumph.
Alvark mainstay Daiki Tanaka and Yudai Baba had 13 points apiece and Seiya Ando and Zack Baranski both scored seven. Joji Takeuchi hauled in a team-high eight rebounds and swatted two shots. Tanaka dished out five assists.