The Hitachi Sunrockers had to take a ferocious challenge from the Chiba Jets in their playoff opener. But they managed to survive it, coming through in the end.

Hitachi forward Aki Chambers shot 3-for-5 from behind the 3-point arc and scored a team-high 22 points to lift the Sunrockers to a 73-69 win in Game 1 of the NBL first-round playoff series at Ota City General Gymnasium on Friday night.

Sunrockers forward Joji Takeuchi was also a key player in the victory, chipping in with 15 points, seven rebounds and five blocks. Center Josh Heytvelt, the regular-season MVP, finished with 14 points and 16 rebounds for Hitachi, which posted the best record in the 13-team NBL (45-9).

The Jets played wholeheartedly from the beginning, and rebounded from a 13-point deficit in the second half, taking the lead on a Justin Burrell jumper with 1:23 left.

But Chambers hit a 3 from the corner to retrieve the lead for Hitachi with 1:06 to play and moments later Takeuchi sank a layup to make it 71-67. Chiba cut the deficit to two points on a pair of Fumio Nishimura free throws, but wasn¡¯t able to catch up with the Sunrockers.

¡°I just played as hard as I can, leaving my heart on the court,¡± Chambers said after the game. ¡°These games are win or go home, so (that¡¯s) how I¡¯m playing.¡±

For the Jets, who advanced to the postseason as a wild-card team, point guard Fumio Nishimura had a team-high 22 points and four steals, and forward Ryumo Ono hit three 3-pointers in a 13-point effort.

¡°This game was very even,¡± Hitachi head coach Michael Olson said. ¡°We came away with the win, that¡¯s what matters most, but Chiba played really good. We just came out with the win luckily.¡±