Altiri Chiba emerged victorious in a tense B1 League encounter, defeating the Hiroshima Dragonflies 87-81 at home. This crucial win strengthens Chiba's position in the upper echelon of the league standings, while dealing a blow to Hiroshima's aspirations for a higher playoff seed. The game was characterized by physical defense and runs from both sides, with Chiba ultimately making the key plays in the final minutes to secure the six-point margin. The result highlights the competitive nature of Japan's top professional basketball division. The match process saw Altiri Chiba start strongly, building an early double-digit lead behind efficient three-point shooting. Hiroshima, known for their resilience, clawed back methodically in the second quarter, exploiting Chiba's brief lapse in defensive focus to tie the game by halftime. The third quarter was a defensive grind, with both teams struggling to find easy baskets. The decisive period came in the fourth, where Chiba's star import took over, scoring eight consecutive points during a critical stretch to break an 75-75 deadlock with just over three minutes to play. A key incident was a controversial offensive foul called against Hiroshima's primary ball-handler with two minutes left and his team down by four, which effectively halted their momentum. Chiba capitalized by sinking their free throws down the stretch. The standout performance came from Chiba's power forward, who recorded a monster double-double with 22 points and 15 rebounds, dominating the interior on both ends of the floor. Hiroshima's guards put up a valiant fight but were hampered by cold shooting from beyond the arc in the final quarter. This victory propels Altiri Chiba closer to securing a top-three finish, providing valuable momentum heading into the postseason. For the Hiroshima Dragonflies, the loss means they remain in a tight cluster of teams fighting for playoff positioning, needing to regroup quickly for their next fixture. Every game carries immense weight at this stage of the season. The Chiba head coach commended his team's composure, noting, "We showed great maturity tonight. When they made their runs, we stayed together and executed our sets when it mattered most." The Hiroshima coach focused on the details, saying, "Small mistakes cost us against a good team. We need to be sharper in our decision-making in clutch situations." The lineups featured Chiba's formidable frontcourt duo against Hiroshima's agile and experienced bac