Sendai's Culver-led attack has created big runs, while Yokohama still has several ways to score through a short rotation. The shape of that game depends on whether Sendai can keep a lead through the final quarter and finish defensive possessions. Alvark and Ibaraki bring a different contest between foul pressure, ball control and shooting from several positions. Both games have meaningful scoring routes on each side, with the middle and late quarters likely to separate them.
Culver has carried much of Sendai's scoring, with Boothe's passing and Layman's wing play around him. Yokohama still reached Kotsar inside and Bell as a handler in its depleted last game, with Sudo and Richardson adding scoring. Sendai's recent win over Kobe included a large lead, yet Kobe gained repeated second chances and made a strong final-quarter push. That makes Yokohama's interior possessions and Bell's decisions central to the late margin.
Bell, Kotsar, Sudo and Richardson all played Yokohama's last game. Arai, Livers and King missed it, and no return is assumed; Bell is already playing as McGusty's replacement. Culver, Boothe, Layman and El Darwich played Sendai's last game. I expect Yokohama's current scorers to keep working through the interior and trim a Sendai run as the game develops. That's why I'm siding with Yokohama to stay close.
Alvark can earn points through Johnson and Jarreau's drives while Hogg provides another finish and Rossiter helps secure rebounds. Ibaraki can answer through Law and Soares, with Parks, Maeda and Delany supplying outside shots and passing. Alvark has recently paired those scoring roles with careful ball handling; Ibaraki's Kawasaki win showed the force of its pressure, while its Osaka win drew on an exceptional night from outside.
Olbrich remains on Alvark's injury list and missed its last game, where Johnson, Jarreau, Hogg and Rossiter took the current roles. Ibaraki's main scorers played its last game; Nakamura did not, and his game role remains unconfirmed. I expect Alvark's drives and repeated trips to the line to build a lead while its ball handling limits Ibaraki's pressure possessions. That's why I'm siding with Alvark to win by a clear margin.
