The Seibu Lions edged the Uni-President Lions of Taiwan 1-0 on Sunday, winning Japan its fourth consecutive title of the Asian Series, which also features champions from China and South Korea.

It was Seibu`s first Asia Series title and comes after they topped the Pacific League and Japan Series this year.

Japan`s Lotte Marines won the inaugural Asian Series title in 2005, followed by victories by the Nippon Ham Fighters in 2006 and the Chunichi Dragons last year.

`Our desire to become number one in Asia pushed the team in the end,` Seibu manager Hisanobu Watanabe said. `As the quality of performance has been improving in Asia, I knew there wouldn`t be an easy game.`

Watanabe, who had a three-year stint as a player-coach in Taiwan`s professional baseball league from 1999, said he had a `special feeling` about facing a Taiwanese team in the final.

The four-team series features the champions from Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and China. The SK Wyverns of South Korea and China`s Tianjin Lions were eliminated after the round-robin contest.