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Japan Times
BASKETBALL / HOOP SCOOP
May 22, 2009

Phoenix's Nakamura looks back on team's first season in bj-league

Despite a 36-win regular season, the best record in the Eastern Conference, and a trip to the Final Four, Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix coach Kazuo Nakamura didn't describe his team's first season in the bj-league as a resounding success.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Apr 30, 2009

Tabuse shooting for spot on national team

After a nearly 20-month absence from action, the Japan men's basketball team is back with a big attraction in Yuta Tabuse, and is trying to move on to the next level with the one-time phenom.
MORE SPORTS / ICE TIME
Apr 15, 2009

Big names highlight World Team Trophy

Six nations will be vying for the inaugural World Team Trophy when action gets under way at Tokyo's Yoyogi National Gymnasium on Thursday.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / HOOP SCOOP
Mar 28, 2009

Big man in the middle Sun helping Phoenix's ascent

Any professional basketball team would welcome the option of having a 236-cm center. In a sport that places a premium on height, an inside tower gives a team power.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / ONE-ON-ONE WITH ...
Mar 10, 2009

Tennichi searching for key to keeping defending champions on top

The Japan Times will be featuring periodic interviews with individuals in the bj-league — Japan's first professional basketball circuit — which began its fourth season in October. Head coach Kensaku Tennichi of the three-time defending champion Osaka Evessa is the subject of this week's profile....
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / ONE-ON-ONE WITH ...
Feb 24, 2009

Kinjo reaps benefits of workouts

The Japan Times will be featuring periodic interviews with players in the bj-league — Japan's first professional basketball circuit — which began its fourth season in October. Shigeyuki Kinjo of the Ryukyu Golden Kings is the subject of this week's profile.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Feb 23, 2009

Grouses coach Ishibashi maintains passion for winning

It's quite easy to locate the 210-cm Takatoshi Ishibashi on the floor during a basketball game, and it won't take too long to see when he's in agony.
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Feb 20, 2009

Nakagawa providing spark for streaking Takamatsu

When steady center George Leach sustained a season-ending knee injury in mid-January, it appeared the Takamatsu Five Arrows faced an uphill battle to remain one of the bj-league's elite teams.
BASKETBALL / INSIDE LOOK
Feb 7, 2009

Playing in Ivy League presents challenges

NEW YORK — Team update: The senior shooting guard helped the Columbia University men's basketball team record back-to-back home victories over Yale and Brown last week. It was the Lions' first sweep over those schools since 2004.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / ONE-ON-ONE WITH ...
Dec 24, 2008

Five Arrows standout Okada expands role on offense

The Japan Times will be featuring periodic interviews with players in the bj-league — Japan's first professional basketball circuit. Yu Okada of the Takamatsu Five Arrows is the subject of this week's profile.
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Dec 13, 2008

Apache hopes to block out Sun

There should be ample opportunities for photography enthusiasts to snap memorable shots of Sun Ming Ming this weekend at Ariake Colosseum.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Nov 29, 2008

Ogawa preaches patience in Oita

Though the Oita HeatDevils have started the season with a disappointing 2-10 record, first-year head coach Tadaharu Ogawa is patiently working to turn things around.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / HOOP SCOOP
Nov 6, 2008

Youthful Japanese talent is abundant in bj-league

The scoring prowess of John "Helicopter" Humphrey, the shot-blocking skills of Jeff Newton and the all-around dominance of Lynn Washington are recurring themes over the first three-plus seasons of the bj-league's existence. But remember this: another satisfying scenario is occurring again and again....
BASKETBALL
Oct 10, 2008

Lakestars set to tip off against champ Evessa

Halloween is three weeks away, but Lake Biwa-area basketball fans will receive an early October treat this year.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Sep 1, 2008

NBA trailblazer Tabuse signs for JBL's Brex

Yuta Tabuse, the first Japanese-born basketball player ever to appear in the NBA, has signed with the Link Tochigi Brex of the Japan Basketball League, team president Takashi Yamaya revealed on Sunday.
OLYMPICS
Aug 22, 2008

Team USA hoping for golden birthday treat

BEIJING — Kobe Bryant turns 30 on Saturday. U.S. basketball teammate Michael Redd celebrates his 29th birthday on Sunday.
BASKETBALL / HOOP SCOOP
Aug 22, 2008

U.S. pumped up for showdown with defending champ Argentina

BEIJING — Team USA is two wins away from reclaiming its place atop basketball's world pecking order.
Japan Times
SPORTS / ODDS AND EVENS
Aug 21, 2008

China taking small steps to baseball success

BEIJING — Baseball is experiencing growing pains in China. In order to take a big step forward, China needs time to establish a foundation for the future.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
May 3, 2008

Fukuoka aims to end Osaka's bid for 3rd title

Saturday's first bj-league semifinal contest provides a classic storybook plot: the two-time reigning champions vs. the hot upstart team.
BASKETBALL
Apr 21, 2008

Teams relish chance to play in Yoyogi gym

The game between the Tokyo Apache and Niigata Albirex wasn't just special because it was the first wild-card contest ever played. It was spiced up by another ingredient as well.
Reader Mail
Mar 30, 2008

We may welcome another Knight

I never thought I would be an apologist for former college basketball coach Bobby Knight (who recently retired as coach at Texas Tech), but in response to the Feb. 11 letter "Coach is gone and good riddance," I believe Knight needs a defense. I observed Knight at a basketball clinic and, like the writer...
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Jan 27, 2008

Ito excels as point guard with Portland

When University of Portland (Ore.) point guard Taishi Ito was asked to take on a leadership role as a freshman, he handled the role admirably.
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Jan 25, 2008

Sendai hopes to keep roll going

SENDAI — The Sendai 89ers have racked up 16 victories in their first 20 games. It's an impressive start, but the team faces a string of contests against the Western Conference heavyweights in the weeks to come.
BASKETBALL / HOOP SCOOP
Dec 21, 2007

Broncos, Rizing develop at different pace

TOKOROZAWA, Saitama Pref. — Two teams walked off the basketball court on Monday night with identical 5-7 records. These teams, however, have different tales to tell about what they hope to accomplish this season in the bj-league.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Dec 1, 2007

Group helps volunteers get their hands on work

No matter how badly someone wants to put their good will to use, getting a handle on where to start is often the hardest thing to grasp. Realizing this difficulty, a group of U.S. volunteers in the late '80s got together to create New York Cares, an organization that helps link the ambitious aims of...
BASKETBALL
Nov 3, 2007

Two-time champion Evessa, Five Arrows anchor Western Conference power base

The 2007-08 bj-league season tipped off on Tuesday night. It was the first game for the expansion Rizing Fukuoka. A crowd of 2,475 watched the Osaka Evessa post a 91-71 victory.
BASKETBALL
Nov 2, 2007

With key players moving, Eastern Conference wide open as bj-league tips off

The nights are getting cooler, the days are growing shorter and professional basketball competition is heating up around Japan.
BASKETBALL
Oct 5, 2007

JBL chief declares a new beginning

Although its name has been tweaked just a little bit, the nation's top hoop circuit is hoping to make big changes in a bid to boost the Japanese basketball scene.
BASKETBALL
Aug 16, 2007

Saitama's James holds his own in NYC hoops tournament

"If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere," legendary crooner Frank Sinatra told us in "New York, New York."

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