Point guard Takanori Goya was the No. 1 pick in the bj-league's 2006 draft. After two losing seasons, he was traded to the Osaka Evessa.

On Saturday, Goya, a native of Okinawa, begins his quest to help the Evessa win a fourth consecutive championship. Osaka opens the 2008-09 season with a pair of road games against the expansion Shiga Lakestars in Otsu.

In a recent interview with The Japan Times, Goya said he's confident his new team can win another title.