Two days after Kazuo Nakamura guided the Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix to their second consecutive bj-league title, the 70-year-old appears poised to become the next head coach of the Akita Northern Happinets. Media reports are indicating that it's already a done deal.

Nakamura, an Akita native, led Hamamatsu to a 112-33 regular-season record (77.2 winning percentage) in its first three seasons in the bj-league. His contract expires on May 31.

The Happinets went 18-32 this season as an expansion team under Bob Pierce, who was fired last week, and then reached the playoffs.