Here it is..
CBA EXPANDS TO FOUR CITIES
ALBANY, NY (May 12, 2006): The Continental Basketball Association (CBA) announced Friday that the Board of Directors has approved Apex Sportstainment, L.L.C. for four franchises in the CBA. The San Jose Skyrockets and at least one other team will play in the 2006-07 CBA season with the others to be operational for the 2007-08 season. They are looking at venues in Great Falls, Montana, Reno, Nevada and Spokane, Washington. The second location will be announced in the coming weeks.
“The strength of our organization is based on the quality, experience and commitment of the people working for the company. The management team has many years of experience in professional basketball as players, coaches and business professionals,” stated Kazumi Hasegawa, President, Apex Sportstainment.
Joe Clark, Managing Partner and CEO, will be responsible for the day to day activities of each of the clubs. Kazumi Hasegawa will handle all legal and merchandising; James Hasegawa, EVP will oversee finance, information technology and marketing; Kermit Young, Director of Basketball Operations will be responsible for coaches, players and trainers.
“This is a great day in the history of the CBA,” said CBA Director of Operations Dennis Truax. “I am very impressed with the Hasegawa family and Apex Sportstainment as a whole. The markets that they have chosen are excellent for the CBA and will be very successful. The communities will be impressed with the level of play in the CBA and the professionalism of the organizations in each of the cities.”
The San Jose Skyrockets are entering its second year of operation after being very successful in the American Basketball Association (ABA) last season. With a league-leading 31-6 record, they won the Ron Boone Division championship and were Western Conference Champions. The Skyrockets had two players nominated as All-Stars this past season with the head coach being named as an Assistant Coach for the West All-Star Team. Validating the high caliber of players, the Skyrockets had two players called up to overseas teams, with two other players being considered for the All ABA League Team.
“Based on our success in the ABA we felt it was time for us to move up to the next level of professional basketball, the CBA,” said Joe Clark. “Our objective is to build franchises in major minor league cities and to become the premier teams in those cities. We have researched other CBA teams, the league concept, execution, marketability, controls and feel confident in our ability to be successful in the CBA.”
The CBA recently completed its 60th anniversary season on March 27th with the Yakama Sun Kings defeating the Gary Steelheads in a best-of-three game series. That series featured the CBA’s 2006 Coach of the Year, Jaren Jackson (Steelheads).
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