Japanese Team will Play in IBL in 2009
Published on January 6, 2009 under International Basketball League (IBL) News Release
Portland, OR - The Nippon Tornadoes of Japan joined the IBL in March of 2008 making Japan the fourth nation represented in the IBL, joining China, Canada and the United States. The IBL announces today-that the Japanese team will play all of the teams in the Midwest during their 2009 season; these games will occur in May of 2009.
Midwest teams are excited about the news. The Grand Rapids Flight played against Shanxi Zhongyu (the Chinese team that played in the IBL in 2008) during their trip to the west coast in May of 2008-a 127 to 109 victory for the Flight; however, in 2009 the Nippon Tornadoes Japanese team will go to Grand Rapids to play. David Fox, GM of the Grand Rapids Flight-"As more international teams join our league, the level of competition will continue to rise as players from all over the world are exposed to the IBL's high-level of play." Windy City Soldiers owner Barry Bradford- "we are excited to be a part of the continual development and expansion of the IBL; we welcome the opportunity to host the Japanese team-it is exciting for our community (Kankakee Illinois)". The team will also play the Elgin Racers and the Holland Blast during their Midwest trip.
The Tornadoes are owned by Mr. Katsuya Sasaki. Sasaki is a representative of the Japan Basketball Academy, and has a passion for developing the game in his home country. Mr. Tatsumi Nishida, a founder of the JBA and its secretary for external affairs, will coordinate the Tornadoes' participation in the IBL. "Joining the IBL will not only be an exciting cultural experience," said Nishida. "This affiliation will give Japanese players and coaches the opportunity to improve by competing against some of the best players in the world."
Nishida's vision for the Tornadoes roster is a collection of some of the top players from around Japan. Although the Tornadoes have support from Ehime Prefecture and its capital Matsuyama City, the team would like to have a national identity. âNippon' is an older reference to the nation of Japan.
IBL Commissioner Mikal Duilio - "Katsuya, Tatsumi and the Tornadoes are a tremendous addition to our league".
The IBL is uniquely able to offer Asian teams an efficient and affordable option to compete in an American professional basketball league. The IBL's system of organizing teams in regional clusters makes it possible for the league to offer an overseas team the same âone flight guarantee' that the IBL gives its domestic owners. The Tornadoes will be based at the USBA in Blue River, Oregon, and play all (but the Midwest trip) in the IBL's northwest cluster.
Adding the Tornadoes of Japan-to the IBL's stable of teams is the latest success from the league's Asian Expansion efforts. At least two other Asian teams, both from China-are expected to compete in the IBL in the 2009 season.
International Basketball League Stories from January 6, 2009
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
