Long Beach team has new ownership, Latin flavor
May 9, 2005 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Maywood Laguneros News Release
Indianapolis, IN. The American Basketball Association (ABA) announced that the Long Beach, California professional basketball team has new ownership and will have a distinct Latin flavor as it markets itself to the millions of Hispanics in Southern California. According to Joe Newman, ABA CEO, "Long Beach has been a mainstay of the ABA for the past few years and we are extremely pleased to have a strong ownership group that can carry on the excellence that has been established there. Jonathon Hermandez and Thomas Gillespie have a passion for basketball and have been looking for the right opportunity for quite some time. When Long Beach became available, they moved quickly and are ready to implement some unique and creative marketing plans that should be very exciting."
Jonathon Hernandez, one of the co-owners, is a Los Angeles native to Colombian parents. He began acting at the age of nine, and really hasn't stopped since, with such notable films to his credit as "A Million to Juan," "Mi Familia," "Beverly Hills Cop 3" among many. With a foundation for education engrained in him throughout his ventures, Johathan also attends UCLA's Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Throughout it all, he keeps busy as both onsite reporter and producer of sports operations at LATV where he started as a local VJ in 2004. With recent films such as "Spanglish" with Adam Sandler and Tea Leoni, the upcoming release of such films as "Debating Robert Lee" featuring Beau Bridges, he is very busy but has found time to co-produce an album and hosting shows on uclaradio.com. He stated, "With all of this, my passion for sports remains unquenched. There are a great many tremendous Latin players and it is our goal to be a showcase for this outstanding talent. I think people will be very impressed."
Thomas Gillespie is the other co-owner. After playing three successful seasons in the ABA with the San Diego Wildfire, Las Vegas Slam and Los Angeles Stars, he is ready to follow in the shoes of Las Vegas' owner Roy Hammonds and Inglewood CA owner Sean Higgins as former ABA players to become owners. In Guatemala, the 6-8, 230 pound forward was one of his country's top offensive and defensive players with the Guatemala National Basketball Team. He also played for the Harlem Globetrotters and internationally in Mexico and Koreea and played in the Sydney 2000 Olympics. While at Regis University, he led his team to a 25-5 record and was the team MVP. Gillespie added, "Having played in Long Beach, we know that the fans here expect a top quality organization and an outstanding team. Jonathan and I are prepared to provide both and to continue the great tradition set by the Jam. We are changing our name to reflect our new direction in marketing and will announce it shortly.
For more information, call Johathan at 909 964 0800 or email at masterdez@gmail.com or visit www.abalive.com.
Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.
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American Basketball Association Stories from May 9, 2005
- Clayton Shields to sign as coach of Gallup Talons - Gallup Outlaws
- Nashville team announces new ownership - Nashville Rhythm
- Long Beach team has new ownership, Latin flavor - Maywood Laguneros
- ABA to expand referee recruitment - ABA
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