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#14 Kenta Nakashima |
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#17 Yuuto Okumoto |
About the Tornadoes
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The International Basketball League announced in April 2008, that the Nippon Tornadoes have joined the IBL for the 2009 season. The Tornadoes will become the fourth nation represented in the IBL, joining China, Canada and the U.S. 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.” |
2009 Season Review
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(0-18) – 4th East Division – Longest Win Streak, Season = 0, Longest Loss Streak, Season = 18
Needless to say, when you lose all 18 games on your schedule it has been a tough year. The Tornadoes used several dynamic guards who scored at a furious pace as they tried valiantly to keep all of their games close. The Tornadoes only suffered from a lack of low post presence but otherwise the Tornadoes would have won quite a few games. The Tornadoes were fantastic to watch and their guard play was so solid, that 2 IBL teams inquired about taking their guards onto their teams down the stretch of the season (the Tornadoes were not staying for the playoffs but the two IBL teams were—and they wanted the Japanese guards). The league recognized the accomplishments of Daisuke Tamura (18G, 26.7pts, 3.4rbd, 4ast) and Masaharu Kataoka (18G, 26pts, 4.5rbd, 4.1ast) both of whom contributed Herculean efforts over the long year for the Tornadoes. Yuuto Okumoto was the team’s leading rebounder at 6.5 per game to go with his nearly 20 point per night average. Look for a recharged, and bigger, Nippon club in 2010. 2009 All-Stars: Daisuke Tamura and Masaharu Kataoka.
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Tornadoes Top News
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Pictured Right: Tornadoes' Secretary for External Affairs Tatsumi Nishida. 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. The name ‘Nippon’ is an older reference to the nation of Japan. |
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2010 Roster
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| Mikiya Fukuda |
Kunishige Ito |
Masaharu Kataoka |
Satoshi Kawai |
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| Kenta Nakashima |
Yuuto Okumoto |
Fumihiko Otsuka |
Daisuke Sugiwaki |
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| Daisuke Tamura |
Shinji Tomiyama |
Tomoyuki Umeda |
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2010 Schedule
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Contact Information
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| Japan Basketball Academy |
JBA website |
www.jbadreams.com |
| Secretary for External Affairs/VP |
Tatsumi Nishida |
+81(0)90-3956-6973 |
| Head Coach |
To be announced |
| General Manager |
To be announced |
| Event Director |
To be announced |
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2009 Stats
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| Team Stats |
| Player Name |
Games |
Points |
Assists |
Rebounds |
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