Fukushima Firebonds

Fukushima Firebonds
Leagues B.League
Founded 2013
History 2014–present
Arena Kōriyama Gymnasium
(capacity: 7,056)
Location Fukushima Prefecture
Team colors Fuchsia
    
President Eiji Miyata
Head coach Hiroki Fujita
Ownership Fukushima Sports Entertainment Co., Ltd.
Championships 0
Website http://firebonds/.jp
Uniforms
Home
Away

The Fukushima Firebonds (福島ファイヤーボンズ (Fukushima Faiyābonzu)) is a professional basketball team based in Kōriyama, Fukushima that plays in the bj league, the top-tier professional basketball league of Japan. The team entered the league as an expansion team in the 2014–15 season.[1]

In July 2015, it was announced that the team will compete in the second division of the B.League, a new league in Japan set to begin play in 2016–17.[2]

History

In May 2013 Fukushima Prefecture was announced as the successful bidder for an expansion franchise to enter the 2014-15 season of the bj-league. The league management included the region's recovery from the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and the long-term feasibility of the bidding company, Fukushima Sports Entertainment, as reasons for the successful bid.[3]

In June 2014, the team announced Hiroki Fujita as the inaugural head coach.[4]

As an expansion team, the Firebonds received the first pick in the 2014-15 rookie draft, selecting forward Shota Kanno, a Fukushima Prefecture native. Takumi Masuko was selected in the second round.[4] In July 2014 the team signed American players James Hughes and Nick Thompson as their two foreign players.[5]

2014-15 season

The team commenced play in the bj-league in October 2014 and had their first regular-season win in a match against the Aomori Wat's on 5 October, 2015.[6] The team finished the season with a 21-31 record,[7] securing a playoff berth in the second-last game of the regular season.[8] They were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs 0-2 by the Iwate Big Bulls.[9]

2015-16 season

During the off-season, the team renewed the contract of Fujita as head coach [10] and signed Le'Bryan Nash, Joseph Taylor and Stephan Van Treese as import players.[11] Masaya Karimata was named team captain and Kenya Tomori was named vice-captain.[12]

Current roster

Notable players

Results by year

Bj-League

SeasonRegular SeasonHead CoachNotes
WinsLossesWin %Placing
2014-15[7] 2131 .404 7th (East)Hiroki FujitaEliminated in first round of playoffs[9]

References

  1. ↑ Odeven, Ed (2 October 2014). "Key questions entering 10th season". Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  2. ↑ Nagatsuka, Kaz (29 August 2015). "JPBL finalizes division placements for 2016-17". The Japan Times. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  3. ↑ "2014-2015新規参入チーム決定" [Decision Concerning 2014-15 Expansion Team] (in Japanese). 27 May 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  4. 1 2 Odeven, Ed (6 June 2014). "Fukushima Firebonds draft forwards Kanno, Masuko". The Japan Times. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  5. ↑ Odeven, Ed (31 July 2014). "Gunma hires longtime NBA assistant Parker as new coach". The Japan Times. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  6. ↑ Odeven, Ed (11 October 2014). "Shiga outplays Gunma in first bj-league contest for ex-NBA coach Parker, center Ely". The Japan Times. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  7. 1 2 Odeven, Ed (30 April 2015). "Sixteen teams ready to battle for title in expanded playoffs". The Japan Times. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  8. ↑ Odeven, Ed (25 April 2015). "Fukushima earns playoff berth as first-year franchise". The Japan Times. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  9. 1 2 Odeven, Ed (5 May 2015). "Fukushima makes great progress in first season". The Japan Times. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  10. ↑ "Firebonds renew Fujita's contract". The Japan Times. 23 May 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  11. ↑ "【ニュース】福島ファイヤーボンズ　選手契約締結のお知らせ" [[News] Fukushima Firebonds Contracted Players] (in Japanese). 1 October 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  12. ↑ "【ニュース】2015-2016シーズン　キャプテン・副キャプテン決定のお知らせ" [[News] 2015-16 Season Captain and Vice-Captain Announced] (in Japanese). 20 August 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015.

External links

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