Nagasaki Velca

The Nagasaki Velca (長崎ヴェルカ, ながさきヴェルカ, Nagasaki Veruka) is a Japanese professional basketball team based in Nagasaki Prefecture that competes in the third division of the B.League.

Nagasaki Velca
DivisionThird
LeaguesB3 League
Founded2020 (2020)
HistoryNagasaki Velca
(2020–present)
ArenaNagasaki Prefectural Gymnasium
LocationNagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture
Team colorsPrussian blue, white and dark yellow
     
Main sponsorNishikawa
CEOHideki Iwashita
PresidentHideki Iwashita
Team managerTakuma Ito
Head coachTakuma Ito
OwnershipJapanet
Websitewww.velca.jp

Franchise history

In 2020, Japanet announced the creation of Nagasaki Prefecture's first professional basketball club.[1] The club was formally launched on July 10, and will compete in the third division of the B.League beginning the 2021–22 season.[2][3] The company Nagasaki Velca Co., Ltd. (株式会社長崎ヴェルカ) was established with Hideki Iwashita (岩下 英樹) as the president and CEO, and Akito Takata (髙田 旭人) as the director. The company is responsible for the operation and promotion of the basketball club as well as the management of the athletes. The company headquarters is located in Manzaimachi, Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture.[1]

Naming the team

In July 2020, the management asked suggestions for the team name. On September 15, they revealed that the 2,324 entries were narrowed down to three prospects: Nagasaki Jabuzz (長崎ジャブズ), Nagasaki Haretto (長崎ハレット) and Nagasaki Velca (長崎ヴェルカ).[3][4][5] To select the team name, online voting was done and voting events were also held in different parts of the Nagasaki Prefecture.[3][5] On October 30, the club name Nagasaki Velca was unveiled.[4][6] "Velca" is derived from the words "welcome," "well community" and "victory."[1][3][4][6]

Uniform

Jersey sponsors

On April 29, 2021, the team announced that Nishikawa is the jersey sponsor beginning the 2021–22 season.[7]

Current roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

Nagasaki Velca roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.Name
PG 1 Kenji Leon Matsumoto
PG 3 Edward Yamamoto
PG 4 Masaya Karimata
PF 5 Matt Bonds
PG 8 Eito Yuminami
F 10 Noriyuki Sugasawa
G 14 Kanji Takahira
F 21 Tomoya Matsui
PF 23 Daisuke Noguchi
C 32 Javier Carter
F/C 34 Jeff Gibbs
36 Takuma Enokida
Head coach

Takuma Ito

Assistant coach(es)

Kenjiro Maeda
Makoto Isono

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured
Updated: June 26, 2021

Notable players

To appear in this section a player must have either:
- Set a club record or won an individual award as a professional player.
- Played at least one official international match for his senior national team.

Head coaches

Management

Ownership
Ownership history
Owner Tenure
Japanet2020–present[1][10]

General managers
GM history
GM Tenure
Takuma Ito2020–present[9][11]

Arenas

The team is set to open a new arena in 2024.[2]

Practice facilities

The team opened a new practice facility, the Velca Clubhouse (ヴェルカクラブハウス), in Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture on May 27, 2021.[12]

Fanbase

The fan club of the team is called Velcas Zero (ヴェルカーズ ゼロ).[6][13]

References
  1. "長崎ヴェルカ". 長崎ヴェルカ (in Japanese). September 1, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. "Yuminami to play and coach for pro team in Japan". Statesboro Herald. April 1, 2021.
  3. "ジャパネットが立ち上げるプロクラブ、クラブ名称の最終候補3案が決定…特設サイトにて投票が開始". バスケットボールキング (in Japanese).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. "長崎初のプロバスケチーム、クラブ名は「長崎ヴェルカ」に決定". 西日本新聞 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-06-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. "長崎初のBリーグクラブ誕生へ、クラブ名称最終候補3案が決定！ ～最終投票開始のご案内～". 長崎ヴェルカ (in Japanese). 2020-09-15. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
  6. "長崎初 プロバスケットボールクラブ名が「長崎ヴェルカ」に決定！ ～公式ファンクラブ ヴェルカーズ ゼロ発足～". 長崎ヴェルカ (in Japanese). 2020-10-30. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  7. "長崎ヴェルカ×西川株式会社 パートナー契約締結のお知らせ". 長崎ヴェルカ (in Japanese). 2021-04-29. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  8. "【インタビュー】プロバスケ・長崎ヴェルカ 伊藤GM「B1まで最短期間で」 ｜ 長崎新聞". 長崎新聞 (in Japanese). 2021-01-27. Retrieved 2021-06-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. "長崎ヴェルカ本格始動! リーグ参入に向けた準備状況のご報告". 長崎ヴェルカ (in Japanese). 2021-01-27. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
  10. "＜3日間連続リリース 第三弾＞ 長崎初 Bリーグ参入に向けた資格申請のご報告 ~バスケットボールを通して長崎にもっとワクワクを~". 長崎ヴェルカ (in Japanese). 2020-07-10. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
  11. "Bリーグ参入に向けて ゼネラルマネージャー就任のご案内 ～2020年9月より伊藤 拓摩氏～". 長崎ヴェルカ (in Japanese). 2020-07-17. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
  12. "長崎ヴェルカ クラブハウス完成のご報告". 長崎ヴェルカ (in Japanese). 2021-05-27. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  13. "長崎ヴェルカ参入前期間限定ファンクラブ「ヴェルカーズゼロ」会員期間延長のお知らせ". 長崎ヴェルカ (in Japanese). 2021-03-16. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.