The Yokohama Giga Spirits are a Japanese corporate basketball team based in Yokohama, Kanagawa.
History Akita Isuzu Motors 1955-1987
Akita Isuzu Motors basketball team was founded by Shozaburo Makinae in 1955. Makinae currently serves as a director and corporate adviser for the Akita Northern Happinets of B.League. They practiced at Sannoh Junior High School gymnasium in 1960's and 1970's. Head coaches Mototaka Kohama Shiro Yoshii Shigeyoshi Kasahara Hyokichi Tsuji V
Notable players Vince Brookins -Louisville vs Iowa Jack Givens(JBL2 MVP, Best5, Scoring Leader) Derrick Hord - Drafted in the third round of the NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers - Louisville vs Kentucky 1983 Mitsuhiko Kato Hirohide Matsuoka Kazuo Nakamura Taku Umetsu Lavon Williams (JBL2 Best5) -Denver, Colorado, Drafted in the fifth round of the NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers - 1980 UK @ LSU 2/24, Wood Carvings Ted Young (JBL MVP, Best5, 1988)
Honors and titles JBL2 Champions (1): 1983 Runners-up (1): 1982 Emperor's Cup Champions (1): 1984 Runners-up (1): 1986 3rd place (1): 1987 Japan Industrial and Commercial Basketball Federation Championships Runners-up (1): 1981 National Sports Festival of Japan Champions (2):
Isuzu Motors Lynx/Giga Cats 1987-2002
The team moved to Yokohama, Kanagawa in 1987. The club enjoyed its golden age winning JBL championships 6 times. Isuzu shut down its basketball and baseball clubs in 2002.
Head coach Mototaka Kohama Dwane Casey (1992-94) Due to the Emery scandal in 1989, Kohama and Casey were reunited.
Notable players Dan Bingenheimer - Highlights Dave Butler Casey Calvary Richard Coffey Anthony Cook (basketball) Lucius Davis (JBL MVP, 1998) Terry Dozier Toshihiro Goto Reggie Hanson Makoto Hasegawa (JBL Rookie of the year, 1994) Brian Hendrick - Cal vs Duke Mike Higgins Cedric Jenkins Makoto Minamiyama Hiroshi Nagano Ernest Nzigmasabo
Julius Nwosu Tadaharu Ogawa Dale Roberts A.J. Rollins Yukihiro Sakka (JBL Rookie of the year, 1988) Kenichi Sako Satoshi Sakumoto Toru Shioya Anthony Smith Michael Takahashi - Highlights Kenny Walker (JBL Best5, 1996) Joe Wallace Wang Libin
Honors and titles JBL Champions (6): 1988, 1995,1996, 1997, 1998, 2000 Runners-up (2): 1999. 2001 Emperor's Cup Champions (5): 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001 3rd place (2): 1990, 2002 ABC Champions Cup Runners-up (1): 1996 4th place (1): 1997 ABA Club Championship Runners-up (1): 2001
Yokohama Giga Cats 2002-2005 Kohama led the revamped Giga Cats, after Isuzu dropped sponsorship, as a club team until 2005. Notable players Yoshihiko Amano Kenji Hilke Haruyuki Ishibashi Hirokazu Nema Masahiro Ohara Taku Saito
Yokohama Giga Spirits 2005-present Notable players Minoru Kimura (basketball) Masahiro Ohara
References
External links
JBL Final Isuzu Giga Cats vs Toyota Alvark