The Hiroshima Lightning will replace the Astrais Nagasaki as a new team entering the bj-league for the 2015-16 campaign, it was announced on Wednesday.
Last week, Nagasaki Sports Town Management Co. Ltd.¡¯s application to withdraw its entry for the upcoming season was approved by the bj-league¡¯s board of directors. Without a team to take Nagasaki¡¯s place, there would have been 23 clubs slated to play during the league¡¯s 11th season, including the expansion Kanazawa Samurai Orchestra. (Kanazawa Samuraiz is the team¡¯s secondary nickname.)
So, once again, the plan remains for 24 bj-league teams to compete next season.
The Hiroshima Lightning, run by Hiroshima Basketball Co., Ltd., began playing in the bj-Challenge League in January. The Challenge League is a minor circuit geared toward giving younger players and prospects a chance to gain experience and to test their skills.
The Challenge League also includes the Hyogo Impulse, who are led by 80-year-head coach Gary Colson, a longtime college basketball bench boss, with stops at Valdosta State, Pepperdine, New Mexico and Fresno State during 34 seasons in the NCAA Division I ranks. Colson was an assistant to former Memphis Grizzlies president of basketball operations Jerry West from 2002-07.
Tadaharu Ogawa, a former Rizing Fukuoka and Oita HeatDevils head coach, is an adviser for the Impulse.
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