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BLOGS of pro basketball players overseas
Behind the backboard: the truth about life overseas |
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There are currently 6791 ex-college players, who play 2012-13 season overseas
*the number is for both men and women players, who play outside of the U.S. (updated on 6/15/2013) Check Detailed list by College or by country
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Height : Is It Really Necessary? - Nov 29, 2011
For a nation not known to be well endowed with tall people, basketball in Japan has continued to leave many awe-stricken. A game that normally requires a height of above 6ft to get actively involved, even though i barely managed to clock six feet myself and played competitively too, Asians, Japanese in particular with all due respect to them, who are mostly undersized, seem to have figured out a way to make the game for tall people their game.
Many Africans especially, hold the view that the Japanese owe their undersize to their technology-driven nature; thus implying that what could have made the average Japanese tall at least and well built had been substituted for the technological prowess he possesses. Some strange superstition to say the least!
To the crux of this discourse. The Americans believe they have the tallest people around or so it seems; and founded basketball to suit them. While the Japanese reasoned that what the tall American can do with his height close to the rim, the undersized Japanese can do with his height close to the ground.
Come to think of it, Asia is not home to only undersized people or midgets as many people already believe. The tallest man to ever play the game from Asia was China's Yao Ming with a startling height of 7ft 6inches! Not only was he tall, he was also well built adnd he played the game with such simplicity and dazzling talent that made the Houston Rockets pick him as its 1st overall draft pick in the 2002 NBA draft. Who says the Asians ain't as good as the Americans? The Japanese are not left out as they've had their share of success when compared to the American standard too whatwith the likes of KJ Matsui and Taishi Ito who were spotted during Nike's Asia camp and were immediately exported to the U.S. where they went on to prove to the entire world that Asian basketball is no pushover. After playing varsity basketball at Montrose Christian HS, Md under legendary coach Stu Vetter, Matsui went on to play College basketball in the Ivy League at Columbia University, NY where he graduated in 2009, while Ito went to play in Oregon for the University of Portland from where he graduated in 2010. Both are talented players by all standards and are good enough to play anywhere.
Technology and Basketball when juxtaposed, go together and the Japanese have staked a claim by every stretch of the imagination.
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Toshiba shows determination in Game 3 win over Aisin As Brave Thunders take 2-1 series lead- Apr.22, 2013 (by Emeka)
The Japan Times can authoritatively report that the Brave Thunders again outplayed Aisin down the stretch as Toshiba cruised past the Sea Horses 74-67 in Game 3 of the best-of-five JBL Finals at Yoyogi National Gymnasium No.2 on Saturday afternoon.Toshiba, which finished last in the league in the 2011-12 season, is now one win away from earning its first title in eight years [read more] | |
The Japan Times can authoritatively report that the Brave Thunders again outplayed Aisin down the stretch as Toshiba cruised past the Sea Horses 74-67 in Game 3 of the best-of-five JBL Finals at Yoyogi National Gymnasium No.2 on Saturday afternoon.
Toshiba, which finished last in the league in the 2011-12 season, is now one win away from earning its first title in eight years.
Center Nick Fazekas led the Brave Thunders with 22 points and 15 rebounds, while rookie guard Naoto Tsuji chipped in with 12 points.
The Sea Horses had the momentum early on and led 40-32 at halftime. But the Brave Thunders, who came back strong in the latter half and went on to defeat Aisin in overtime in Thursdays Game 2, clicked in the third quarter, taking advantage of Aisins miscues, to take the lead.
Aisin regrouped in the final quarter and got as close as four points with less than 40 second left. But Toshiba guard Ryusei Shinoyama hit in a huge inside jumper, and Tsuji hit three of four free throws to secure the win.
The Brave Thunders had 14 offensive rebounds (Aisin recorded eight), and outscored Aisin 36-22 in the paint. Mamadou Diouf, plagued by foul trouble, only played 10 minutes, but forwards Yuya Kagami and Yoshifumi Kuwahara (eight points) were solid defensively coming off the bench for Toshiba.
We thought the opponent would get tired in the second half, said Toshibas Takahiro Kurihara, who had 10 points. So our plan was to put more pressure on them than in the first half, and the key for the win was that we were able to do that throughout the game today.
For Aisin, league MVP J.R. Sakuragi had a double-double with 18 points and 17 boards. Kevin Young had 11 points and Shinsuke Kashiwagi scored nine.
Game 4 will tip off at 3 p.m. Sunday at Yoyogi.
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Sea Horses win Game 5 to reclaim JBL crown- Apr.22, 2013 (by Emeka)
The Japan Times authoritatively report that, the Aisin Sea Horses edged the Toshiba Brave Thunders 58-54 in Mondays decisive fifth game of the JBL Finals and clinched their first championship in four years.They are supposed to be used to winning. But this one was special for the JBLs powerhouse team.Captain and point guard Shinsuke Kashiwagi scored seven points in the final quarter to help Aisin carry the momentum.Kashiwagi had 14 points overall, while center J [read more] | |
The Japan Times authoritatively report that, the Aisin Sea Horses edged the Toshiba Brave Thunders 58-54 in Mondays decisive fifth game of the JBL Finals and clinched their first championship in four years.
They are supposed to be used to winning. But this one was special for the JBLs powerhouse team.
Captain and point guard Shinsuke Kashiwagi scored seven points in the final quarter to help Aisin carry the momentum.
Kashiwagi had 14 points overall, while center J.R. Sakuragi chipped in with 16 points and 17 rebounds for Aisin.
The Sea Horses have finished first in the last six regular seasons and advanced to five Finals during that span (the playoffs were cancelled for the 2010-11 season due to the Great East Japan Earthquake). But they had wound up winning just two championships.
A highly defensive game entered the final and championship quarter with Aisin up 44-43. But the Sea Horses widened the lead to 56-49 as Kashiwagi knocked down a couple of big jumpers. Toshiba bounced back to reduce the deficit to four points with less than three minutes remaining, but Kashiwagi ensured the win by sinking a pair of free throws with 13.3 seconds left.
Both teams struggled making shots and needed to play patiently today, Aisin head coach Kimikazu Suzuki said after the game at Yoyogi National Gymnasium No. 2. But our players that hadnt won a championship did good job and of course Kashiwagi and J.R. played well. So overall, it was a championship that was won by everybody.
After taking the first game, the Sea Horses had their backs to the wall after losing the next two contests. But they stayed tough and successfully came back to win the last two with their stingy defense.
For Toshiba, ace scorer and center Nick Fazekas ended with just 11 points. Fazekas was held to seven points in Game 4. Shooter Naoto Tsuji, who had a game-high 26 points on Saturday, scored only two points.
Sakuragi was selected the playoff MVP after the game, while his coach Suzuki was named Coach of the Year.
It was a total team effort, said Sakuragi, a former UCLA standout. We were down two games to one. We couldve given up easily, but we kept fighting, fighting, and everyone stayed together as a team, and we came back to win.
It was the last Finals to be held under the name of the JBL. The National Basketball League will start with 12 teams in the 2013-14 season.
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Shimane reaches 30 victories for first time in franchise history- Mar.28, 2013 (by Emeka)
According to the Japan Times, Shimane Susanoo Magic coach Zeljko Pavlicevics club reached the 30-win plateau for the first time in franchise history on Saturday, beating the visiting Toyama Grouses 90-78.MVP candidate Michael Parker scored 22 points on 11-for-16 shooting, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked four shots, and Brandon Freeman led the team with 23 points, canning all three of its 3-pointers [read more] | |
According to the Japan Times, Shimane Susanoo Magic coach Zeljko Pavlicevics club reached the 30-win plateau for the first time in franchise history on Saturday, beating the visiting Toyama Grouses 90-78.
MVP candidate Michael Parker scored 22 points on 11-for-16 shooting, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked four shots, and Brandon Freeman led the team with 23 points, canning all three of its 3-pointers.
Shimane big man Jeral Davis poured in 14 points, including a pair of dunks, and swatted four shots.
With Parker and Davis teaming up to contest shot after shot for the entire contest, Toyama shot poorly from inside the arc (18-for-49).
The Susanoo Magic (30-13) increased their scoring output in each of the four quarters from 14 to 20 to 25 to 31. They led 59-58 entering the final stanza in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture.
Koki Yabuuchi added 10 points and four steals for Shimane, B.J. Puckett chipped in with nine points and Shohei Nakama had eight points and four assists. The Magic shot 63.6 percent (35-for-55) from 2-point range.
Pavlicevic, a former Japan national team head coach, has guided Shimane since the clubs inception in 2010. The Magic went 24-26 in their inaugural season and 28-24 in 2011-12.
The Croatian bench boss, who has a pair of Euroleague titles on his impressive resume, has spoken many times about building his team step by step to contend for a championship, and the team has taken big steps this season, as evidenced by its place in the standings (second in the 10-team Western Conference) and head-to-head record against the reigning champion Ryukyu Golden Kings (4-0).
For Toyama (26-15), Ira Brown led the way with 26 points on 8-for-22 shooting, Masashi Joho had 15 points, Takeshi Mito scored 11 and Angel Garcia 10.
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| Big contributions from post players, as bench propel B-Corsairs past Brave Warriors Feb.19, 2013 | | | Five 3-pointers seal victory for Niigata Jan.16, 2013 | | | Jets Defeat Broncos Jan.16, 2013 | | | Yokohama edges past Akita. Jan.16, 2013 | | | Veteran forward Cummings joins 89ers Dec.12, 2012 | | | Rizing Fukuoka's Game-Winning turnaround. Nov.9, 2012 | | | T-Mac to move to China. Oct.9, 2012 | | | Preseason Workout Sep.7, 2012 | | | Chiba Jets Defect To The JBL Jul.30, 2012 | | | Sendai 89ers Get New Home Ground For Next Season. Jun.16, 2012 | | | BJ League Operations. May.15, 2012 | | | BJ League Season : What's new? Apr.12, 2012 | | | Jeremy Lin : Asian Or American Feb.14, 2012 | | | Money And Basketball Jan.9, 2012 | | | Height : Is It Really Necessary? Nov.29, 2011 | | | Asian Brand Oct.24, 2011 | | | Asian Brand Oct.24, 2011 | |
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