Yokohama Giga Spirits

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 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

• - 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
• Ernest Nzigmasabo

• Julius Nwosu
• Tadaharu Ogawa
• Dale Roberts
• A.J. Rollins
• Yukihiro Sakka (JBL Rookie of the year, 1988)
• Kenichi Sako
• 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