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 second division of the B.League.

Nagasaki Velca
Nagasaki Velca logo
ConferenceWest
DivisionSecond
LeaguesB2 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 coachKenjiro Maeda
OwnershipJapanet
Websitewww.velca.jp

Franchise history

Foundation

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 B3 or 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]

On January 26, 2021, the team announced that Takumi Ito will serve as the head coach and general manager.[4][5]

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][6][7] To select the team name, online voting was done and voting events were also held in different parts of the Nagasaki Prefecture.[3][7] On October 30, the club name Nagasaki Velca was unveiled.[6][8] "Velca" is derived from the words "welcome," "well community" and "victory."[1][3][6][8]

Promotion to B2

The team finished their inaugural season with 42 wins and 3 losses, setting a B3 record with a .933 winning percentage. They were subsequently named B3 Champions and earned a promotion to B2 or the second division of the B.League.[9][10][11] On May 17, 2022, the team announced that Takumi Ito will continue to serve as the general manager[12] and Kenjiro Maeda, who was the team's associate head coach, will take over as the head coach beginning the 2022–23 season.[13] On May 29, B.League announced that Nagasaki will compete in the West conference of B2.[14]

Uniform

Jersey sponsors

On April 29, 2021, the team announced that Nishikawa is the jersey sponsor beginning the 2021–22 season.[15]

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.NameHt.Age
G 1 Japan Kenji Leon Matsumoto 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 29 – (1994-05-30)30 May 1994
G 2 Japan Koya Kobari 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) 24 – (1999-05-18)18 May 1999
F 3 South Korea Min Kug Chang 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 34 – (1989-07-05)5 July 1989
G 4 Japan Masaya Karimata 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) 34 – (1988-12-28)28 December 1988
F 5 United States Matt Bonds 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 27 – (1995-11-06)6 November 1995
F 7 United States Jarrell Brantley 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 27 – (1996-06-07)7 June 1996
F 9 Japan Masaaki Morikawa 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 31 – (1992-03-07)7 March 1992
F 11 Japan Hirohide Araya 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) 24 – (1998-12-05)5 December 1998
G 14 Japan Kanji Takahira (C) 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 30 – (1993-09-14)14 September 1993
G/F 18 Japan Yudai Baba 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 27 – (1995-11-07)7 November 1995
F 23 Japan Daisuke Noguchi 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 40 – (1983-05-26)26 May 1983
F 33 United States Nick Perkins 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 27 – (1996-10-15)15 October 1996
G 36 Japan Takuma Enokida 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) 25 – (1998-05-24)24 May 1998
Head coach

JapanTakuma Ito

Assistant coach(es)

JapanKenjiro Maeda
JapanMakoto Isono

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured Injured
Updated: March 31, 2023

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][17]

General managers
GM history
GM Tenure
Takuma Ito2020–present[5][18]

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.[19]

Fanbase

The fan club of the team is called Velcas Zero (ヴェルカーズ ゼロ).[8][20]

References
  1. "長崎ヴェルカ". 長崎ヴェルカ (in Japanese). September 1, 2020.
  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).
  4. "【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.
  5. "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.
  6. "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.
  7. "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.
  8. "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.
  9. "長崎ヴェルカがB3初優勝". バスケ専門情報│月バス.com (in Japanese). 2022-04-23. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
  10. "長崎ヴェルカが圧倒的な勝率でB3初優勝。B2昇格へ（月刊バスケットボール）". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-07-06.
  11. "B3リーグ2021-22シーズン 長崎ヴェルカ優勝のお知らせ". 長崎ヴェルカ (in Japanese). 2022-04-23. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
  12. "伊藤拓摩氏 基本合意（継続）のお知らせ". 長崎ヴェルカ (in Japanese). 2022-05-17. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
  13. "前田健滋朗 ヘッドコーチ 就任のお知らせ". 長崎ヴェルカ (in Japanese). 2022-05-17. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
  14. "B.LEAGUE 2021-22シーズン終了のご報告と来シーズンB1・B2所属クラブ決定のお知らせ". B.LEAGUE（Bリーグ）公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-07-06.
  15. "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.
  16. "前田健滋朗 ヘッドコーチ 就任のお知らせ". 長崎ヴェルカ (in Japanese). 2022-05-17. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
  17. "＜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.
  18. "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.
  19. "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.
  20. "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.
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