[B1 Club Outlook / Hokkaido] The dawn of the new Levanga ... Will it be reformed by "Mr. Basketball"?

In recent years, he has been active as a coach in the Japan national team category [Photo] = fiba.com

Levanga Hokkaido has reached an important turning point last season, with the retirement of Takehiko Orimo, the legend of not only the club but also the entire men's basketball world, and the appointment of Yuta Miyanaga, the head coach of the club's first Hokkaido native. However, his performance did not improve as expected, and he finished with 13 consecutive losses due to the breakdown of foreign players. Overtaken by Niigata Albirex BB, the season ended at the bottom of the eastern district. Orimo decided to invite his longtime ally Kenichi Sako head coach as a technician. Sako HC, who has won numerous championships during his active career and has made a name for himself as a point guard representing Asia, led the Hiroshima Dragonfly to runner-up in the NBL era as a commander, and then B1 and B2 in the B2 era. Has experience of advancing to a qualification match. The fact that he retired from the position of assistant coach for the Japanese national team just before the Tokyo Olympics is nothing but a sign of his strong determination to fight with Orimo. Asahi Tajima, who was the face of the team, and Nick Mayo, the top scorer last season, transferred, but Shuto Terazono and De'Mon Brooks who can expect scoring power are acquired. Daniel Miller, who was once enrolled and won the block king in B2 last season, has also returned. If Shawn Long, who came to Japan for the first time, fits, the inside is powerful. Japanese players can also expect further growth from Soto Yamaguchi, who made his debut last season and became an immediate force. Expected starters are Ryoma Hashimoto, Tsukasa Nakano, Yamaguchi, Brooks and Miller. Hashimoto is the control, Nakano is the outside shoot, Yamaguchi is the attack and the role is clear, and it is a well-balanced lineup of offense and defense including foreign players. Ryota Sakurai and other sized players are on the bench, and depending on the opponent, it is possible to lay an upsized lineup. One of the highlights will be the arrangement of Sako HC depending on the situation.

■ KEY PLAYER / PG # 0 Ryoma Hashimoto

[Photo] = B.LEAGUE

The player I want to pay attention to is Hashimoto. Like Sako HC in his active career, he has the leadership to pull his teammates with a fighting stance. Hashimoto's presence is encouraging for Sako HC, who wants to promote a change in the players' consciousness, and it is expected that Hashimoto will be a bridge between Sako HC and the players in terms of strategy as he has the same guard position. It is difficult to improve the situation overnight, and both Sako HC and the players will be prepared for it. Still, this season must be a major turning point towards getting out of the slump. I hope that Sako's obsession with the game will spread to the players and show up as a good sign.Sentence = Tetsuhiko Yoshikawa

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