2008-2009
2007-2008
|
|
Evessa wins BJ-League 2008 (Photo: Evessa) |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
 Asia-Basket.com Japan All-BJ League Awards
1st Team All-JBL
G
Mikey Marshall (196-G-81, college:
Texas Tech),
Osaka Evessa
G Cohey Aoki, Tokyo Apache
F Reggie Warren, Takamatsu Five Arrows
F Andy Ellis, OIta Heatdevils
C Jeff Newton, Osaka Evessa
2nd Team All-JBL
G Naoto Takushi, Ryukyu Golden Kings
G Matt Lottich, Osaka Evessa
F Josh Peppers, Rizing Fukuoka
F Gordon James, Saitama Broncos
C Nick Davis, Tokyo Apache
All-Domestic Players Team
Naoto Takushi, Ryukyu Golden Kings
Tsubasa Yonamine, Oita Heatdevils
Yu Okada, Takamatsu Five Arrows
Kazuya Hatano, Osaka Evessa
Cohey Aoki, Tokyo Apache
All-Imports Team
Matt Lottich, Osaka Evessa
Mikey Marshall, Osaka Evessa
Reggie Warren, Takamatsu Five Arrows
Andy Ellis, Oita Heatdevils
Jeff Newton, Osaka Evessa
John Humphrey, Tokyo Apache
All-Defensive Team
Darin Maki, Tokyo Apache
Mikey Marshall, Osaka Evessa
Gordon James, Saitama Broncos
Nick Davis, Tokyo Apache
Jeff Newton, Osaka Evessa
Player of the Year:
Mikey Marshall, Osaka Evessa
Guard of the Year: Cohey Aoki, Tokyo Evessa
Forward of the Year: Reggie Warren, Takamatsu Five Arrows
Center of the Year: Jeff Newton, Osaka Evessa
Newcomer of the Year: Aaron Lawrence Sakai, Saitama Broncos
Most Improved Player of the Year: Dameion Baker, Tokyo Apache
Import Player of the Year: Jeff Newton
Domestic Player of the Year: Cohey Aoki, Tokyo Apache
Defensive Players of the Year: Jeff Newton, Osaka Evessa
Coach of the Year: John Neumann, Rizing Fukuoka
Evessa rise as they establish dyansty
When
Lynn Washington (200-F-78, college:
Indiana) makes a promise, he usually keeps them.
Washington overcame a season in which he missed 30 games due to a
career-threatening knee injury and was crowned Most Valuable Player, while
leading Osaka Evessa to a 66-56 triumph over the Tokyo Apache in the BJ League
title last night.
The two-time MVP started off the season with a promise that he was going to
three-peat for the fans and he backed it up with his performance and reminded
all spectators during his MVP interview before 9.200 fans in Ariake Coliseum.
I promised my fans that we were going to three-peat. San-renpa! San-renpa!, San-renpa!
he proclaimed.
And with the Evessas third championship, they have solidified their place in the
history books as the first dynasty in the history of the third-year league. And
at the same time,
Lynn Washington became the first player to win more than one MVP and Coach
Kensaku Tennichi may have placed himself as one of the best coaches in Japanese
basketball history.
The game was contest tightly through four quarters as both teams struggled to
put points on the board for the first 2 quarters. Both teams played superior
defense, limiting easy opportunities. Despite the game being more defensively
oriented, the outcome was far from boring. The only disappointment was the
Apache losing top Japanese scorer Cohey Aoki to an eye injury, leaving the guard
to only play 1 minute.
But even without Aoki, the Apache displayed great discipline with smart plays,
only to struggle from the field as leading scorer John Humphrey only scored six
points, one of his career lows in the BJ. Former Niigata Albirex bigman Nick
Davis also struggled, but he finished 18 rebounds as he anchored the Apache
defense. As Davis struggled, reserve big man Dean Browne finished with 14 points
to lead Tokyo.
On the other end, the Evessa was lead by Mikey Marshall as he showcased his all
around game with 18 points and 18 rebounds. With his size and athleticism, no
one was able to contain Marshall from driving at will and caroming important
rebounds at crucial points of the game. As Marshall held the team together,
Washington eventually find his touch at the end of the game with a classic
three-point play and a couple mid-range shots to claim his award.
2006-2007
 Osaka Evessa win 2nd straight bj-league title
Call them the king of bj. The
Osaka Evessa won their second straight bj-leauge championship by rolling
over the Takamatsu Five Arrows 94-78 on Sunday (4/22) at the Ariake
Colosseum.
David Palmer (201-F-82, college:
S.Utah),
who was named league MVP after the game, led all players with 33 points in
the victory over Takamatsu. Osaka has now won the first 2 titles in the
2-year existence of the upstart bj-league.
2005-2006
Asia-Basket.com
All-Japanese BJ League Awards 2005-06
|
All-League 1st Team 2006 |
Washington |
Lottich |
Pippen |
Davis |
Suzuki |
Player of the Year:
Lynn Washington (201-F-78) of Osaka Evessa
Washington was the one of the heart and souls of this year's inaugural
champion-Osaka Evessa Team. He was the focal point of the Evessa offense, being
a primary scorer and distributor. Despite being short for a power foward, he was
still one of the league's rebounding leaders. Without him, the Evessa probably
wouldn't have won the title during their championship. Power, speed, leadership,
and heart would be words to describe him. Average 20.4 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 3.6 apg,
and shot 54.6 percent from the field.
Guard of the Year:
Matt Lottich (193-G-82) of Osaka Evessa
Lottich was probably not the most athletic or high scoring guard in the
league this season, but he played the point guard position and made the Evessa
work like a well oiled machine. No domestic player could stop him and he had the
smarts to do whatever he wanted on the floor. He can shoot from the outside,
drive to the cup, and pass with precision. He also finished the season as the
league assist leader. Average: 15.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 4.4 apg-(league assist
champion), and shot 34.4% from the three point line.
Forward of the Year:
William Pippen (203-F-80) of Tokyo Apache
The League's official Best Five selection member. He is smooth and score
from all around the floor. He can handle the basketball in the open break, shoot
the three, and has a nice mid range floater that he used to out quick his bigger
opponents. He is also one of the more athletic forwards in the league and uses
his long arms to get steals and numerous fastbreak dunks. Also finished top five
in the league in scoring. Average: 22.1 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.1 bpg, and shot 31.1%
from three.
Center of the Year:
Nick Davis (205-C-76) of Niigata Albirex
He was undoubtedly the best rebounder of the league, one of the best
interior defenders, and a great team player for the league runner-up Niigata
Albirex team. He used his length and quickness to grab almost every available
loose ball and rebound imaginable. He was also one of the primary offensive
weapons for a well-balanced Albirex attack and improved his repertoire from his
JBL Season a year ago. Average: 19.2 ppg, 15.5 rpg, 2.3bpg, 62.7% from the
field.
Import Player of the Year:
Lynn Washington (201-F-78) of Osaka Evessa
Domestic Player of the Year:
Yukinori Suzuki (181-G-77) of Oita Heat Devils
He was the main floor general for the Heatdevils. He started the season off
quietly on the offensive end, as the Devils relied heavily on its imports to
score more than half of its points. However, with a new coach and new look for
the second half of the season, he started to score more, mostly in crucial
moments of the game to help his team. He finished as the league leader in three
point shooting percentage, top 10 in domestic player scoring, and second in the
league in assists. Average: 8.0 ppg, 4.1 apg, 43.7%three point shooting,
82.7%-free throw line.
Defensive Player of the Year:
Nick Davis (205-C-76) of Niigata Albirex (JPN), Center, Niigata Albirex
Coach of the Year:
Kensaku Tennichi of Osaka Evessa
Led his Evessa Team to the first-ever BJ League Championship. The former JBL
Super League Panasonic coach has been known for creating fastbreaking teams, but
he brought a totally difference play style with this team. The Evessa ran when
they could, but they were also able to play in the half-court set with the size
he brought in. He also did a great job in the regular season by being able to
balance the playing time between his four americans and domestic players, which
had been a problem for other teams since the BJ League doesn't have a rule to
restrict imports. Most of his players contributed and had the team playing its
best basketball early and often. Also finished with the top regular season
record at 31-9.
Newcomer of the Year*:
Kazuya Hatano (193-F-82) of Osaka Evessa
(*This award is given to a player that has no JBL or professional experience
after college)
Former Junior National Team member found the right team to fit in with the
Evessa and started every game that he was healthy. He had two doubles, which are
rare for imports in Japan, and contributed well for the League Champions. This
is is first time playing the small forward position so he shot atrociously from
the three point line, but finished the season with an 8.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg average.
Sixth Man of the Year:
David Palmer (201-F-82) of Osaka Evessa
Most imports usually aren't used to coming off the bench since they are
expected to be the star, but such is not the case in the import rule-free BJ
League. With the need to play his domestic players, Palmer blended in well with
the Evessa to provide instant scoring off the bench and much needed rebounding
when needed. He only played 17.6 minutes per game but scored an eye-whopping
17.6 points per game. That's a minute per minute. Palmer shot alot, but was also
the consumate team player in averaging nearly 2 assists per game.
1st Team:
G
Yukinori Suzuki (181-G-77) of Oita Heat Devils
G
Matt Lottich (193-G-82) of Osaka Evessa
F
William Pippen (203-F-80) of Tokyo Apache
F
Lynn Washington (201-F-78) of Osaka Evessa
C
Nick Davis (205-C-76) of Niigata Albirex
2nd Team:
G
Kousuke Shimizu of Saitama Broncos, Saitama Broncos
G
John Humphrey (188-G/F-80) of Tokyo Apache
F
Andre Larry (206-F-77) of Sendai 89ers
F
Michael Jackson (201-C-79) of Sendai 89ers
F/C
Jack Hartman (207-F-75) of Oita Heat Devils
All-BJ League Team Honorable Mention:
Leonard Hopkins (193-G-82) of Oita Heat Devils
Matt Garrison (203-F/C-73) of Niigata Albirex
David Palmer (201-F-82) of Osaka Evessa
All-Domestic Players Team:
G
Yukinori Suzuki (181-G-77) of Oita Heat Devils
G
Kousuke Shimizu of Saitama Broncos
F
Kimitake Sato (186-F-84) of Niigata Albirex
F
Kazuya Hatano (193-F-82) of Osaka Evessa
F/C
Jo Kurino-Dews (196-F) of Oita Heat Devils
All-Domestic Team Honorable Mention:
Hikaru Kusaka (173-G-82) of Sendai 89ers
Ryuzo Anzai of Saitama Broncos
Taketo Aoki (193-F-74) of Tokyo Apache
Kouhei Mitomo of Oita Heat Devils
All-Imports Team:
G
Matt Lottich (193-G-82) of Osaka Evessa
G
John Humphrey (188-G/F-80) of Tokyo Apache
F
William Pippen (203-F-80) of Tokyo Apache
F
Lynn Washington (201-F-78) of Osaka Evessa
C
Nick Davis (205-C-76) of Niigata Albirex
|
