Osaka Evessa is a professional basketball team playing in the bj league

Bj league

The bj league is a professional basketball league in Japan that began on November 5, 2005. The ten team league is divided into two conferences, the Eastern Conference, and the Western Conference. It had its inaugural All-Star game in 2006. One of its major sponsors is Spalding.The bj league...

, the top-tier professional basketball league of Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

. The team is operated by the Human Group Sports Entertainment Company.

The team is named after Ebisu

Ebisu (mythology)

Ebisu , also transliterated Yebisu or called Hiruko or Kotoshiro-nushi-no-kami , is the Japanese god of fishermen, luck, and workingmen, as well as the guardian of the health of small children...

.

Kensaku Tennichi was the head coach who won the first three championships with the team 2005-2008.

Head coach Ryan Blackwell started at forward for Syracuse University (Syracuse, NY, USA) from 1997-2000.

History

The team was formed in 2004 with the expansion of the bj league

Bj league

The bj league is a professional basketball league in Japan that began on November 5, 2005. The ten team league is divided into two conferences, the Eastern Conference, and the Western Conference. It had its inaugural All-Star game in 2006. One of its major sponsors is Spalding.The bj league...

. They have been the most successful team in the league, having won three league championships in the league's first three seasons.

During the 2007-08 season, the team played their home games in seven separate arenas throughout the Osaka Prefecture

Osaka Prefecture

is a prefecture located in the Kansai region on Honshū, the main island of Japan. The capital is the city of Osaka. It is the center of Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto area.- History :...

 and Hyogo Prefecture

Hyogo Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is Kobe.The prefecture's name was previously alternately spelled as Hiogo.- History :...

. This was also the first season that the team's game were broadcasted live on television (for two games). The total attendance for their home games was 66,069, and the average attendance 3,003. The team finished in first place during the regular season and won the championship for the third consecutive season.

The 2008-09 season was the first season that the team did not use the Namihaya Dome

Namihaya Dome

is an indoor sporting arena located in Kadoma city in the Osaka Prefecture of Japan.Construction was completed in early 1996. The primary architect was Mamoru Kawaguchi, founder of the firm Kawaguchi & Engineers....

 for any of their home games.

Uniform

The team jersey colors are black and red. Ozaki has supplied the team's uniform since 2004.

The current uniform sponsors are:

• Human Holdings Corporation (chest)
• Abilit Corporation (back)
• Life Creations Corporation (shorts)

External links

Official team web site bt dance team web site
bj-league Official web site
Maishima Arena web site Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium web site Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium web site