Nagasaki Velca

{{short description|Professional basketball team based in Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture}}

{{Infobox Basketball club

| color1 = #FFFFFF

| color2 = #002858

| color3 = #B3A278

| name = Nagasaki Velca

| logo = Nagasaki Velca logo.png

| logo_size = 300px

| leagues = B1 League

| history = Nagasaki Velca
(2020–present)

| founded = {{Start date and age|2020}}

| division = Second

| conference =West

| arena = HAPPINESS ARENA

| capacity = 6,000

| location = Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture

| colors = Prussian blue, white and dark yellow
{{color box|#002858}} {{color box|#FFFFFF}} {{color box|#B3A278}}

| sponsor = Nishikawa

| president = Hideki Iwashita

| ceo = Hideki Iwashita

| vice-presidents =

| manager = Takuma Ito

| coach = Mody Maor

| ownership = Japanet

| championships =

| website = {{url|https://www.velca.jp/}}

|current=

| h_body =

| h_pattern_b = _Nagasaki Velca 24-25 HOME

| h_shorts =

| h_pattern_s = _Nagasaki Velca 24-25 HOME

| h_title =Home

| a_body =

| a_pattern_b = _Nagasaki Velca 24-25 AWAY

| a_shorts =

| a_pattern_s = _Nagasaki Velca 24-25 AWAY

| a_title =Away

| 3_body =

| 3_pattern_b =

| 3_shorts =

| 3_pattern_s =

| 3_title =

}}

The {{Nihongo|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 first division of the B.League.

Franchise history

= Foundation =

In 2020, Japanet announced the creation of Nagasaki Prefecture's first professional basketball club.{{Cite web|date=September 1, 2020|title=長崎ヴェルカ|url=https://corporate.japanet.co.jp/groups/velca/|website=長崎ヴェルカ|language=Japanese}} 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.{{Cite web|date=April 1, 2021|title=Yuminami to play and coach for pro team in Japan|url=https://www.statesboroherald.com/sports/georgia-southern-eagles/yuminami-play-and-coach-pro-team-japan/|website=Statesboro Herald}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=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|url=https://basketballking.jp/news/japan/20200915/292425.html|website=バスケットボールキング|language=Japanese}} The company {{Nihongo|Nagasaki Velca Co., Ltd.|株式会社長崎ヴェルカ}} was established with {{Nihongo|Hideki Iwashita|岩下英樹}} as the president and CEO, and {{Nihongo|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.

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

== 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: {{Nihongo|Nagasaki Jabuzz|長崎ジャブズ}}, {{Nihongo|Nagasaki Haretto|長崎ハレット}} and {{Nihongo|Nagasaki Velca|長崎ヴェルカ}}.{{Cite web|date=2020-09-15|title=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～|url=https://www.velca.jp/169-2/|access-date=2021-06-27|website=長崎ヴェルカ|language=ja}} To select the team name, online voting was done and voting events were also held in different parts of the Nagasaki Prefecture. On October 30, the club name Nagasaki Velca was unveiled.{{Cite web|title=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|url=https://www.nishinippon.co.jp/item/n/660060/|access-date=2021-06-26|website=西日本新聞|language=ja}}{{Cite web|date=2020-10-30|title=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～|url=https://www.velca.jp/%e9%95%b7%e5%b4%8e%e5%88%9d%e3%80%80%e3%83%97%e3%83%ad%e3%83%90%e3%82%b9%e3%82%b1%e3%83%83%e3%83%88%e3%83%9c%e3%83%bc%e3%83%ab%e3%82%af%e3%83%a9%e3%83%96%e5%90%8d%e3%81%8c%e3%80%8c%e9%95%b7%e5%b4%8e/|access-date=2021-06-26|website=長崎ヴェルカ|language=ja}} "Velca" is derived from the words "welcome," "well community" and "victory."

= 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.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-23 |title=長崎ヴェルカがB3初優勝 |url=https://www.basketball-zine.com/0423_velca-champ |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=バスケ専門情報│月バス.com |language=ja}}{{Cite web |title=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） |url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/52877c8337bf30761a0f19dc8e778f96770bf161 |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=Yahoo!ニュース |language=ja}}{{Cite web |date=2022-04-23 |title=B3リーグ2021-22シーズン長崎ヴェルカ優勝のお知らせ |url=https://www.velca.jp/2022-04-23/ |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=長崎ヴェルカ |language=ja}} On May 17, 2022, the team announced that Takumi Ito will continue to serve as the general manager{{Cite web |date=2022-05-17 |title=伊藤拓摩氏基本合意（継続）のお知らせ |url=https://www.velca.jp/2022-05-18-01/ |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=長崎ヴェルカ |language=ja}} and Kenjiro Maeda, who was the team's associate head coach, will take over as the head coach beginning the 2022–23 season.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-17 |title=前田健滋朗ヘッドコーチ就任のお知らせ |url=https://www.velca.jp/2022-05-18-02/ |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=長崎ヴェルカ |language=ja}} On May 29, B.League announced that Nagasaki will compete in the West conference of B2.{{Cite web |title=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 |url=https://www.bleague.jp/news_detail/id=232384 |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=B.LEAGUE（Bリーグ）公式サイト |language=ja}}

Uniform

= Jersey sponsors =

On April 29, 2021, the team announced that Nishikawa is the jersey sponsor beginning the 2021–22 season.{{Cite web|date=2021-04-29|title=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|url=https://www.velca.jp/2021-04-29/|access-date=2021-06-26|website=長崎ヴェルカ|language=ja}}

Current roster

{{Basketball roster header|team=Nagasaki Velca

| color1 = #FFFFFF | bg1 =#002858 | color2 =#000000| bg2 = #B3A278 | wt = n}}

{{player3 | num = 1 | nat = JPN | name = Kenji Leon Matsumoto | pos = G | m=1.83 | year = 1994 | month = 5 | date = 30 | link=:ja:松本健児リオン}}

{{player3 | num = 2 | nat = JPN | name = Koya Kobari | pos = G | m=1.72 | year = 1999 | month = 5 | date = 18 | link=:ja:小針幸也}}

{{player3 | num = 3 | nat = KOR | name = Min Kug Chang | pos = F | m=2.00 | year = 1989 | month = 7 | date = 5 | link=:ja:チャン・ミンクク}}

{{player3 | num = 4 | nat = JPN | name = Masaya Karimata | pos = G | m=1.78 | year = 1988 | month = 12 | date = 28 | link=:ja:狩俣昌也 }}

{{player3 | num = 5 | nat = USA | name = Matt Bonds | pos = F | m=1.96 | year = 1995 | month = 11 | date = 6 | link=:ja:マット・ボンズ}}

{{player3 | num = 7 | nat = USA | name = Jarrell Brantley | pos = F | m=2.01 | year = 1996 | month = 6 | date = 7 }}

{{player3 | num = 9 | nat = JPN | name = Masaaki Morikawa | pos = F | m=1.91 | year = 1992 | month = 3 | date = 7 | link=:ja:森川正明}}

{{player3 | num = 11 | nat = JPN | name = Hirohide Araya | pos = F | m=1.89 | year = 1998 | month = 12 | date = 5 | link=:ja:荒谷裕秀}}

{{player3 | num = 14 | nat = JPN | name = Kanji Takahira | pos = G | m=1.83 | year = 1993 | month = 9 | date = 14 | link=:ja:髙比良寛治|note=C}}

{{player3 | num = 15 | nat = PHI | name = A. J. Edu | pos = F/C | m=2.08 | year = 2000 | month = 1 | date = 1 }}

{{player3 | num = 18 | nat = JPN | name = Yudai Baba | pos = GF | m=1.96 | year = 1995 | month = 11 | date = 7 }}

{{player3 | num = 23 | nat = JPN | name = Daisuke Noguchi | pos = F | m=1.96 | year = 1983 | month = 5 | date = 26 | link=:ja:野口大介}}

{{player3 | num = 33 | nat = USA | name = Nick Perkins | pos = F | m=2.03 | year = 1996 | month = 10 | date = 15 }}

{{player3 | num = 36 | nat = JPN | name = Takuma Enokida | pos = G | m=1.84 | year = 1998 | month = 5 | date = 24 | link=:ja:榎田拓真}}

{{Basketball roster footer

| head_coach = {{flagicon|ISR}} Mody Maor

| asst_coach = {{flagicon|JPN}} Kenjiro Maeda
{{flagicon|JPN}} Makoto Isono

| roster_url = https://www.velca.jp/team/players/

| accessdate = 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.

{{flagicon|JPN}} Masaya Karimata
{{flagicon|PAN}} Javier Carter

Head coaches

{{flagicon|JPN}} Takuma Ito: 2021–2022{{Cite web|last=|date=2021-01-27|title=【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|url=https://nordot.app/726972639625216000|access-date=2021-06-27|website=長崎新聞|language=ja}}{{Cite web|date=2021-01-27|title=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|url=https://www.velca.jp/2021-01-26/|access-date=2021-06-27|website=長崎ヴェルカ|language=ja}}
{{flagicon|JPN}} Kenjiro Maeda: 2022–2024{{Cite web |date=2022-05-17 |title=前田健滋朗ヘッドコーチ就任のお知らせ |url=https://www.velca.jp/2022-05-18-02/ |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=長崎ヴェルカ |language=ja}}
{{flagicon|ISR}} Mody Maor: 2024–present{{Cite web |date=2022-05-17 |title="אחד המבוקשים בעולם": המאמן הישראלי בדרך לתחנה חדשה |url=https://sports.walla.co.il/item/3665943 |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=וואלה! ספורט|language=he}}

Management

= Ownership =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! colspan="2" style="background: #002858; color: #FFFFFF;"\|Ownership history
style="background: #B3A278; color: #FFFFFF;"\|Owner ! style="background: #B3A278; color: #FFFFFF;"\|Tenure
Japanet	2020–present{{Cite web\|date=2020-07-10\|title=＜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~\|url=https://www.velca.jp/%ef%bc%9c3%e6%97%a5%e9%96%93%e9%80%a3%e7%b6%9a%e3%83%aa%e3%83%aa%e3%83%bc%e3%82%b9%e3%80%80%e7%ac%ac%e4%b8%89%e5%bc%be%ef%bc%9e-%e9%95%b7%e5%b4%8e%e5%88%9d%e3%80%80b%e3%83%aa%e3%83%bc%e3%82%b0/\|access-date=2021-06-27\|website=長崎ヴェルカ\|language=ja}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

! colspan="2" style="background: #002858; color: #FFFFFF;"|Ownership history

style="background: #B3A278; color: #FFFFFF;"|Owner

! style="background: #B3A278; color: #FFFFFF;"|Tenure

Japanet

2020–present{{Cite web|date=2020-07-10|title=＜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~|url=https://www.velca.jp/%ef%bc%9c3%e6%97%a5%e9%96%93%e9%80%a3%e7%b6%9a%e3%83%aa%e3%83%aa%e3%83%bc%e3%82%b9%e3%80%80%e7%ac%ac%e4%b8%89%e5%bc%be%ef%bc%9e-%e9%95%b7%e5%b4%8e%e5%88%9d%e3%80%80b%e3%83%aa%e3%83%bc%e3%82%b0/|access-date=2021-06-27|website=長崎ヴェルカ|language=ja}}

= General managers =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! colspan="2" style="background: #002858; color: #FFFFFF;"\|GM history
style="background: #B3A278; color: #FFFFFF;"\|GM ! style="background: #B3A278; color: #FFFFFF;"\|Tenure
Takuma Ito	2020–present{{Cite web\|date=2020-07-17\|title=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～\|url=https://www.velca.jp/b%e3%83%aa%e3%83%bc%e3%82%b0%e5%8f%82%e5%85%a5%e3%81%ab%e5%90%91%e3%81%91%e3%81%a6%e3%80%80%e3%82%bc%e3%83%8d%e3%83%a9%e3%83%ab%e3%83%9e%e3%83%8d%e3%83%bc%e3%82%b8%e3%83%a3%e3%83%bc%e5%b0%b1%e4%bb%bb/\|access-date=2021-06-27\|website=長崎ヴェルカ\|language=ja}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

! colspan="2" style="background: #002858; color: #FFFFFF;"|GM history

style="background: #B3A278; color: #FFFFFF;"|GM

! style="background: #B3A278; color: #FFFFFF;"|Tenure

Takuma Ito

2020–present{{Cite web|date=2020-07-17|title=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～|url=https://www.velca.jp/b%e3%83%aa%e3%83%bc%e3%82%b0%e5%8f%82%e5%85%a5%e3%81%ab%e5%90%91%e3%81%91%e3%81%a6%e3%80%80%e3%82%bc%e3%83%8d%e3%83%a9%e3%83%ab%e3%83%9e%e3%83%8d%e3%83%bc%e3%82%b8%e3%83%a3%e3%83%bc%e5%b0%b1%e4%bb%bb/|access-date=2021-06-27|website=長崎ヴェルカ|language=ja}}

Arenas

HAPPINESS ARENA

Practice facilities

The team opened a new practice facility, the {{Nihongo|Velca Clubhouse|ヴェルカクラブハウス}}, in Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture on May 27, 2021.{{Cite web|date=2021-05-27|title=長崎ヴェルカクラブハウス完成のご報告|url=https://www.velca.jp/2021-05-27/|access-date=2021-06-26|website=長崎ヴェルカ|language=ja}}

Fanbase

The fan club of the team is called {{Nihongo|Velcas Zero|ヴェルカーズゼロ}}.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-16|title=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|url=https://www.velca.jp/2021-03-16-02/|access-date=2021-06-26|website=長崎ヴェルカ|language=ja}}

References

External links

{{Official website|https://www.velca.jp/}}

Category:Nagasaki Velca

Category:Basketball teams in Japan

Category:Sports clubs and teams in Nagasaki Prefecture

Category:Basketball teams established in 2020

Category:2020 establishments in Japan