Yokohama Giga Spirits
The Yokohama Giga Spirits are a Japanese corporate basketball team based in Yokohama, Kanagawa.
History
Akita Isuzu Motors 1955-1987
Akita Isuzu Motors basketball team was founded by Shozaburo Makinae in 1955. Makinae currently serves as a director and corporate adviser for the Akita Northern Happinets of B.League. They practiced at Sannoh Junior High School gymnasium in 1960's and 1970's.Head coaches
- Mototaka Kohama
- Shiro Yoshii
- Shigeyoshi Kasahara
- Hyokichi Tsuji V
Notable players
- -
- Jack Givens
- - Drafted in the third round of the NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers -
- Mitsuhiko Kato
*
- -Denver, Colorado, Drafted in the fifth round of the NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers -,
- Ted Young
Honors and titles
JBL2- Champions : 1983
- Runners-up : 1982
- Runners-up : 1986
- 3rd place : 1987
- Runners-up : 1981
- '''Champions :'''
Isuzu Motors Lynx/Giga Cats 1987-2002
The team moved to Yokohama, Kanagawa in 1987. The club enjoyed its golden age winning JBL championships 6 times. Isuzu shut down its basketball and baseball clubs in 2002.Head coach
Due to the Emery scandal in 1989, Kohama and Casey were reunited.Notable players
- Dan Bingenheimer -
- Dave Butler
- Casey Calvary
- Richard Coffey
- Anthony Cook (basketball)
- Lucius Davis
- Terry Dozier
- Toshihiro Goto
- Reggie Hanson
- Makoto Hasegawa
- -
- Mike Higgins
- Makoto Minamiyama
- Hiroshi Nagano
*
*
- Yukihiro Sakka
- Kenichi Sako
- Satoshi Sakumoto
- Toru Shioya
*
Honors and titles
JBLEmperor's Cup
- Champions : 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001
- 3rd place : 1990, 2002
ABA Club Championship
- Runners-up : 2001
Yokohama Giga Cats 2002-2005
Kohama led the revamped Giga Cats, after Isuzu dropped sponsorship, as a club team until 2005.Notable players
Yokohama Giga Spirits 2005-present
Notable players
- Minoru Kimura (basketball)
- Masahiro Ohara