Nagasakiヴェルカ, the reigning Japanese champions, will enter the new season under new head coach Dean Vickerman (ディーン・ヴィッカーマン). The team plans to maintain its defensive approach while increasing the pace of its offense as it prepares for the new season, which opens on 23 September.
Nagasakiヴェルカ, last season’s Japanese champions, began training in early August ahead of the new season. With Dean Vickerman (ディーン・ヴィッカーマン) appointed as the new head coach, the team has set its sights on winning the Japanese championship for 2 consecutive years.
Head coach Vickerman said, “The daily process is important. If we can understand the new system and prepare well for the opening game,” expressing his emphasis on daily training and team building.
The new team plans to maintain the aggressive defense it has developed while further increasing the speed of its offense. Point guard Kumagai Wataru (熊谷航) also said the team would play at a faster pace than last season.
The team currently has 4 new additions. 4 players, including Nagasaki native Takahira Kanji (高比良寛治), have joined, with Takahira returning after 2 seasons away. Takahira said he wants to value the process while showing fans Velca’s toughness and aggressiveness.
The new season opens on 23 September. Preseason games are also scheduled from late August onward, and attention will focus on how the team develops under its new head coach.