Akita Northern Happinets
| Akita Northern Happinets | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Conference | East | ||
| Division | First | ||
| Leagues | B.League | ||
| Founded | 2010 | ||
| History |
bj league (2010–2016) B.League (2016–present) | ||
| Arena | CNA Arena Akita | ||
| Location | Akita, Akita | ||
| Team colors |
Pink, Gold, Black | ||
| President | Yuki Mizuno | ||
| Head coach | Josep Clarós | ||
| Conference titles | 2 bj league Eastern Conference champions (2014, 2015) | ||
| Website | Happinets.com | ||
| Uniforms | |||
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The Akita Northern Happinets are a Japanese professional basketball team based in Akita that competes in the Eastern Conference of the First Division of the B.League.[1] The team was formed as an expansion team of the bj league in 2010 and found success for the first time in 2013–14, finishing their fourth season as league runners-up. They went on to finish as runners-up for the second year in a row in 2014–15 and in third place in 2015-16, the final season of the bj league.
History
Akita Prefecture's connection with basketball has historically lay with Noshiro Technical High School, which has won a total of 58 national-level championships, and the Isuzu Motors corporate team (Akita Isuzu Motors, currently the Yokohama Giga Spirits), which was based in Akita from 1955 until 1987. Following the formation of the independent bj league in 2006, a committee was formed to investigate the formation of a professional club within the prefecture in 2007 but was unsuccessful. In June 2008 another association was formed to pursue a bj league franchise licence and a pre-season match between the Sendai 89ers and Niigata Albirex BB was held a few months later. In January 2009 Akita Pro Basketball Club Co., Ltd. was established and in the following May was granted a licence to enter the 2010-11 bj league season. The team's name was announced at a pre-season match hosted in Akita between the 89ers and Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix in September 2009.
2010-11 season
The Happinets entered the Eastern Conference of the bj league in October 2010 as one of three expansion teams. The Shimane Susanoo Magic and Miyazaki Shining Suns joined the Western Conference, taking the league to a total of 16 teams. For their first season the Happinets signed Seiichi Oba as general manager and former Shiga Lakestars coach Robert Pierce as head coach. 39-year-old Akita native and Noshiro Tech alumnus Makoto Hasegawa was acquired from Niigata in exchange for a first-round draft pick and took on a player-manager role. The team drafted Jun Nakanishi and Ryosuke Mizumachi in the expansion draft, Yuki Nobuhira in the second round of the rookie draft and Makoto Sawaguchi in the development draft.[2] The team was unable to reach a deal with Nakanishi, who instead signed with Rizing Fukuoka before the start of the season. Happinets’ inaugural home game was held at the Akita Prefectural Gymnasium in October.
2011-12 season
In November 2011 the team signed Curtis Terry, brother of NBA player Jason Terry, to replace the injured Brandon Wallace. After 14 games Terry was released from the club in January due to his arrest for theft from a convenience store.[3]
2012-13 season
Garrison's Niigata took care of business against the visiting Akita, collecting 80-69 and 88-58 victories in the bj league play-offs. The series finale showcased what has been a common sight all season: across-the-board production from a lot of Niigata players.
2013-14 season
Isa's Ryukyu dismantled the Happinets in the single-game bj-league final. Akita’s offense went cold, missing shot after shot after shot while quick-rotating defenders from the league’s No.1 defense. Togashi, Roby and Boykin carried the Akita offense, but credit the Okinawa’s defensive exploits for limiting the Happinets’ easy shots and opportunities to run up the score.
2014-15 season
Higashino's Hamamatsu defeated the Happinets in the one-game final. The Happinets couldn’t hit the 3-point shot, a key staple of their high-powered offense, which led the league in scoring (89.3 points per game) this season. They shot a dreadful 1-20 from long range. Perimeter marksman Taguchi was 0-13 from the field, including 0-8 on 3s. Stephens led all players with 30 points on 12-13 shooting from the field and grabbed 10 rebounds.
2015-16 season
Head coach Nash’s Toyama manhandled the third-seeded Akita 99-84 in the one-shot Eastern Conference final at Ariake before a vocal throng of 9,027 spectators in pink and red. In the bj-league third-place game, the Happinets pounded Kyoto from start to finish en route to a 122-74 shellacking. The Happinets got open and made shot after shot after shot. Credit Akita for setting screens and getting the ball to players in the right spots and to hot-shooting players. Taguchi scored his game-high 35 points,
2016-17 season
In promotion-relegation playoffs, the coach Shakuno's Yokohama edged the Happinets 17-16 in a mini-game tiebreaker. Kawamura nailed a buzzer-beating 3 with 1 second left. Akita have been demoted to the second division for the 2017-18 season.
2017-18 season
Clarós' magical defensive basketball worked and finished the regular season with 54-6 record. Akita swept past Kumamoto in B2 playoffs and got promoted to B1.
Current roster
| Akita Northern Happinets roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Updated: August 1, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.
Management
 Headquarters on the 4th floor | |
| Kabushiki gaisha | |
| Industry | Sports |
| Founded | 30 January 2009 |
| Headquarters | Akitaken Shakaifukushi Kaikan 4F, 1-5 Kyokuhokusakaemachi, Akitashi. Akitaken 010-0922, Japan |
Area served | Akita Prefecture |
Key people | Yuki Mizuno |
| Website | http://www.northern-happinets.com/ |
Coordinates: 39°43′12.1″N 140°6′33.0″E / 39.720028°N 140.109167°E
General manager
Managers
Basketball academy
Bicky
Notable former players
Season-by-season record
| Akita Northern Happinets season-by-season record | ||||||||||||||
| Season | League | Finish | G | W | L | W-L | GB | Play-offs | PG | PW | PL | PWL | ||
| 2010–11 | Bj League | East 6th | 50 | 18 | 32 | .360 | 24 | Lost in First Round to Niigata | 2 | 0 | 2 | .000 | ||
| 2011-12 | Bj League | East 3rd | 52 | 28 | 24 | .538 | 9 | Lost in Second Round to Yokohama | 6 | 3 | 3 | .500 | ||
| 2012-13 | Bj League | East 5th | 52 | 26 | 26 | .500 | 8 | Lost in Second Round to Niigata | 5 | 2 | 3 | .400 | ||
| 2013-14 | Bj League | East 3rd | 52 | 40 | 12 | .759 | 2 | Eastern Conference Champions | 6 | 5 | 1 | .833 | ||
| 2014–15 | Bj League | East 1st | 52 | 41 | 11 | .788 | - | Eastern Conference Champions | 7 | 5 | 2 | .714 | ||
| 2015–16 | Bj League | East 3rd | 52 | 35 | 17 | .673 | 4 | 3rd place | 6 | 5 | 1 | .833 | ||
| 2016–17 | B.League | East 5th | 60 | 18 | 42 | .300 | 31 | relegated to B2 | ||||||
| 2017–18 | B.League2 | East 1st | 60 | 54 | 6 | .900 | - | B2 Runners-up | 5 | 3 | 2 | .600 | ||
| 2018–19 | B.League | East | 60 | - | - | .000 | - | - | ||||||
| Totals | Bj League | 310 | 188 | 122 | .606 | 32 | 20 | 12 | .625 | |||||
| Totals | B.League | 60 | 18 | 42 | .300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | |||||
| Totals | B.League2 | 60 | 54 | 6 | .900 | 5 | 3 | 2 | .600 | |||||
Team statistics
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–11 | bj | 50 | 10050 | .414 | .324 | .620 | 49.3 | 15.5 | 5.8 | 2.0 | 79.4 | |
| 2011–12 | bj | 52 | 10425 | .408 | .323 | .669 | 37.3 | 15.6 | 8.0 | 2.2 | 73.8 | |
| 2012–13 | bj | 52 | 10475 | .415 | .334 | .620 | 33.4 | 15.8 | 6.8 | 2.5 | 77.4 | |
| 2013–14 | bj | 52 | 10475 | .457 | .354 | .692 | 40.0 | 19.4 | 7.1 | 3.0 | 90.2 | |
| 2014–15 | bj | 52 | 10475 | .484 | .375 | .679 | 38.8 | 20.3 | 7.1 | 4.1 | 89.2 | |
| 2015–16 | bj | 52 | 10475 | .462 | .359 | .692 | 46.3 | 19.7 | 7.4 | 3.1 | 83.9 | |
| 2016–17 | B1 | 60 | 12150 | .425 | .342 | .684 | 37.5 | 12.1 | 6.3 | 1.9 | 70.4 | |
| 2017–18 | B2 | 60 | 12000 | .437 | .339 | .631 | 40.7 | 20.6 | 11.9 | 3.5 | 80.0 |
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Other honors and titles
Tohoku Cup
- Champions (3): 2012, 2013, 2016
Tohoku Early Cup
- Champions (1): 2017
Head coaches
| Years | Coach | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 2010–2011 |  |
18–32 |
| 2011–2014 | |
94-62 |
| 2014–2017 | |
94–70 |
| 2017–present |  |
54-6 |
| 2010–present | Total | 290–170 |
Assistant coaches
Mascot
Bicky is the official mascot of the Akita Northern Happinets. The Frog wears #82 and is able to slam-dunk. Akita University HOSP man is the unofficial mascot.
Cheerleading squad
Happinets Cheer Dance Team
Director
- Mineko Abe
Instructor
- Aimi Sukagawa
Arenas & Facilities
The Happinets play their home games at CNA Arena Akita, their home since 2016. During their time in the bj league, the Happinets played their home games at the Akita Prefectural Gymnasium. Another home, Yurihonjo Arena is under construction. A new prefectural gymnasium will be built in 2026.[4] The team has practice facilities at the Akita Bank Gymnasium, Akita Xerox Sports Square and Akita International University Suda Hall.[5] They also build muscle at Varsity Weight Room in Yabase, Akita.[6] Happinets players love to take spa at Youland Hotel Yabase in Akita.[7] (Tattooed players have special privileges to take a bath.)
"Crazy Pink" phenomenon
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The Happinets fans are widely known as "Crazy Pink" and sometimes have overwhelming numbers at the visitors games.[8][9][10] The hoop-crazed fans light up arena with "Bigabiga", pink glow sticks and sing the prefectural anthem before the game.[11] The Happinets home court rocks with another stadium anthem "Fly Again" by Man with a Mission, and CNA Arena Akita is the one of the hottest and loudest basketball venues in Asia.[12][13][14] The Akita Airport limousine buses have the painted images of the Happinets and Blaublitz Akita.[15]
Kit
Manufacturer
| Year | Manufacturer |
|---|---|
| Gambax | |
| Bull Fight | |
| Mizuno | |
| Under Armour |
Media
Radio
The Happinets players' talk show is aired occasionally on ABS.[16] The Happinets don't have any play-by-play radio broadcasting.
Programs
- ABS - Akita wo sakebe Northern Happinets
- ABS - Nantettatte Nichiyou ha Sports
- ABS - Kosaka Rika no Cheer Happinets
- FM Akita - Weekly Northern Happinets (Takashi Hatakeyama)
- FM Hanabi - Uchiagero Go! Go! Akita Northern Happinets!!
Television
SoftBank Group Corp. is estimated to have invested over ¥12 billion to acquire the broadcasting rights of B.League in 2016.[17] The Happinets home game broadcasters are Toshifumi Takeshima (Akita Television, play-by-play announcer) and Hiroyuki Asami (ex-Sendai Television).
Programs
- AAB - Go Happinets!
References
- ↑ Nagatsuka, Kaz (31 July 2015). "First wave of teams allocated for new hoop league". JapanTimes.co.jp. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
- ↑ "bjリーグドラフト会議 2010 指名選手のお知らせ" [Announcement of players drafted at the 2010 bj league draft] (in Japanese). 8 June 2010. Archived from the original on 2016-09-27. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ↑ Odeven, Ed (21 January 2012). "Happinets cut Terry following arrest". Japan Times. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ↑ Akita Sakigake (22 September 2016). "「まずはＣＳ」ＮＨ選手らＢリーグ開幕控え決意". Retrieved 22 September 2016.
- ↑ Akita Northern Happinets (10 Feb 2015). "秋田銀行頭取湊屋隆夫様にお話を伺いました". Retrieved 7 October 2016.
- ↑ Varsity Weight Room (7 October 2016). "Varsity Weight Room". Retrieved 7 October 2016.
- ↑ Mizumachi, Ryosuke (7 December 2012). "オワリはじまり". Retrieved 23 September 2016.
- ↑ Shimane, Jun (13 September 2016). "秋田・田口が開幕相手栃木・田臥と舌戦応酬". Retrieved 20 September 2016.
- ↑ Nikkan Sports (22 September 2016). "Crazy Pinkに染まれ". Retrieved 22 September 2016.
- ↑ ひらせんYouTube (6 May 2016). "盛り上がる秋田ブースター". Retrieved 22 September 2016.
- ↑ Michinoku Sport (1 May 2016). "20160501バスケ秋田対福島秋田県民歌斉唱". Retrieved 8 November 2017.
- ↑ Akita Northern Happinets (4 November 2017). "本日11/4（土）の #フライアゲイン". Retrieved 4 November 2017.
- ↑ Michinoku Sport (18 February 2017). "20170218バスケBリーグ秋田ノーザンハピネッツ 『FLY AGAIN』". Retrieved 8 November 2017.
- ↑ 82, Kiyoto (11 May 2016). "ターナースチィールからダンクからのフライアゲイン♪d=(^o^)=b". Retrieved 8 November 2017.
- ↑ 3846xyz (29 December 2017). "ハピネッツとブラウブリッツのリムジンバス". Retrieved 29 December 2017.
- ↑ ABS Radio (30 August 2016). "秋田ヲ叫べノーザンハピネッツ". Retrieved 17 September 2016.
- ↑ Nagatsuka, Kaz (19 September 2016). "B. League chairman heralds new era". Retrieved 19 September 2016.