The northernmost basketball club in Japan.
If we were to compare Hokkaido to the United States, it might be like Alaska.
With heavy snowfall and a harsh climate, it features vast land and abundant natural beauty.
Overview
| Official Website | https://www.levanga.com/ |
| Founded | 2011 |
| What Levanga Represents | 'Levanga' is a reverse of 'Ganbare,' symbolizing a team that continues to receive support from the people of Hokkaido. |
| Team Colors | Levanga Green, Lavender Purple, and Gold represent Hokkaido's natural beauty. |
| Arena | Kitayell (Capacity approx. 8,000) |
| Main Sponsor | Eagle Pachinko |
Since its foundation, the team has never won a championship. However, Takehiko Orimo and Ryota Sakurai, who were part of the team, participated together in the World Cup hosted by Japan in 2006.
Sapporo, where the franchise is based, is the largest city in Hokkaido and one of Japan's major metropolitan areas, with a population of about 2 million. Hokkaido as a whole has a population of 5.22 million.
Notable Japanese (Asian) Players to watch
Dwight Ramos (6-4, SG/SF, California State University Fullerton, Philippines)
Originally from California. (Filipinos are everywhere in the world, and they all love basketball.) Ramos attended California State University, Fullerton. He came to Toyama in 2021. Though he may be undersized for a small forward on the global stage, he has more than enough presence in Asia.
Notable Foreign (Naturalized) Players to watch
Thomas Welsh (7-0, C, UCLA)
Selected as a McDonald's All-American in 2014, and an elite player from Loyola (LA) and UCLA. After stints in the G League and Taiwan, he came to Japan in 2022, joining Yamagata (B2). Though still as skinny as ever, he’s been the best rebounder in both B2 and B1 for two consecutive seasons.
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