Utsunomiya Brex

Utsunomiya Brex is a Japanese professional basketball team based in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. After winning the JBL 2 in 2008, the team played in the National Basketball League. Previous team names include: Tochigi Brex and Link Tochigi Brex.[1]

Utsunomiya Brex
Utsunomiya Brex logo
LeaguesB.League
Founded2007
History Tochigi Brex (2007-08)
Link Tochigi Brex (2008-19)
Utsunomiya Brex (2019-present)
ArenaBrex Arena Utsunomiya
Capacity4,500
LocationUtsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan
Team colors  Navy Blue   Yellow
Main sponsorTochigi Bank
Head coachJapan Yoshio Sasa
Championships3
WebsiteOfficial site
Link Tochigi Brex

In July 2015 it was announced that the team would compete in the first division of the new Japan Professional Basketball League (B.League), which started in October 2016.[2] The team became the first champions of the B.League on 27 May 2017, defeating the Toshiba Kawasaki Brave Thunders by the final score of 85–79.[3]

Overview

The team began activities in December 2004, and participated in the lowest division of the Japanese Basketball League (JBL 2) from 2007-2008 after which the team was promoted to and participated in the league's highest division (JBL) from 2008-2013, participated in the National Basketball League (NBL) from 2013-2016, and is currently participating in the B.League since 2016.

The team has been operated by Tochigi Brex Co., Ltd. since the 2016-17 season, and was previously operated by Link Sports Entertainment Co., Ltd.[4] The team is based in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, and its mother town is Kanuma City, Tochigi Prefecture.[5]

The team name "Brex" is a coined word created from the pronunciation of the word "Breakthrough". In addition, the word "rex" means king in Latin. In essence, the name "Brex" is a combination of "B" for basketball and "rex" for king. It means that the teaming is aiming for the top of basketball.[5]

The team follows the color scheme of the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Pacers are based in Tochigi Prefecture's sister state of Indiana, USA, and acts as a tribute to the Pacers and the style of play and entertainment of the NBA.[5]

The team's philosophy is "a team that is strongly loved and motivated".[5] They won a championship in their first year in the JBL 2, and was subsequently promoted to the JBL in the following year, and won the JBL championship in the year after.[6]

Historical Uniforms
HOME
2016 - 18 jersey
Team colours
2016 - 18
2018 - 20 jersey
Team colours
2018 - 20
2020 - 22 jersey
Team colours
2020 - 22
2022 - 23 jersey
Team colours
2022 - 23
AWAY
2016 - 18 jersey
Team colours
2016 - 18
2018 - 20 jersey
Team colours
2018 - 20
2020 - 22 jersey
Team colours
2020 - 22
2022 - 23 jersey
Team colours
2022 - 23
OTHER
2017 - 183rd jersey
Team colours
2017 - 18
3rd
2018 - 203rd jersey
Team colours
2018 - 20
3rd
2020 - 213rd jersey
Team colours
2020 - 21
3rd

Home Arena

The Utsunomiya Brex's home arena is the Utsunomiya City Gymnasiam (Utsunomiya Brex Arena).[7] Home games have also been held elsewhere in the Tochigi Prefecture beside Utsunomiya City. It has also been held in Gunma Prefecture and Fukushima Prefecture in the past.

Mascot
  • Brecky (ブレッキー)[7]

Brecky wears the jersey number 028, and specializes in three-point shooting. He participates in the team's events and home games.[8]

  • Berry-chan (ベリーちゃん)

Berry-chan also participates in home games with Brecky as well as events in Tochigi Prefecture where she is a member of the cheerleading team, BREXY.[9]

Cheerleading Team
  • BREXY

Along with the official cheerleading team, BREXY, there is "B-girls", which consists of 14 elementary and junior high school students who have passed the official cheerleading team's school auditions.[10]

3x3 Team
  • UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE

The BREX.EXE began in the 2015-2016 season and took their name in the 2019-2020 season.[11]

History

Founding History

In December 2004, the group began activities with the goal of establishing a professional basketball team in Tochigi Prefecture. Then in December 2005, they collected 15,000 signatures to support the establishment of the team. In June 2006, the group formally applied to join the now JBL, but was rejected a month later, and applied in September of the same year to the newly established lower league, currently the JBL2.

In April 2007, the team was able to participate in the JBL2 after the Otsuka Shokai Alphas (now Koshigaya Alphas) withdrew. In June 2007, the team name was decided to be "Tochigi Brex," and the team launched with Utsunomiya City set as their hometown, as well as 10 professional players on contract.[12]

JBL2

The former coach of the Otsuka Shokai Alphas, Yoshinori Kaneda, became the Brex's first head coach, and in the 2007-2008 season, they advanced to the finals and defeated the Chiba Jets Funabashi to become JBL2 champions.

2008-2009 Season

When, in August 2007, the OSG Phoenix (now San-en NeoPhoenix) withdrew from the JBL, the league began recruiting new teams and the Brex formally applied once again for entry into the JBL.[12] They were then promoted to the higher tiered league, and naming rights to the team were then sold to their main sponsor, Link & Motivation, who decided to call the team, "Link Tochigi Brex." The head coach then changed to Mitsuhiko Katou, who also brought along Yuta Tabuse and Jun Takaku as players. Other new players also included Kawamura Takuya, Itou Shunsuke, and Oomiya Hiromasa.

After the start of the 2008-2009 season, Kato was dismissed and Thomas Wisman was brought in as the head coach.

Roster
Utsunomiya Brex roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.
PG 0 Japan Yuta Tabuse (C) 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
PG 3 Japan Kohei Kasai 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
SF 5 South Korea Jaemin Yang 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)
SG 6 Japan Makoto Hiejima 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
PG 7 Japan Atsuya Ogawa 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
PG 9 Japan Yusuke Endo 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
PF 10 Japan Kosuke Takeuchi 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)
SF 11 Japan Hirohide Araya 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
SG 12 Japan Shinji Takashima 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
PG 13 Japan Hironori Watanabe 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
SF 18 Japan Seiji Ikaruga 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
G/F 31 Japan Shuhei Kitagawa 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
F/C 34 United States Grant Jerrett 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)
F/C 40 United States Josh Scott 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in)
PF 42 New Zealand Isaac Fotu 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)
Head coach

Japan Norio Sassa

Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured Injured
Updated: 1 December 2022

Notable players
Former logo

Coaches

Arenas

Practice facilities

References
  1. "チームの歴史". 宇都宮ブレックス (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  2. "JPBLの「1部～3部階層分け発表記者会見」について" [Regarding the JPBL's "Division 1-3 Assignment Press Conference"] (in Japanese). Nishinomiya Storks. 30 July 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  3. Odeven, Ed (2017-05-27). "Brex claim first B. League title". The Japan Times Online. ISSN 0447-5763. Retrieved 2017-06-04.
  4. "株式会社栃木ブレックス 平成29(2017)年 6月期決算に関するご報告". 宇都宮ブレックス (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  5. "宇都宮ブレックス チーム名の由来・理念・ビジョン". 宇都宮ブレックス (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  6. "チームの歴史". 宇都宮ブレックス (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-03-30.
  7. "宇都宮ブレックス". B.LEAGUE（Bリーグ）公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-05-05.
  8. "#028 ブレッキーのへや". 宇都宮ブレックス (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  9. "BERRY'S POWDER ROOM". 宇都宮ブレックス (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  10. "B-girls". 宇都宮ブレックス (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  11. "UTSUNOMIYA BREX.EXE". 宇都宮ブレックス (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  12. "チームの歴史". 宇都宮ブレックス (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-03-30.
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