Well Christmas is right around the corner and the first question I get from people back in the states is "do they celebrate Christmas in Japan?" The answer is yes! The local store Jusco (which is a Okinawan version of Wal-mart) sells Christmas trees, lights and decorations. Christmas here is more of the general version than the more religious based one in the states.

Well as a team our record doesn't look great but in terms of players improving I think we are doing a pretty good job. We are getting great production from our Japanese players; I actually believe we are getting more than other teams are. We feature more of a balanced attack instead of a star system - it suits are personnel much better. In our first five we start three Japanese players - Our pg leads the league in assists and steals, our shooting guard is a rookie who is not only learning how to be a professional but also how to play sg which he has never played before. He is getting a strong following here in Okinawa because of his slashing style and reverse lay-ups. Our small forward has been in the league for 2 years averaging about 10 minutes a game for another team. This year he is shooting close to 50% on three pointers and is considered one of the best shooters in the league. The rest of our Japanese players are rookies who are learning and improving everyday - they give me great effort everyday and I am so proud of their progress and resilience.

We head to Oita this weekend - a team that we have played 4 times already during this young season - its cold there, in fact its cold everywhere in Japan except here in Okinawa... its already the middle of December and its still about 75 degrees here... but back to Oita - they are a good team, they have been together for two years and have built very good chemistry... that's something we are trying to build here in Okinawa... it takes time... but we have the players who want to improve and that's all a coach can ask for...

talk to you guys soon...