As they head into their sixth season, the Vancouver Volcanoes are growing up.
The International Basketball League team, a group of former college players who compete at the semi-pro level, opens play April 23 at Bellingham. In the meantime, the franchise has demonstrated signs of development during a busy offseason:
• This week, the club unveiled an official office on Main Street near Sixth Street in downtown Vancouver.
“I think it’s really big,” said Bryan Hunter, the team’s coach and co-owner. “You look at most semi-pro teams, they don’t have an office. For me, this symbolizes our first official big step in the right direction.”
Fellow owner Gary Akiyama said: “We feel we’re finally being recognized as part of the community, which is what we wanted all along — and to give back to the community.”
• The Volcanoes signed an agreement with the Japanese Basketball Academy. Among the benefits will be a trip by the team to Japan in August.
“It will be good exposure for the players,” said Akiyama, a Vancouver businessman who is the U.S. advisor for the Japanese Basketball Academy. “Hopefully they’ll get signed by one of the pro teams over there.”
• Hunter said returning players from last year’s 15-7 team will include Alex Hartman, Clifford White and Kevin Bloodsaw. For Bloodsaw, 37, this will mark his fifth season with the club.
“It has turned the corner a lot,” he said. “The first couple years were kind of the intro years. You get out into the community, and there’s a lot of talk about the team. It’s come a long way.”
• Hunter said the Volcanoes are planning to broadcast games on Clark-Vancouver Television.
Vancouver begins the season with five road games before playing its home opener May 7 against the Yamhill Highflyers. Home games will be at Clark College, and admission is $5 for adults and free for students.
“This is the best value for entertainment you can find in Vancouver,” Hunter said.
