Forward Lawrence Blackledge has agreed to play for the Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix after his release from the Osaka Evessa last week, the two-time defending bj-league champion announced on Monday. The Japan Times first reported the move in last Friday's editions.
Blackledge, a Marquette University product, is the league's second-leading shot-blocker (3.0 per game). He's averaging 9.4 points in 22 games (all starts).
The Phoenix are 14-10, one game behind the Eastern Conference coleaders, the Niigata Albirex BB and Akita Northern Happinets.