The Miyazaki Shining Suns, who have a league-worst 5-31 record, and the Eastern Conference-leading Yokohama B-Corsairs (25-9) are on shaky financial ground, multiple sources claim in recent comments to The Japan Times.

In the words of one source who spoke on condition of anonymity, "Both Miyazaki and Yokohama are a financial mess. . . . Miyazaki might be easier to save, and Yokohama might have to fold."

After the Final Four last May, this newspaper reported that the B-Corsairs' financial losses during their inaugural season were $1 million. B-Corsairs spokesman Takao Ando did not respond to requests for specific comments, but did say "he is aware" of the team's financial problems. It it is known that the team, which often stages home games in far-flung locales throughout Kanagawa Prefecture, has been actively seeking investors. (In addition, a Yokohama team official said that all salary payments have been made on time this season.)