With 10 losses in their past 11 games, the Yokohama B-Corsairs have been searching for any glimmer of hope, any good news.
But there's more bad news: Big man Wayne Marshall's return this season is questionable.
He sustained a broken knee cap on Oct. 19 against the Aomori Wat's, but continued playing until Nov. 9. But now, as his condition has worsened, the Temple University product is unable to compete.
"Wayne will be out for a while .... at least a few months," B-Corsairs coach Michael Katsuhisa told The Japan Times late Thursday night.
After Marshall broke his knee cap, Katsuhisa said, "amazingly, he fought through the pain and tried to give the team everything he had. The pain got worse and worse though, and he needed to shut it down despite wanting to help his teammates win.
"Needless to say, it has been tough without him. He has been a huge part of the heart and soul of this team. In my mind, when healthy he is undoubtedly the best center in the league."
Katsuhisa added: "He was our defensive anchor and he made his teammates better offensively. We are wishing him a speedy and full recovery."
The 28-year-old Marshall averaged 11.6 points and 6.0 rebounds with 29 assists and 10 blocks in 12 games for the B-Corsairs (4-12), who play host to the Bambitious Nara (3-9) on Saturday and Sunday in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture.
The 211-cm big man is in his second season with Yokohama. He played for the Osaka Evessa from 2010-12 and for the Shinshu Brave Warriors from 2012-13.
